Via-DisneyParksBlog
The sun rose over the spires of the iconic castles across Disney Parks worldwide as thousands of cast members gathered with their yoga mats to celebrate International Yoga Day.
Since the first yoga day event at Walt Disney World in 2016, two cast members have had the honor of sharing their yoga expertise by leading cast through a mindful yoga activity at this exclusive, now annual, wellness event. For husband-and-wife team Adam and Dana Brady, guiding fellow cast members through the uniquely-Disney sunrise yoga experience is… magical.
“From the castle stage, we have a one-of-a-kind perspective of how this experience impacts our cast; it’s a special blend of yoga practice and a magical environment coming together,” said Adam. “We are incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to share the gift of yoga with our fellow cast members in such a unique and inspirational way.”
Adam and Dana’s story is forever linked to the magic meeting while working at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Now a manager on the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products’ Wellness team, Adam recently celebrated 30 years with the company and Dana gets to make dreams come true as she works in Disney Casting as a recruiter. Their Disney experience combined with their expertise as certified instructors make them the perfect pair to lead cast at this exclusive event.
“It’s truly the best thing ever,” Dana said, “being such Disney fans ourselves, to share in this experience with each other, and to teach yoga in this setting next to your partner and best friend is unforgettably incredible.”
For cast members, Walt Disney World is only one of the many resorts offering this uniquely Disney experience. Disney parks and resorts around the globe come together each year on June 21 to celebrate International Yoga Day with cast-exclusive yoga events in iconic Disney locations.
Shinobu Tygi, the yoga instructor at the Disneyland Resort event, agrees that celebrating International Yoga Day is an invitation to focus on improving overall well-being and inspires the personal wellness journeys of our cast.
“It is exciting to know that our cast are choosing to participate in yoga, because self-care is so important,” Shinobu said. “As a yoga instructor, I would like all our cast to feel the impact of yoga on their physical and mental well-being — not just during the event, but also after the event, and into their daily lives.”
For those who were unable to attend in-person, a cast-exclusive virtual yoga class was offered to enjoy today and in the weeks ahead.
How are you celebrating? Share in comments below or on social with #DisneyInternationalYogaDay.
