Park Yoga proves a hit with record numbers rolling out their mats
Published 17 June 2026
Hundreds of people across South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse are rolling out their yoga mats and making the most of their local green spaces, with this year’s Park Yoga sessions already attracting record numbers.
The free Sunday morning sessions, funded by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils and delivered by the Active Communities team through the Park Yoga charity, returned in May and have already welcomed more than 2200 participants across six locations in just seven weeks.
Taking place every Sunday at 9.30am until 14 September, Park Yoga is open to everyone, with no booking required. Participants simply need to bring a mat or towel and a drink and enjoy an hour of guided yoga in the fresh air.
This year, Park Yoga expanded to four new locations in Botley, Didcot, Faringdon and Henley, alongside the returning sessions in Abingdon and Thame. The expansion has been a great success, with Didcot proving particularly popular and becoming the first location to attract more than 100 people to a single session. The following week, Abingdon also set a new attendance record of more than 100 people for the session. The established yoga sessions have also continued to grow, with both Abingdon and Thame attracting higher average attendances than last year, as more people make Park Yoga part of their Sunday morning routine.
Cllr Georgina Heritage, Cabinet Member for Communities at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people making the most of our beautiful green spaces and giving Park Yoga a go. We’ve been really pleased with the feedback – as one participant put it, it’s ‘a lovely way to start your Sunday morning’, while another described the sessions as having ‘a sense of togetherness’. There are still plenty of Park Yoga sessions to enjoy over the summer and everyone’s welcome to have a go”
Cllr Helen Pighills, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: ”It’s been wonderful to see so many people enjoying Park Yoga and making it part of their Sunday morning. People have told us how welcoming and inclusive the sessions are, whether they’re new to yoga or returning after a break, and how being outdoors in nature makes it even more special. There’s a real sense of community, and it’s brilliant to see people coming together to get active in such a relaxed and friendly environment.”
Where to do Park Yoga
Park Yoga takes place at various parks in Abingdon, Botley, Didcot, Faringdon, Henley and Thame every Sunday at 9.30am – last session of this summer is scheduled for 14 September. As the sessions are weather dependent, people are encouraged to check their local Park Yoga Facebook page on the morning of the session for any updates
More information about Park Yoga locations and other Active Communities outdoor activities can be found on South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse websites.
