A little more than eight years ago, I was asked by a student, who is also a member of the NEPA Philharmonic board if I had any ideas for a fundraising event to broaden their audience and excite a younger demographic. I proposed Yoga on the Roof and our unique collaboration began.

I remember year one we thought maybe 30-35 people would attend. We had no idea what to expect. The morning of people kept coming and coming and by the start of class 114 people had assembled on the roof top, (ok ok a parking garage) in Scranton, Pennsylvania on July 4th to do yoga accompanied by the live music of a Philharmonic cellist. The energy was magical. We knew we had something special.

Each year Yoga on the Roof has grown more and more popular and become a favorite of so many yogis and non-yogis alike. The event has a real community feel. Starbucks donates coffee, Donna Vannan donates food, various photographers donate their time and skills to capture photos of the event, musicians play for us, yogis and non-yogis alike show up early on a holiday to offer sound expertise, set up, check people in and clean up- yep they even stay for the clean-up. It’s hard to find the words to express the magnitude of the energy Yoga on the Roof creates.

Last year when the pandemic happened and so many things were being canceled, I was compelled to find a way for Yoga on the Roof to go on. The Philharmonic was on board and the community rallied behind the idea. WNEP and Ryan Lecky did a show devoted to Yoga on the Roof and helped us get word out. The NEPA Philharmonic was able to create a preregistration system to minimize touch points, generous volunteers came extra early and chalked off 6 feet spaces on the roof- a messy task for sure. Donna made her delicious plant-based treats “to go” and we even had live music! People grabbed their masks and mats and got their yoga on… the roof. It looked a little different, but we did it! Year 7 was in the books.

As we head in to the eighth year, we celebrate the NEPA Philharmonic’s 50th Anniversary, an incredible milestone. While many think yoga and the Philharmonic may be an unlikely collaboration, I think yoga is like a symphony; everything working together in tempo with the breath. One note alone doesn’t make a piece of music great, it’s the whole composition. In yoga it’s not one shape or one part; it’s the body as a whole working together.

Like an organized group of musicians, a yoga class by its very nature is an opportunity for people to have an individual experience in community. Add a rooftop, live music, and it benefits the community. What’s not to love?