Yoga teachers threaten legal action after swarm of park rangers shut down their free beachside classes in San Diego

A group of San Diego yoga teachers have been told by the city they can no long hold their free beachside classes.

Despite not charging a penny for their tuition, the instructors supposedly fall under updated vendor laws for the city and have had their sessions disrupted by park rangers who have even used trucks to block access to the calming classes. 

In the past, the vendor law was mainly designed to target food vendors who were unlicensed or perhaps prevent large gatherings in public park spaces.

Park rangers are on the site of a beachside yoga class in San Diego which is now not allowed under new citywide ordinance designed to clamp down on unlicensed vendors

The classes have taken place along beachside locations for more than a decade without an issue - until now. Pictured, a yoga class at Sunset Cliffs 

But the ordinance has now been updated to include other types of commercial and recreational activities in public spaces, including luxury picnics and yoga classes. 

The new language specifically prohibits businesses from operating beach events, classifying yoga and other activities as a 'service.' 

The city of San Diego say that the classes can only go ahead with permits and that they will have to stick to a specific area of land. 

Only classes of four people or fewer will be allowed without a permit. 

'They showed up with big trucks, they drove them on the cliffs to block out our class, which I thought was very overkill,' one of the instructors, Danielle MacGreggor, told Fox 5.

'Every time we show up somewhere park rangers are sitting there ready to pounce, telling people they have to leave and that they can't set up - that they can't use the park space that our city tax dollars pay for,' she explained.

Park rangers are now said to be waiting in their trucks to pounce on anyone holding a class

'It seems so archaic and out of touch with what our city needs especially in a post-Covid world. I want to make sure that the city understands that a very well-intentioned law to regular street vendors has gone awry,' instructor Danielle MacGreggor, pictured, said

The instructors have now told the city to back off and issued a cease and desist letter to city leaders, including city attorney Mara Elliot and the Mayor Todd Gloria

'It seems so archaic and out of touch with what our city needs especially in a post-covid world. I want to make sure that the city understands that a very well intentioned law to regular street vendors has gone awry,' MacGreggor said.

The yoga instructors had thought that due to the relatively small size of their class, coupled with the fact participants pay donations rather than fees, it meant they did not fall under the vendor laws.

The instructors who were told of the news have expressed both shock and confusion especially considering the classes that take place in parks along the San Diego coast including Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla and Pacific Beach have continued without issue for more than a decade.

'When I got here the street was lined with park ranger trucks,' Jackie Kowalik told Fox 5.  'There were three rangers standing in the grass overlooking a class doing yoga.'

After class, the park rangers moved in to give the teacher a ticket.

'I pay tax dollars to support these parks to support our city and I want to be able to use the park how I want. I want my kids to use the parks how they want,' Kowalik said.

The group have now told the city to back off and issued a cease and desist letter to city leaders, including city attorney Mara Elliot and the Mayor Todd Gloria.

In their letter, the instructors say that it was not clear in the new law that it would include yoga sessions and argue that the classes might even be considered a form of free speech, which would be exempt.

Banning yoga in City parks was never stated as being a purpose or result of the sidewalk vending ordinance that was being considered,' the letter read.

'I pay tax dollars to support these parks to support our city and I want to be able to use the park how I want. I want my kids to use the parks how they want,' Jackie Kowalik said

Park rangers observed a yoga class then waited until it was over to issue the instructor a ticket

Park rangers are close by ready to write out tickets to anyone who takes part in the classes

Only smaller classes of up to four people are permitted

The yoga instructors say they intend to take a stand against city officials over the new law

'Our clients are engaged in pure speech, teaching yoga to anyone who wishes to listen and participate. They are not charging fees, and they are not blocking or restricting access to any public space. Passively accepting donations in a way that is not 'inherently intrusive or potentially coercive' is similarly protected speech,' it further contended.

The yoga instructors also intend to file a lawsuit in the hope of securing an injunction against any enforcement of the ordinance that would lead to the cancellation of their classes.

A meeting will take place between the yoga instructors and city officials this Friday.