Sweaty Tales from Ellie: On Stage at Red Rocks | 2013

Since 1941, crowds have been piling into Red Rocks Amphitheater to see some of the greatest performers in history. Music legends like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, the Grateful Dead and The Beatles, to name a few, have graced the stage. When you’re sitting in the stands, looking up at the red, geological rocks that give the amphitheater its name, it’s easy to imagine why people travel from thousands of miles away to witness and feel the sound of a concert staged outside on a warm, summer night.

Red Rocks is a magical place, and last month I was able to experience it from a different perspective.

This summer, CorePower Yoga teamed up with Red Rocks to host the first ever Yoga on the Rocks series. Over the course of four Saturday mornings in August and September, the CPY community united to host roughly 1,000 yogis at each event who traveled from near and far for this inaugural season.

Now, I’m going to be completely honest here—it was pretty difficult to appreciate this majestic wonder of Red Rocks on a blustery Saturday morning at 5:15am. But let me tell you, when 7:00am rolled around and class began, it was completely worth it. There’s nothing more magical than Red Rocks at sunrise – and then you add yoga to the mix – perfect!  

The first ever Yoga on the Rocks went off without a hitch, but the butterflies began twirling with the thought of the second event, as I would be practicing on stage at Red Rocks. Standing on stage at Red Rocks was never anything I thought I would do. My voice just never really had the kind of talent that aligned with that the likes of Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt or Allison Krauss. The thought of being on the same stage as those musicians, doing what I love most, was surreal.

After descending down the 69 rows of seats to the stage, I took a moment to pause. Early risers were slowly filling rows and unrolling their mats. The sun had risen above the city, and it was warming up to be a spectacular Colorado day. Lora Lantz, the instructor who was leading the class, was getting ready to begin, and CPY’s Marketing Director, Holly Georgelos, was standing next to me.

Class was a blur of engaging my core and hoping that my alignment was stacked perfectly. Lora’s music permeated the stands, and as hundreds of arms stretched high, I couldn’t help but smile.

No matter how nervous I was, I cannot imagine a better way to have spent a morning. To say the least, Red Rocks didn’t fail to impress, and as “Here Comes the Sun,” by the Beatles played, the sun truly emerged and joy filled the stands. I always thought the view was incredible from the seats above, but wow - what an amazing view from down on the stage.

I’ve found that there’s something special about taking your practice out of your comfort zone. There is a beautiful, sweaty comfort that comes from practicing in the studio, but sometimes it’s nice to find a change and unroll your mat outside. You never know what you might experience.

I loved embracing the refreshing mountain air of Red Rocks. The way the breeze can ruffle your mat, the acoustics that carry the instructor’s voice and the view of the clouds as you pause in Savasana, all shift your perspective when you move away from the support of the mirrors and flat studio floors.

Now, let me pose a challenge to you as the leaves begin to turn and summer makes way for fall. Yoga on the Rocks may have finished for this season, but that doesn't mean that you can't find your own outdoor sanctuary at which to practice.

So take your mat somewhere new. You could unroll it in your backyard, on the beach or on top of a mountain. Wherever you choose, find a peace of mind and new perspective that you may not have yet experienced.

And then keep an eye out for next year’s dates, and if you haven’t visited Red Rocks – it’s a must-add to your bucket list! With the giant red rocks surrounding you, the panoramic view of Denver and the energetic, overwhelming energy of the crowd, I know you won’t be disappointed.