Yoga near whales? The fun starts Sunday

Beluga whales are known for their underwater movements but soon they will have some human competition in the grace department at the Georgia Aquarium.

The downtown Atlanta attraction, which has worked to attract visitors by offering everything from a manta ray to a Titanic Aquatic exhibit during the past six months, will begin hosting yoga classes Sunday. The world’s largest aquarium is teaming with Be Well Atlanta, a yoga studio, to bring yoga classes. “We probably had 100 independent requests for yoga here,” said aquarium spokesman Dave Santucci. “People said, ‘Oh, this would be a perfect place to do yoga.’ “

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Rich Addicks/raddicks@ajc.com

Starting Sunday, the Georgia Aquarium will host yoga classes with Be Well Atlanta. Pictured is instructor Karen Dorfman.

• Photos: Yoga classes at the aquarium
• Georgia Aquarium news and photos

The classes will be held throughout the building, Santucci said, including in front of Ocean Voyager, the home of the aquarium’s whale sharks, grouper and stingrays. Classes cost $20 per session for aquarium members and $35 for nonmembers. Children’s classes are $25 per session. Mats can be rented for $3.

Yoga teachers said bringing the exercise out of the studios and gyms and into public areas has long been a dream.

“There has been a lot of talk in the community about having it in malls and airports, but this is the first public exposure that I’m aware of,” said Chaital Naidu, a Be Well instructor.

On a recent practice run, the class of 20 or so people sat peacefully on mats while the aquarium’s three belugas danced in the water, flipping and turning and showing their talents.

“A lot of animals you’ll find in yoga poses,” Santucci said.