Yoga class interrupted for “disturbing the peace”

On Saturday afternoon a group of Hermosa yoga enthusiasts gathered on the beach for a peaceful sunset class at 16th street. Shortly after the class began, the group was interrupted by the Hermosa Beach police and asked to relocate because of resident complaints.

Local yogi Courtney Hermann was teaching the class on Saturday as a benefit for the Africa Yoga Project.

“I thought they wanted to join in,” Hermann said. “Instead they told me my voice was carrying so loud and that we needed to move.”

The Africa Yoga Project, which is locally organized by Cynthia Whitman, provides teacher training for locals and international visitors to provide yoga classes to communities in Nairobi, Kenya.

“Yoga has empowered millions of people across the world by supporting physical, mental and emotional health, facilitating authentic personal expression, building supportive communities, and inspiring positive action to contribute to others,” the Project’s mission statement reads. “We are dedicated to delivering all that yoga has to offer to the diverse communities of East Africa, while at the same time providing opportunities for members of the global yoga community to participate and contribute.”

AYP delivers free yoga teacher training to marginalized youth living in Kenya’s informal settlements, creating financial and social empowerment. The populations served by AYP include individuals in special needs schools, jails, orphanages and HIV/AIDS support groups.

Hermann was instructing the group on the beach when two residents called her over.

She explained what the class was for and that the beach was public property. The couple, who Hermann says was drinking wine and clearly intoxicated, threatened to call the police.

When a Hermosa Beach police officer arrived, he asked Hermann to move the class farther down the beach. The couple had complained that the group was disturbing the peace.

“It’s just crazy because we were just practicing yoga and doing it for a good cause,” Hermann said. “And it’s such a waste of time for the police.”

Hermosa Beach Police did not return calls seeking comment.

The couple left the group alone after the class moved closer to the lifeguard tower. Hermann tried not to let her frustration put a damper on the event.

“Yoga mentality is just about kindness and preaching light,” she said. “I guess you never know what someone else is going through.”