Yoga in the Amphitheater Celebrates Five Years as City Council Honors Program Founders and Instructors

The City Council of Cathedral City marked a milestone in community wellness on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, formally recognizing the five-year anniversary of the beloved Yoga in the Amphitheater program during its regular meeting at City Hall. Certificates of Recognition were presented to the volunteers and instructors whose dedication has transformed Tuesday mornings at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater into one of the region's most cherished free wellness traditions.

Launched in 2021 by the Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE), the program brings free Gentle Yoga and Power Yoga classes to the amphitheater lawn each Tuesday morning during the winter and spring season. What began as a modest offering has grown into a signature community program, drawing residents and visitors of all ages and fitness levels to practice together under the open desert sky.

"Yoga in the Amphitheater was one of the very first programs to bring people to our amphitheater on a recurring basis - and five years later, it's still one of the most consistent drivers of foot traffic to that venue," said Ryan Hunt, Director of Communications & Engagement for the City of Cathedral City, in introducing the presentation. "These Tuesday mornings helped establish the amphitheater as a true community gathering place long before it became home to signature events like Tastes & Sounds, the Fine Arts & Blues Festival, and LGBT+ Days. In fact, yoga and Tastes & Sounds now share the same Tuesdays each spring - you can start your day with a sunrise stretch on the lawn and come back that evening for live music and local food on the same piece of grass. That kind of activation, built by volunteers, is exactly what makes Cathedral City's amphitheater unlike any other venue in the Coachella Valley."

Recognized at Wednesday's meeting were:

• Antonio Baciu, PACE Vice Chair and volunteer program coordinator, who has championed the program since its earliest days and continues to serve as its lead organizer.
• Gary Marshall, former PACE Commissioner and dedicated volunteer, whose ongoing behind-the-scenes support keeps the program running smoothly week after week.
• Patti Wexler, professional yoga instructor, who has taught Power Yoga throughout the program's five-year run.
• Nicole Cuhney, professional yoga instructor, whose years of instruction helped shape the program's welcoming, community-first spirit.
• Kim Funkey, owner of Power Yoga Palm Springs, who joined the program in 2026 as the new Gentle Yoga instructor.

Over five years, Yoga in the Amphitheater has welcomed thousands of participants, requiring no reservations and no fees - just a yoga mat, a water bottle, and a willingness to breathe deeply beneath the mountains. The program's growth reflects the broader vision of the Parks and Community Events Commission: to activate Cathedral City's parks and public spaces with programming that serves residents at every stage of life, and to build the kind of weekly rhythm that helps other amphitheater programming thrive.

The City of Cathedral City congratulates Antonio, Gary, Patti, Nicole, and Kim, and extends its gratitude to every participant who has rolled out a mat on the amphitheater lawn over the past five years. Here's to the next five.

For information about upcoming Yoga in the Amphitheater sessions, contact volunteer program coordinator Antonio Baciu at [email protected].