PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

Local yogis are invited to bring their cows, cats, camels and downward dogs to the Detroit Zoo this summer. Yoga at the Zoo will be held on Mondays and Thursdays, 7:30 to 9 a.m., beginning July 8 through August 29. Guests 13 years of age and older will have a unique opportunity to participate in an early-morning meditative flow with a certified yoga instructor.

“Practicing yoga outdoors surrounded by nature and wildlife before the Zoo opens to the public will be an incredible way to begin the day,” said Ron Kagan, executive director and CEO for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS).

Yoga at the Zoo sessions will take place at various animal habitats, followed by a zookeeper talk. Guests will need to bring their own yoga mat and water bottle. Yoga participants can enter the Zoo starting at 7:15 a.m. Yoga at the Zoo is a rain-or-shine event; the rain location will be the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery.

The cost per session is $20 and includes Detroit Zoo admission; parking is $8. Child care will be available for $8; children must be 4 years of age or older and potty-trained. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.dzoo.org/yoga.

The DZS, in partnership with researchers at Michigan State University, recently conducted a study proving that people exhibit reduced levels of stress upon viewing animals living at the Detroit Zoo.

“Spending time at the Zoo is beneficial for both mental and physical health – adding yoga to the mix will provide a unique opportunity for guests to relax and recalibrate,” Kagan said.