Downtown Cary Park hosts a variety of fitness classes every week. If you’ve been thinking of registering for one of these classes but want to learn more, you’ve come to the right place. We got the chance to speak with Downtown Cary Park’s Yoga Instructors Tiana Sherrod and Alicia Calderwood, Stretch and Refresh Instructor Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT, and Zumba Instructor Tameka Pettigrew. Take a look below to learn more about them and their classes:
Can you describe yourself and your fitness background?
Alicia Calderwood: I am the owner of Pura Vida Studio. An aerial, yoga, and wellness studio located in Cary! I have been practicing and teaching yoga for over a decade! Yoga is a way of life for me and I love sharing it with others. I started yoga as an adult beginner as a new year’s resolution for something to help my mental health and my physical health. Once I started seeing the benefits of yoga I loved it so much that I went to go get my certification to teach and then later open Pura Vida Studio in 2019. Yoga changed my life. It helped get me stronger physically, helped me with my mental health, and helped my overall wellbeing. My goal as a yoga teacher is to be a guide for students in their yoga experience to keep them safe in the bodies while sharing the little nuggets of wisdom yoga has taught me on and off my mat.
Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT: I am a physical therapist that specializes in flexibility and performing artists. I own my own PT clinic, Elite Arts Physical Therapy, where I work with patients in Raleigh, NC and online. My background is in dance and circus acrobatics, but I love working with all different orthopedic patients!
Tameka Pettigrew: I’ve been teaching Zumba since 2012, and this year I’ve had the pleasure of leading Zumba classes at Downtown Cary Park. It’s been incredibly rewarding to meet new people and see families bond through movement.
Tiana Sherrod: As a Holistic Trauma Therapist, Yoga Instructor, and advocate for overall wellness, I’ve woven together a beautiful tapestry of passion and purpose. I discovered yoga as a tool for self-care and stress relief during graduate school over 10 years ago. As I delved deeper into learning trauma and the body’s response, I realized yoga’s profound impact on healing and empowerment.
My background in therapy helped me appreciate the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of yoga. I received my initial 200 hr certification in 2020 and my 300 hr Holistic and Trauma informed certification shortly after, which really helped me bridge the gap between my work as a Therapist and Yoga Instructor.
I am passionate about providing this experience to diverse communities, particularly those who have historically been marginalized and left out of the practice. Today, I continue to blend my therapeutic background with yoga to create holistic experiences that foster resilience, self-awareness, and transformation. I’ve had the privilege of sharing this practice with so many people from a variety of backgrounds. I have been able to offer yoga in the form of Group Yoga Classes, Corporate Wellness, private 1–1 sessions, Prenatal Yoga, Yoga for Non-Profit Organizations, Yoga within Schools, and Collaborating with other Business Owners and Entrepreneurs.
How long have you been leading classes at Downtown Cary Park, and what do you enjoy most about it?
Alicia Calderwood: I have been teaching yoga at the park every Saturday morning since January 2024! As well as some fun pop up yoga classes, like Glow Yoga, and Partner Acro Yoga. Teaching at the park is always the highlight of my week!
I was 9 months pregnant at the beginning of the year teaching yoga for the park and showing the community that yoga is for everyone at each season of their life! It helped keep me moving through pregnancy and helped me through my recovery postpartum. Being able to show up on my mat to lead in these big transitions of life for me have been relatable for the community! I have had new mamas show up being nervous coming to their first session postpartum, or people show up with injuries, or students that have never done yoga before. I share with them what I will offer and ask them to meet their bodies where they are at that moment. They start to get to meet the real version of themselves each time they show up on their mat.
Each week we have new and familiar faces show up to put in the work and to move as a community. These classes have grown exponentially over time. There is something so special about practicing yoga outside. We get to embrace this beautiful park as our space to practice and get to be vulnerable as a community. We have endured the cold, the heat, and moved all around the park. Nothing has stopped us. We pivot and we still show up on our mat for this practice and its benefits! These yoga classes at the park have brought some of the most hardworking students I have ever taught.
Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT: I have been leading the Senior Stretch and Refresh Class at the Downtown Cary Park since the beginning of 2024. I really love getting to meet the different community members, seeing them come back each month and leave feeling relaxed and ready to go on with their day!
Tameka Pettigrew: I’ve been teaching Zumba since 2012, and this year I’ve had the pleasure of leading Zumba classes at Downtown Cary Park. It’s been incredibly rewarding to meet new people and see families bond through movement.
Tiana Sherrod: I taught my first class at the park on March 12th of this year. It has been a great experience! My favorite thing thus far has been watching and seeing the community being built. Community is a value of mine personally and professionally. I’m not a resident of Cary, so to be able to build this community and regulars has been wonderful for me. I’ve loved seeing familiar faces return week after week, watching newcomers to yoga lean into the experience and watching participants get to know one another. One of the things that makes all the hard work worth it.
Could you describe what types of movement your classes involve?
Alicia Calderwood: In our yoga classes we start with centering and breath work, then move through some sun salutations that start to get the body warm. Then we play with different standing balancing postures to challenge our strength. We end every session with some deeper postures to increase our flexibility and then transition into a peaceful state of Shavasana. Each class has a similar format but varies in postures based on how the community is feeling that week. My goal is to cater a general all levels yoga class that will target the full body to have people feeling more open and refreshed!
Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT: The Senior Stretch and Refresh class is a chair based stretch and exercise class where I take the participants through the entire body from head to toe, stretching out each major muscle group and doing some simple but effective exercises for the most important areas of the body. The majority of the class is done sitting in a chair with a few exercises done standing and holding onto the back of the chair. All of the standing exercises can be modified to be seated as well!
Tameka Pettigrew: Zumba offers a total workout, combining cardio, muscle conditioning, balance, and flexibility.
Tiana Sherrod: Yoga classes typically involve a variety of physical movements. This can include flowing sequences of poses that encourage breath to movement (Vinyasa), holding a specific pose or position for a period of time (Hatha), and slow, controlled movements that target the deeper tissues of the body and emphasis (Yin). Some classes may also incorporate faster-paced movements and breath-work, while others focus on relaxation and flexibility. Overall, yoga classes aim to engage the body and mind through a combination of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation practices.
What benefits do participants typically experience from attending your classes?
Alicia Calderwood: My students typically walk away feeling stronger, relaxed, and more ready to take on the rest of their weekend! These classes target the whole body and mind. I give variations for all participants to feel like they can walk away feeling accomplished walking away from their mat.
Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT: The participants (of all ages) tell me that they always feel like their full body has been stretched out and they have had a workout without tiring themselves out too much, which leaves them in the perfect position to tackle the rest of their day!
Tameka Pettigrew: Each class boosts your energy and delivers a serious dose of fun. Participants often experience a great sense of endorphins, stress relief, and community support.
Tiana Sherrod: I teach Vinyasa-based classes that emphasize mindful breath to movement. I prioritize the experience of class participants and encourage them to take what they need, which can look different from class to class. Some days you may want to nail a pose and the next you may just want to prioritze relaxation and gentle movement. When I teach, it’s important for me to encourage participants to attune to their body’s needs as well as what experience they desire to have on the mat that day. I always offer a variety of options to choose from.
One of the best compliments I receive is how opening and welcoming my class is. It warms my heart that people feel safe to explore their bodies in the way that makes sense to them without the pressure of having to perfect the pose or do yoga the “right way”. My favorite thing to say is“ your body, your mat, your practice, your business”, which essentially means everybody keeps their eyes on their own mat and prioritizes themselves.
What advice would you give to someone who is new and wants to get the most out of the experience?
Alicia Calderwood: Yoga is for EVERYONE! Half of the battle is convincing yourself to show up to the first session but you won’t regret it when you do. Listen to your body and what feels good to it. Your body will guide you and your yoga teacher will help keep you safe leading you through the experience.
Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT: This is a great class if you want to exercise and stretch inside in the air conditioning and you don’t need any experience or equipment!
Tameka Pettigrew: My advice to new students is simple: keep coming back! You don’t need to be a professional dancer; just have fun and enjoy the movement.
Tiana Sherrod: Meet yourself where you are on the mat. Our body doesn’t show up the same every day and that’s OK! What your body has the capacity to do today may look different tomorrow and vice versa. What’s important is showing up and honoring your needs. Yoga can feel intimidating depending on the class you take, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn what style you most enjoy and make your practice work for you. Hopefully, you can find a class that allows you to have the experience you desire and meets your needs. My class is a good place to start.
When/how often do your classes typically meet?
Alicia Calderwood: Pura Vida Studio teaches outdoor yoga classes at the park every Saturday at 9-10am.
Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT: My class meets once a month, but in November will start meeting twice a month. It is generally on a Monday morning at 10am. (Though in August it will be on a Tuesday).
Tameka Pettigrew: Our classes are held every Thursday at 6 PM, weather permitting, and all levels are welcome.
Tiana Sherrod: I teach at Downtown Cary Park on Tuesdays at 7 pm during the summer. Class will transition back to 6pm during the fall, spring and winter.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Alicia Calderwood: Pura Vida Studio offers yoga classes for all ages and experience levels! We have yoga classes for beginners as well as advanced practitioners. If you have been looking for a safe, supportive, inclusive environment to practice yoga then come join us at the park every Saturday at 9-10am or at one of our classes at Pura Vida Studio! Your overall wellness is our priority and hope to welcome you to the Pura Vida tribe!
Studio IG: @puravidastudionc
Studio Website: https://www.puravidastudionc.com/
Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT: I would recommend that you simply come and give it a try, even if you are not a senior! I am only 34 and I always love the way I feel at the end of this class! As someone who is 6 months pregnant teaching the class I can tell you that it is also a great class for anyone who simply cannot stand or get on the ground for a more intense exercise session, such as pregnant people, or anyone with a mobility disability. I hope more people come and join us each month!
Tiana Sherrod: Outside of class at the park, I have a variety of classes and experiences I offer throughout the year. To stay up to date, you can follow me below.
Website: https://flowtioussoulyoga.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowtious_soul_yoga/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Flowtious-Soul-Yoga/100037234850244/
If you are interested in participating in a fitness class at Downtown Cary Park, all you have to do is register! Visit the Downtown Cary Park Events Calendar and find the class you want to attend, click for more details and then click “register now”. Downtown Cary Park Registration opens at 10 a.m. 2 weeks before the program start date, so be sure to register early before the class fills up!