So go to Bellevue Hill or wherever your favorite viewing spot is and take a minute to look this beautiful place we call home.

Written by Kara Driscoll

Did this post leave you itching to know more about the different parts of Cincy? Check out this cool, interactive website: www.space513.com

I contacted Idrissa, and asked him this series of questions.
What inspired this?
When did you start practicing yoga?
How has it benefited your life?
When did you start Yoga in the Hood?
Where is Yoga in the Hood?
Will you write us a poem about Yoga in the Hood?
What are the health benefits of yoga?
Do you see unifying of the community of through Yoga in the Hood?

Here is his response
“YOGA IN HOOD PARKS

What inspired the Yoga in Hood Parks movement came out of a longing to spread Yoga to the innercity. I want the people who need Yoga doing Yoga… In this city especially, it’s mostly white college kids and white women, some white guys knocking it out too… But I know it’s power and poor people need Yoga more than anything… Who’s working the fucked up jobs, no healthcare, well Obamacare now right? But really, Low income folks need Yoga more than anything else… You know the adage – - “health is wealth.”

I have been practicing Yoga for about 13 years now… I started getting into Egyptian Yoga around 97/98 and was going kind of steady since then… Now that I’m certified as an Ashtanga Vinyasa instructor – I teach that and Rocket (created by Larry Shultz)… Rocket’s my shit!!

Yoga in a nutshell has saved me lol or someone else… It’s calmed me a lot! Meditation, the meditation of movement – breathing has allowed me to slow down and think, be thankful and move forward at a more diligent pace… I’m telling y’all poor people need a Yoga practice!!

YOGA IN HOOD PARKS: I started YIHP’s Summer of 2010… It’s exactly what it say’s – - I pick a park in the Hood – - somewhere in the innercity of Cincinnati – - where shit other than Yoga mainly takes place, and I along with other Yogi’s get to busting out Asana’s – and we invite you to get it on with us. Most of the times people gawk or try to holla at the chicks practicing with me… Here’s a video link – - check us out – - it’s nice…

So as soon as the weather breaks, I’ll be posting a park for that specific month and it doesn’t have to be in some ghetto part of town — we get it in in any hood, good or bad we letting our lights shine and showing off too…

HERE’S A POEM – - A Haiku

Ashtanga Yoga
The Eightfold path in movement
How the Tortoise wins

I teach several versions of Yoga mainly within the Hatha tradition although I do proclaim more than anything to be a Tantric Yoga Practitioner, because of how it’s tied into my daily routine… It’s all about finding what you need – - juggling and balancing it all…

These days though I do what I call “Yoga Fit,” sessions – it helps get people along faster in their practice – - builds heat, burns off the unwanted stuff and builds real strength while keeping the breathing steady and the mind calm, focused on the task at hand… By the time you’re done — you’ve earned that Svanasana…

Do I see it unifying the community… Mmmm – - what I do see is Alternatives – - I’m big on taking my space and showing other’s, “you ain’t got to live like that,” decades of the same shit! Get some color out here some happiness some Health and Wellness!!! And yes I do see, people who can’t believe we busting out some Yoga in the Hood — Elder’s as well as Young Folk. I just want us to get it on!

So hope to see you good people out soon as the weather breaks — all I ask is a donation and good vibes – - PEACE!!! ”

There you have it. The words of a man who innovates his community, by bringing what to some people would see as weird, but is nature to others. Diversity breaths in this concept and with breath is life.

If you care to follow Yoga In Hood Parks, you can find them on Facebook.

(By: Latria Roberts)

Segway Of Ohio conducts 90-minute tours around Eden Park on their unique two-wheeled transportation devices.  Have fun tooling around the park while learning from an experienced guide.

Much appreciation should go to the city Park Board.

Cincinnati Park Board Director Willie F. Carden Jr., whom I’ve noticed likes to innovate in order to make things better, gave Jenkins the go ahead to roam Segway-mounted through the city’s parks. He also provided a closet to put them in at Eden Park, with an electrical outlet to charge them. For free.

- CityBeat story

Below is the tour brochure, and a 4:35 long video.

Segway Tours Brochure

Forever Young Treehouses promotes the construction of universally accessible treehouses across the country. While accessible treehouses provide a memorable experience for everyone, we focus on treehouse construction for children and young adults with special needs who are routinely confronted with barriers to fun and play in their daily lives. An accessible treehouse removes these obstacles, bringing people of all abilities together and closer to nature.

In April 2007, a wheelchair-accessible project called Everybody’s Treehouse opened in Mount Airy Forest. Partnerships between the Cincinnati Parks Board, Home Depot, The Cincinnati Rotary, The Marvin Lewis Foundation as well as Drees Construction and the Cincinnati Homebuilder’s Association made the house possible. Not only is the treehouse ADA-compliant, it is very unique and very, very cool.