Overview
Crescent City Yoga at The Heart Space began in August 2020 with outdoor yoga classes in New Orleans City Park, founded by RYT 500 certified teachers Lee Lemond and Kelly Ryan. The studio operates on a donation-based model with a strong commitment to inclusivity, creating a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and diverse populations. Classes are held primarily under the Peristyle at City Park, with the option to move to the Great Lawn when needed, providing a vibrant outdoor community experience. The studio has expanded to include indoor sessions, private yoga, corporate programs, and workshops on yoga philosophy, meditation, and breath practice. Visitors consistently praise the accessible teaching approach that serves both beginners and advanced practitioners while fostering personal growth.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed | – |
| Wednesday | Closed | – |
| Thursday | Open | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
| Friday | Closed | – |
| Saturday | Closed | – |
| Sunday | Closed | – |
Studio in Details
Community Roots and Inclusive Philosophy
Crescent City Yoga at The Heart Space began as a response to pandemic closures, when founders Lee Lemond and Kelly Ryan started offering outdoor yoga classes in New Orleans City Park in August 2020. What visitors describe as a “small gathering” quickly grew into what people call a “flourishing spiritual community” or sangha. The founders, both RYT 500 certified teachers with over 15 years of practice each, met during teacher training at Swan River Yoga in 2019. Their shared commitment to inclusivity led them to further education at Sama Studio, where they developed skills in teaching accessible yoga to diverse populations. In 2021, they deepened this focus by completing Susanna Barkataki’s 300-hour advanced teacher training on social justice in yoga. As part of the LGBTQ+ community themselves, they explicitly strive to create what visitors call a “safe space” where all individuals can explore their potential without judgment.
The studio’s identity is deeply intertwined with its New Orleans location. Classes are held under the Peristyle at City Park (42 Dreyfous Dr), with the note that if the Peristyle has an event, they usually move to the Great Lawn across the street. Visitors are advised to check social media for last-minute changes. This outdoor setting in a “vibrant outdoor community space in the heart of New Orleans” contributes significantly to the atmosphere people experience. The founders’ teaching style, as described by visitors, emphasizes accessibility, inclusivity, and a welcoming environment for everyone who joins their classes. One person noted that “Lee and Kelly teach yoga accessibility for beginners and advance alike with yogic concepts in the forefront,” adding that “there is dogmatic teachings but a sense of wisdom these two bring.”
Class Offerings and Evolving Programming
Crescent City Yoga offers what visitors describe as “weekly donation-based classes” that form the core of their community offerings. The exact styles of these group yoga classes aren’t specified in visitor feedback, but people mention that the teachers incorporate “yogic concepts” into the asanas (physical postures). One visitor expressed amazement at “how they apply it into the asanas” and noted that “you find yourself developing as a better person for it.” The studio has expanded beyond its original outdoor format, with one person mentioning “now with there expansion into indoors yoga it has affordable pricing.” This suggests the studio now operates in both outdoor and indoor settings, though visitors don’t provide details about the indoor facility’s specific location or amenities.
Beyond regular classes, the studio has grown to offer additional formats. According to their website content, they now provide private yoga sessions, corporate or workplace yoga, and workshops on various topics. These workshops cover subjects like yoga philosophy, meditation, pranayama (breath practice), asana (movement), and silent retreats. The evolution from purely donation-based outdoor classes to a more diversified offering reflects what the founders describe as “embracing the ever-changing landscape of yoga, adapting our practice to meet the needs of our students.” Visitors don’t mention specific workshop schedules or corporate program details, but the expansion indicates a responsive approach to community needs.
Accessibility and Community Experience
The financial accessibility of Crescent City Yoga is repeatedly emphasized in visitor feedback. One person states clearly: “Crescent City Yoga teaches donation based and no one is ever turned down.” This donation-based model for their weekly classes appears to be a foundational aspect of their philosophy. With their expansion indoors, visitors note “it has affordable pricing,” though specific rates aren’t mentioned. The studio’s commitment to accessibility extends beyond economics to the teaching approach itself. Visitors describe how the teachers make yoga accessible to both beginners and advanced practitioners alike, with one person noting they discovered the studio through Instagram where they “was welcomed with information.”
What emerges most strongly from visitor accounts is the sense of community. Multiple people describe Crescent City Yoga as having become their “home for yoga,” with one adding “Crescent City not only offers yoga but a sense of community.” This community aspect seems to be what distinguishes the experience for many participants. The outdoor location in City Park likely contributes to this atmosphere, though visitors don’t describe the specific physical environment beyond the Peristyle location. The founders’ vision of creating “a sangha, where people from all walks of life come together to experience the profound benefits of yoga” appears to be realized in practice, according to visitor experiences. As one person summarizes: “They get 5 tacos out of 5! Come by and flow with us.”