Dance & Yoga in the Park!

Join us for a rejuvenating afternoon of movement at Preservation Park in Oakland. Soulflow Oakland will be offering 2 classes back-to-back
About this Event

Join us for a rejuvenating afternoon of movement at Preservation Park in Oakland. Soulflow Oakland will be offering 2 classes back-to-back on September 20, 2026 from 2PM - 4PM, and you can attend 1 or both! Invigorating low-impact dance first, followed by a gentle yoga class for a variety of options. All bodies and experience levels are encouraged to attend. Bring your own water bottle, sunscreen and/or hat, and yoga mat if you have one (limited props available for rent). Beginners welcome!

These classes are offered freely as a way to uplift and unite our community. Donations are welcome to support our mission of offering healing and movement to all.

Event Details:

Yoga in the Park! with Soulflow Oakland

Sunday, September 20, 2026 from 2PM - 4PM

Preservation Park 

1233 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612

1st class: 2PM - 2:50PM (50 mins) - Afro-Brazilian Dance with Emaye

2nd class: 3PM - 3:50PM (50 mins) - Yoga with Najla

Suggested donation: $0-20 per class

About the Series: This event is part of a 3-part monthly series hosted this summer by Soulflow Oakland in Preservation Park. Mark your calendars for October 18th 2-4 pm as well! At each event, you’ll get to experience movement instruction from a variety of diverse, skilled, attuned instructors from Soulflow Oakland, a Black Queer Woman led community healing space right in the heart of downtown Oakland. This event is a radically inclusive space open to all races, genders, immigration statuses, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, sizes, and levels of experience. 

1st class: 2PM - 2:50PM (50 mins) - Afro-Brazilian Dance with Emaye

Our first class, held at 2PM on Sunday September 20 is Afro-Brazilian Dance. With vivid and energetic songs, this class presents techniques of Afro-Brazilian dance from the school of the phenomenal artist Mercedes Baptista. With unique rhythms, the traditional meets the contemporary in movements inspired by the Orishas as well as Jongo, Cafezal, Maracatu, Samba-Afro and other culturally pertinent styles.

With a thorough warm-up, cool down, and low impact options provided, this class is accessible for all levels including beginners.

Activity level: Moderate to Rigorous (with options to modify!)

2nd class: 3PM - 3:50PM (50 mins) - Yoga with Najla

The second class, held at 3PM, will be Yoga with Najla. Build strength and flexibility while cultivating mindfulness in this all levels Hatha flow Yoga class. At times we will move more dynamically and at other times we move slowly. This class is beginner friendly as often instructors will break down poses or sequences. Poses will be tailored to suit individual students through the use of modifications and props. Each class has a unique, inspiring theme and personalized instruction to cultivate safety and body awareness. This is a radically inclusive space open to all races, genders, immigration statuses, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, sizes, and levels of experience. 

Activity level: gentle to moderate

Emaye Mizani was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her earliest memories of dance are of her family. She comes from a traditional cultural background of Samba and Jongo. Her great grandmother was one of the founders of Salgueiro, one of the most prominent schools of Samba of Rio. Emaye began taking dance classes at the age of 9. She studied classic ballet, jazz and Afro-Brazilian dance. Later she was exposed to Modern dance and took classes at Alvin Ailey on Horton technique. Emaye has danced professionally with Cia Étnica de Dança by choreographer Carmen Luz. She has also toured Europe with a theater company from Vila Cruzeiro, a well known Favela in Rio. Although exposed to a plethora of dances and techniques from around the world, Emaye specialized in Afro-Brazilian dance which has been her passion since her early days. Being a resident of the Bay Area for the past 7 years, Emaye is also a Chef, Kemetic Yoga instructor and Doula.

Najla Gomez Rodriguez (she/her) is a coach, organizer, writer, and healing practitioner dedicated to collective liberation. Born in Mexico City and raised in Oakland, her work has spanned housing justice, education justice, leadership development, and healing justice movements. After practicing yoga for more than 10 years, she recently completed her Yoga Teacher Training through Ignite Institute for Yogic Leadership and Social Change. Najla teaches from the belief that yoga is a practice of returning—to our breath, our bodies, our ancestors, and our inherent worth. Her classes weave mindfulness, curiosity, and compassion to create space for students to meet themselves exactly as they are.