We're looking forward to the warm summer months ahead to bend, fold, and stretch with these alfresco yoga options around the city. Most of the classes are free.

- The Liberty Hotel hosts both guests and locals at their courtyard yoga class every Saturday. The sessions, led by Equinox instructors, run all summer long (the class is held indoors during cooler months). It's BYOM bring your own mat. 10 a.m.; free

[Stretching my soul, not my wallet / Courtesy of the Liberty Hotel]

- The Esplanade Association will again offer a variety of free yoga classes with Bare Bones Yogas Karen Fabian. A 45-minute class on one Sunday each month (June 19 is the next one) integrates games and activities it's perfect for kids of all ages. There's also sunset yoga for the more advanced yogi from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesdays, July 20 through September. See website for schedule; free.

- Through June 16, the Boston Common Frog Pond is offering morning yoga classes on Thursdays. The power vinyasa classes are led by Kyoungho Koh and are appropriate for all levels. Some mats are available to use. 9-10 a.m.; free

- Branching Out Yoga in Jamaica Plain is bringing a series of their classes outdoors beginning Sunday, June 8, through August. Catch a one-hour hatha yoga class on the first and third Sundays of the month by Dawson Pond at the Arnold Arboretum. 9 a.m.; by donation only

- Finally, the Spa at The InterContinental holds sunrise yoga on the waterfront lawn on Saturday mornings through September 3. Guests, locals, and all skill levels are welcome. 8-9 a.m.; free, mats and balance blocks are available to rent for $10

If you're willing to trek to get your Zen on (why not make a day of it?), try these spots, too:

- Stretch by the sea on the beach at Spectacle Island every Saturday from June 18 to August 27. 10:30 a.m., noon; free

- The North and South Rivers Watershed Association presents "Yoga at the River's Edge" on Saturdays from June 17 to September 10 at various locations. 8:30-10 a.m.; $12, $10 for members

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Outdoor yoga for the (downward) dog days of summer

SAN DIEGO, June 26 (UPI) -- Lengthy closing arguments in a San Diego trial challenging a public elementary school yoga program will delay a ruling in the case, the judge said.

The case, testing whether yoga is a secular exercise of a form of Hindu-based religion, is believed to be the first of its kind, U-T San Diego reported Wednesday.

San Diego Superior Court Judge John Meyer said a ruling would come Thursday at the earliest.

Attorney Dean Broyles, who represents parents in the Encinitas, Calif., Union School District who oppose a three-year, $533,000 grant from the K.P. Jois Foundation to include yoga in the physical education curriculum, spent five hours Tuesday summarizing their case, calling the program "a horrible precedent for other religious organizations to buy influence."

He added the foundation has "transparently religious goals," noting the school program is based on Ashtanga yoga, which he described as the most religious form of yoga.

Defense attorneys have said the yoga exercises are nothing more than stretching and breathing, the newspaper said.

Judge Meyer, who told the court in April he is a practitioner of yoga, questioned whether Broyles' remarks were based on testimony in the case, saying, "There's not one witness [from the school district] who said that."

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Trial of yoga in California schools nears end

Are 11-inch laptops, which we sometimes refer to as ultraportables, suddenly in vogue? You'd be forgiven for thinking so, because after a multiyear drought where only a handful of models were even worth looking at, we've now got the recent flood, including the revamped 11-inch MacBook Air, Sony's Vaio Pro 11, and now the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S.

The latter is one of the most-anticipated laptops of the year, especially after the very warm welcome its predecessor received. That predecessor was one of the most talked-about Windows 8 launch window laptops, the 13-inch IdeaPad Yoga 13. Though it looked like a standard ultrabook-style laptop, the name "Yoga" hinted at the system's big selling point -- that the display can fold fully over to become a tablet.

At the time, a contemporaneous 11-inch Windows RT version of the Yoga felt like a bit of an afterthought, and the chilly reception Windows RT products have gotten since then prove that point. We all knew a full Windows 8 version of the Yoga 11 was coming, it was just a question of when. With a subtle single-letter addition to the name to account for the RT version, the Yoga 11S (for "super"?) was first shown off at CES 2013 but is only now going on sale, a full six months later.

The original 13-inch Yoga seemed to be everyone's choice for a great Windows 8 ambassador during the 2012 holiday season -- both Microsoft and Intel touted it as a best-in-class example, and Best Buy featured it in a television ad. Shrinking the idea down to an 11-inch system creates a product that, in tablet mode, feels a lot closer to an iPad than any of the 13-inch convertible/hybrid laptops we've seen.

If you haven't seen the Yoga in action, the real surprise hook is not the tablet mode (which is perfectly usable but leaves the keyboard exposed, sticking out from the back), it's the stand mode, which I sometimes call the kiosk mode. The screen is folded back about 270 degrees, turning the system into something like a small touch-screen kiosk. It's great for sharing video or presentations in a group setting, or for just getting closer to the screen while keeping the keyboard out of the way.

The 11-inch Windows 8 version of the Yoga runs processors ranging from a Core i3 all the way to a Core i7 CPU, but all are from the now-outdated third-generation of Intel Core i-series chips. The latest so-called Haswell chips, found in Sony and Apple's newest 11-inch laptops, aren't much faster but offer a significant boost to battery life. Our review unit, with a Core i5 CPU, 256GB SSD, and 8GB of RAM, is currently available for $999 from Lenovo's Web site, although you'll want to look carefully, Lenovo's site is particularly confusing these days, with coupon codes and nearly identical configurations at widely varying prices.

If anything, the 11-inch Yoga feels like a better fit for the unique body design than the 13-inch version did. Only the outdated CPU (the company offers no guidance on when a Haswell version might be available) keeps me from giving it a more unreserved recommendation.

Design and features By now you're hopefully accustomed to seeing some very nice design work from Lenovo's IdeaPad line of consumer laptops, often in sharp counterpoint to the dry ThinkPad line that still has echoes of laptops from many years ago (but which also has legions of fans in IT departments and elsewhere in corporate America). The IdeaPad line more often than not comes up with laptop designs that are slick and modern, but still work in a professional setting. Corporate casual, perhaps.

The fold-back hinge on the Yoga differs from what most hybrids (including ones from Lenovo) have tried to do. Those other convertibles have either a rotating center hinge that swivels around to let the device change forms, a screen that slides down over the keyboard, or a fully detachable screen that sheds its keyboard base entirely to become a standalone tablet. In the era of Windows 8 and touch screens, these hybrids are actually quite common, and we've seen more of them in the past nine months than the past several years combined.

Of all the different ways to create a hybrid, Lenovo's Yoga method is arguably the best, especially if you're interested in a no-compromise laptop experience. It's certainly better than the older rotating-center-hinge design, which acted as a single potential weak point in many hybrids. If you're more interested in a full-time tablet that's also a part-time laptop, however, then something such as Microsoft's Surface Pro maybe more appropriate.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S (Windows 8)

Students hold their position during a yoga class at Capri Elementary School in Encinitas in December 2012.

Lengthy closing arguments in the trial challenging an Encinitas school yoga program pushed back a ruling in the case to Thursday at the earliest, a judge said on Tuesday.

The case is believed to be the first of its kind to test whether yoga is a secular exercise or a form of Hindu-based religion thats inappropriate for public schools.

Dean Broyles, who represents parents in the Encinitas Union School District opposed to the classes, spent nearly five hours on Tuesday wrapping up his clients case.

Broyles said the introduction of the classes sets a horrible precedent for other religious organizations to buy influence at the expense of religious freedom.

The elementary school district began offering yoga as part of physical education at all of its schools in January. The program is funded with a three-year, $533,000 grant from the K.P. Jois Foundation. On its website, the Encinitas-based group says it promotes a childrens health and wellness program that includes yoga, meditation and proper nutrition.

Broyles, however, said the group has transparently religious goals to indoctrinate school children with Hindu-based yoga.

Theres something much more than P.E. going on. Theres a worldview being taught, added Broyles, who is attorney and president of the National Center for Law & Policy, an Escondido-based nonprofit legal defense organization which focuses on the protection of religious freedom.

During Broyles closing remarks, San Diego Superior Court Judge John Meyer peppered the attorney with questions about whether his statements were backed up by testimony or evidence in the case.Theres not one witness (from the school district) who has said that, the judge said, referring to Broyles comments about a worldview being taught.

This is all Dr. Browns opinion, the judge added, referring to the plaintiffs expert witness, Candy Gunther Brown, a professor in the religious studies department at Indiana University.

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Yoga trial extended another day

Sitting on the ground with her legs straight out in front of her, yoga instructor Annie Carlin demonstrated her problem with seated forward bend. Its not an issue of flexibility Carlin has the bend part down pat. Its that the size of her thighs makes it physically impossible to keep her feet together.

So she prefers to keep them hip-distance apart, as she explained to the students enrolled in her four-week Yoga for Larger Bodies workshop series at Petworths Golden Heart Yoga, which began this month.

Vicky Hallett

Writes for the MisFits column.

Archive

(Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post) - Golden Heart yoga teacher Annie Carlin: Ive lost 100 pounds and gained it back. For a really long time, I was angry. All these moves, I couldnt do them anymore.

The other thing we can do is move our butt flesh out of the way, she added, noting with a grin that yoga teaching is the only time I get to say butt flesh.

Other teachers can say it, but most of them dont actually have much of it. And thats what can prevent people who look like Carlin and her students from feeling as if they belong in a yoga class even though they derive the same benefits from stretching, strengthening and breathing deeply as everyone else.

I stand out no matter what I do, says Carlin, 31, who admits that even shes wary whenever she walks into a new studio. But with certain modifications and props, Carlin can be comfortable in any class, and thats her goal for her students, too.

Every person brings something different to the yoga mat, Carlin says, and its not always visible. In her case, its a decade of practice that started when she fell for yoga while studying at New York University. Over time, she experienced changes in her career which brought her to Washington in 2007 as well as her body.

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Yoga for larger bodies

By Joel Santo Domingo

If you were waiting for a full Windows 8 convertible tablet/laptop combo, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S ($999) has potential. Its innovative design gives you a laptop full time that you can use as a tablet part time. It's a good leap of faith by Lenovo, but internal components and battery life in particular hold it back from being great.

Design and Features The IdeaPad Yoga 11S is the little brother to the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 ($999) we saw last year. The Yoga 11S looks a lot like the Windows RT-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 ($669) we looked at earlier this year, thought the Yoga 11S is a smidge thicker and heavier.

The Yoga 11S measures about 0.67 by 12 by 8 inches (HWD), and weighs in at 2.96 pounds. Like the other IdeaPad Yoga systems, the Yoga 11S is a convertible tablet that acts like a laptop. When you first open the system, it looks very much like a normal clamshell laptop. Once you swing the lid past 180 degrees, however, you'll be able to use the system's tent mode (like an a-frame), stand mode (screen out, but keyboard facing the table), and tablet mode (just what it sounds like).

The tent mode and stand mode are innovative, though limited to specific uses (mainly to present videos or presentations on a table without needing the keyboard). When in tablet mode, the Yoga 11S works like a somewhat heavy slate tablet PC. Compared to the Editors' Choice Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro ($999) or the Dell Latitude 10 ($749), the Yoga 11S is a little heavier and a little more awkward on account of its larger chassis. The Surface Pro and Latitude 10 have smaller 10-inch screens, and hence are easier to carry.

On the other hand, the Yoga 11S has a very comfortable and sturdy keyboard that is a joy to use in laptop mode. The keyboard isn't backlit, but the trackpad is multi-touch. The screen also has 10-point touch, so you have quite a few ways to interact with the bright IPS screen. The screen sports a 1,366-by-768 resolution, which is short of the Microsoft Surface Pro's 1080p screen, but the Yoga 11s' screen is bright and quite clear. You may not miss the extra screen space unless you're working on large spreadsheets or megapixel images.

When you swing the lid over past 190 degrees, the keyboard and touchpad automatically deactivate, but they are still tactile, i.e. they are not a smooth surface like on the back of a true slate tablet. If you think this will bother you, you may want to try the Yoga 11S out in a store first. That said, slate tablets above are a lot less comfortable to type on, even the Surface Pro with the Microsoft Type Cover. If there's any real nit to tablet mode, it's that the system vents warm to hot air right into the arm that's holding the tablet or on your supporting palm, depending on how you have the tablet oriented. This is a consequence of using a ultrabook-class Intel Core i5-3339Y processor instead of a lower powered Tegra 3 processor as in the Windows RT-equipped Yoga 11.

The Yoga 11S comes with a capacious 256GB SSD in this configuration, along with 8GB of system memory. This means you'll have plenty of space for files before you have to resort to using the SD card slot for additional storage space. The system comes with one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 port for connecting a mouse and external hard drive, respectively. The system also comes with a full-size HDMI port for connecting an external display. The Yoga 11S comes with a 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi adapter for connecting to your home router.

The system comes with an ambient light sensor to control the screen's brightness, but it's a little overly aggressive. The screen dimming and brightening frequently while in use distracted and annoyed us, often when we were reaching for the touch screen. The room itself was brightly lit, so it was the process of using the laptop that made the screen dim. Also, you may need to get used to the screen rotating due to the built-in gyroscope and accelerometer. Lenovo added its motion control interface to Windows 8, and while novel it's more of a gimmick than a useful interface, especially since the touch screen and touchpad are so responsive. Essentially, you can interact with the Yoga 11S in a plethora of manners, so if you're looking to develop an innovative software package, interface, or use for the PC, this is the system to get.

The Yoga 11S comes with quite a few pre-loaded programs, including McAfee Security Advisor, Accuweather, Kindle, Rara music, Evernote Touch, Zinio, Lenovo Companion, Lenovo Support, Skype, Encyclopedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Enfeel Birzzle (a touch-based block puzzler), SugarSync, FilmOn Television, an ad for Microsoft Office, Intel AppUp, and eBay. The Yoga 11S comes with a one-year base warranty.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S

LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Manduka, purveyor of high performance yoga gear and the #1 choice of yoga teachers worldwide, is guiding the community on a personal journey this summer with tools and inspiration to turn on their 'inner GPS' and choose their own adventure. Whether the journey lasts thousands of miles or just into the backyard, Manduka's new Summer collection supports all types of yogis, yoga practices and adventures while collecting community photos from the road.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130627/LA39459)

Because there's no place like a home yoga sanctuary, Manduka is launching the new PRO Squared Mat, a generously oversized yoga mat, big enough to host a healthy staycation for the whole family. Built with the same high performance material and innovation as Manduka's legendary Black Mat PRO, the PRO Squared is nearly 40 square feet of luxurious density for unparalleled comfort and cushion. Its superior non-slip fabric finish and extra, extra large coverage area allows for room to roam while staying grounded in the practice.

Taking inspiration from the peaceful shades of summer, Manduka's original Black Mat PRO is now also available in two limited edition options: the two-toned Black Mod featuring a heather grey top surface and misty blue bottom, and Black Bliss in a cooling misty blue. The Go-Getter mat carrier, an innovative mat strap with a handle grip for comfortable portability, is now offered in Heather Grey with misty blue accents while Manduka's Recycled Foam Block made of over 50% recycled EVA foam is available for the first time in two-toned Mod.

"Summer is a time to explore new adventures," said Sky Meltzer, CEO of Manduka. "Those adventures might take us across the country, or they might take us deeper inside ourselves. Our goal this season is to engineer functional new products that inspire yogis to go wherever their inner GPS, and their practice, might take them."

Inspired by summer travels, Manduka will encourage the yoga community to follow their inner GPS online, sharing where their journey takes them through an integrated Instagram campaign. Over the course of five weeks, Manduka will focus on five themes including Inner Peace, Back to Nurture, The Thrill of Adventure, Another State and Coming hOMe. Every week Manduka will share an image on Instagram related to the theme with instructions on how to reach that destination. Followers who share a photo capturing that week's theme with the hashtag #innerGPS will be entered to win a collection of Manduka Summer gear. Manduka will also share select images in a Facebook gallery and through their blog. The campaign will kick-off Tuesday, July 2.

Throughout the summer Manduka will host a suite of promotions and discounts on current product.

For more information on Manduka, prices and availability please visit:www.manduka.com join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mandukayogaor follow us @MandukaYoga

About Manduka Founded in 1997, Manduka was built on the simple idea that a better yoga mat can make a world of difference. Manduka strives to support and enrich the yoga community by providing premium quality mats and products while respecting employees, customers, materials, and the environment. Created for and by yoga enthusiasts, Manduka's technical and purpose-driven product designs meet and often exceed the distinct needs of all practitioners. Today Manduka's products, which include yoga mats, towels, yoga straps, water bottles, and bags, are sold in more than 65 countries around the world. Not only focusing on superior design, Manduka also promotes their ethos of quality, thoughtfulness and sustainability in all realms of their business.

Contact: Marci Mollins Saeger Media Group marci@saegermediagroup.com310-464-0887

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Mandukao Turns On Yoga Community's #innerGPS With Fresh Summer Products And Transformative Social Campaign