As the United Nations-designated International Yoga Day approaches on June 21, communities across Belize are gearing up to join the global celebration of the ancient holistic practice by offering a full slate of free, public yoga sessions open to people of all backgrounds and experience levels.
From the coastal hubs of Placencia and Caye Caulker to inland population centers including Belmopan, Belize City and Punta Gorda, free classes have been organized across every region of the country, making this accessible wellness practice available to everyone regardless of income, ability or prior familiarity with yoga. Established by the United Nations to honor yoga’s wide-ranging benefits for physical fitness, mental clarity and spiritual balance, International Yoga Day has seen growing participation among Belizeans year over year, local organizers say.
Ashanti Ruggles, Vice Chair of Belize-based wellness organization Black Orchid Wellness, has emerged as a key organizer for the nationwide initiative, and is personally encouraging all interested residents to attend a session, no matter their skill level. In an interview, Ruggles emphasized that the choice to host all sessions for free removes a key barrier to access, ensuring people of all income brackets, ages and life experiences can engage with the practice.
“Yoga is more than just physical movement — it is a transformative, holistic practice that calms the mind and nurtures spiritual well-being alongside physical health,” Ruggles explained. “By offering all these classes for free, we open the door for anyone who has ever been curious to try it, without any financial pressure.”
The full schedule of events caters to a range of schedules across the week leading up to and including International Yoga Day, which falls on Father’s Day this year:
– Placencia: 9 a.m. June 20 at the covered basketball court
– Punta Gorda: 10 a.m. June 20 at the Copal Tree Yoga Pavilion
– Independence Village: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 21 (Father’s Day) at the basketball court behind Altitude Gym
– Belmopan: 7:30 a.m. June 20 on the steps of the National Assembly building
– Caye Caulker: 6 p.m. June 21 at Ceiba Yoga (additional information available via the group’s Facebook and Instagram pages)
– Santa Elena: 11 a.m. June 20 at Black Orchid Wellness, taught personally by Ruggles, with updates posted to Black Orchid Wellness’s social media pages
– Belize City: 6:30 p.m. daily through June 27 at Digi Park, led by instructor Ida
Ruggles noted that even people without access to social media can simply show up to any scheduled location, as no pre-registration is required for the free events. Attendees only need to bring their own yoga supplies to participate. She extended a special invitation to people of all ages, genders and body types, noting that yoga is adaptable to every body and no experience is necessary to enjoy the practice’s benefits.
This report is adapted from a transcript of a televised evening newscast, which originally included transcribed Kriol text formatted per standard spelling conventions.