New Tampa Library Adds Spanish-Language Yoga Class

A fan of yoga?

The New Tampa Regional Library is now offering a second free weekly yoga class starting on Jan. 10 — but this time it is in Spanish. Ruben Vasquez has been teaching a popular class in English at the library and saw the need for one in a foreign language. 

“There are so many Spanish-speaking people so we thought we would offer it as a service,” Vasquez said.

Classes will be held 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays in Spanish and then from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in English. All levels of experience are welcome in both cases.

Vasquez, who has been practicing steadily since 1996, said there are limited resources for Spanish-speaking yoga practitioners. The Colombian-born expert runs a bilingual blog and created a bilingual DVD. Information is available at his website, www.rubenvasquez.com.

At the New Tampa library, Vasquez said he has had attendees who do not know much English.

“I want to make sure people are hearing my instructions,” he said. “I know there are people who want this but may not have access.”

The English-language class has done quite well.

“We said, ‘Let’s try it for one month and see what happens.’ When (the library) saw how many people came, we continued it. Now we have been offering it for a year.”

Vasquez is hoping the Spanish-language class will do just as well.

See Also:

• Instructor Sees Yoga as Journey of Self-Discovery
• New Tampa Library Events Calendar