Namaste at Carl Schurz Park

Free yoga class for seniors part of new fitness program By [David Garfinkel] During a quiet morning last Wednesday, eight senior citizens gathered in Carl Schurz Park to take part in a series of free yoga classes that is being held there. The classes, part of the Senior Fitness program run by the CityParks Foundation, take place at 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday through Oct. 29. They"re open to anyone over 60 years of age. All levels of students are welcome. â??The first thing I thought is that everyone is going to have white hair, said Odette Peterson, 68. â??But the fact I"m doing it outside instead of a gym, it gets me out. The Foundation, which has offered citywide programs for seniors for seven years, said that the program has one mission. â??The goal is to encourage exercise for folks who are ages 60 and over, said Foundation Sports Director Mike Silverman. The fall senior program is offered in 14 parks across five boroughs and is part of a range of activities offered by the foundation. Inwood Hill Park is the only other Manhattan park that has outside yoga as one of its programs. In addition to the new yoga class, there is also a free walking class that starts at 9 a.m. Walkers start at Carl Schurz Park at East 86th Street and East End Avenue and walk up to 96th Street and back. The walk, which lasts about 40 minutes, is sandwiched between stretching exercises to prevent injury. Joan Farver, 70, attends both the yoga class and walking class. While she is an experienced walker, yoga is new to her. She said that she is quickly catching on and applauds her instructor for having the â??patience of a saint. â??When I heard the word â??free," that appealed to me, she said. Participants can sign up for the program by calling 718-769-6999 or visiting [www.cityparksfoundation.org](http://www.cityparksfoundation.org).