3 yoga events that will help you get geared up for spring

Hip Hop Yoga pop-up with Jaimee Ratliff at Nirvana Yoga Studios

Credit: Nedra Rhone

Credit: Nedra Rhone

Hip Hop Yoga pop-up with Jaimee Ratliff at Nirvana Yoga Studios

Yoga lovers (and newbies) have a few opportunities to get ohm-ing as the metro Atlanta yoga boom continues this spring. Here are a few events to check out now and in the future:

Hip-Hop Yoga pop-ups with Jaimee Ratliff : Ratliff's $12 classes are a 60-minute, high intensity vinyasa flow described as Deepak meets Tupac. Expect to hear tunes from Tupac, Biggie, Drake, Salt N Papa and others as you move through poses. Because she believes in community building and making yoga accessible to all, Ratliff begins her classes by encouraging attendees to get to know their neighbors. She also incorporates some sequences that will pair neighbors together. After five minutes of breathing and quiet, students spend 45-50 minutes working up a sweat to hip hop tunes from the 90s forward. Ratliff offers cues to take moves up or down a notch, so the class is suited to all levels. Class ends with cold lavender infused towels and an inspirational meditation. Spots fill up fast. March 18 at Nirvana Yoga Studios is already booked, but next week's schedule will be up this weekend. If you're interested in signing up, join the email list at  https://www.jaimeeratliff.com/  to be notified.

Dancing Dogs Yoga Atlanta: On Saturday, March 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. enjoy a grand opening Party with an après yoga brunch. Dancing Dogs is Atlanta's first Baptiste Yoga affiliate studio. During the grand opening celebration, they will offer pose clinics, raffles, cocktails and bites and swag bags for the first 75 attendees. In addition, guests will get to party with a few puppies from the Atlanta Humane Society. Dancing Dogs Yoga Atlanta, 1805 Howell Mill Road NE, Atlanta. RSVP and register for a free class at  https://ddyatlanta.splashthat.com.

Free Yoga in Piedmont Park with Amber Barry of Westside Yoga : Get outside and engage in some allergy blasting yoga on the first day of Spring. Barry suggests using a Neti pot before yoga. She also recommends a few poses to help open up your nasal passages such as shoulder stands and other inversions that improve drainage when held for one or two minutes. Bridge pose and other backbends open the chest. And Fish pose also helps open the chest, lungs and throat. Join Barry for a free 60 minute class at Piedmont Park on Monday, March 20 from 6 p.m.  - 7 p.m. at Park Tavern by the big oak tree. Bring your mat, water bottle and towel. If it rains, the event will be moved under cover. The event takes place monthly on April 3, May 1, June 5, July 10, Aug. 7 and Oct. 2.