One Of Los Angeles' Best Yoga Studios Is A Famed Cemetery In The Heart Of Hollywood With Celebrity Graves

Yoga is one way to keep grounded in the La-La Land of Hollywood. Bonus points if you can do your shivasana corpse pose alongside Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, and Rudolph Valentino. Silver-screen legends in shivasana for eternity at the Hollywood Forever cemetery.

When the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic closed many of the city's indoor spaces, Hollywood Forever turned its expansive lawn into an outdoor yoga studio. It proved so popular that Hollywood Forever now has daily classes. "In Buddhist and Hindu teachings, the Graveyard, or Charnal grounds, is an auspicious place of practice where yogis must confront our mortal destiny, our fear of death, and our aversion to constant change," explains the Hollywood Forever website.

The Los Angeles Times named it one of the best yoga studios in the city, thanks to the tranquil environment. "Most people try it once and then say, 'Oh wow, I didn't realize it was going to be this peaceful,'" Hollywood Forever co-owner Yogu Kanthiah told the publication. "And then they keep coming back." You, too, can join the morning yoga in one of the weirdest attractions in LA.

Hollywood Forever was established in 1899, only a few years after the invention of film. Paramount Studios was built on part of its grounds and remains there today. Over the years, it has become the final resting place for film legends and celebrities and evolved into a cultural center for the community.

It has more than 50 acres of grassy lawn and towering palms. Maple trees provide shade and graceful willow trees bend over tranquil pools. Admission and parking are free. Yoga classes happen on the Fairbanks Lawn (named after Hollywood start Douglas Fairbanks) by the reflection pool. There is plenty of space on the grass, and tarps are provided when it's especially dewy. Classes are donation-based, contributing to their popularity, especially on the weekends. What draws many yogis is the peaceful environment that encourages spiritual contemplation.

"I think it is a fitting way to normalize death," travel writer Kimberly Us wrote in her blog. "The Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a tranquil place to spend time reflecting. The Hollywood Sign is visible on the hillside as you stand at the fountain and look out the gates. Celebrities, forgotten and remembered, surround you as silent witnesses. But Death keeps reaping, and nearby you will see workers digging a fresh grave."

Visitors can wander the cemetery on their own with a map of celebrity graves available for purchase. Look out for the graveyard statue of punk-rocker Johnny Ramone in the Garden of Legends. Hollywood historian Karie Bible also gives tours of the cemetery's most famous residents. One of her favorites is silent-screen heartthrob Rudolph Valentino. "Rudolph Valentino is one of my favorite graves and I've been a 'Lady in Black' since 2002," she told VoyageLA. "Every year I place a rose at his grave on the anniversary of his death. The tradition has been happening since 1927. The annual Valentino Memorial Service is the longest-running continual event in Hollywood history." The cemetery has also appeared in noteworthy Hollywood films and shows, from "Under the Silver Lake" to "Straight Outta Compton" and the "Fallout" TV series.

Ticketed events are also hosted at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever, including film screenings and concerts. To see Hollywood Forever in all its glory, plan for the end of October or start of November. That's when Hollywood Forever hosts a huge Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. Because Hollywood Forever is free for visitors, it's a great stop for a budget-friendly tour of LA. Other stops include a nearby hike for the ultimate Hollywood Sign photo-op and the incredible views from Griffith Park Observatory.