As the sun begins its ascent over downtown Rochester on a late summer Sunday morning, a loosely assembled group of women stand barefoot on mats placed along the edge of the Genesee River. They stand with their arms outstretched toward the increasingly bright sun, and move in unison from a crouching position to an erect, almost statuesque pose.

By 9 a.m., the group of five - assembled by local yoga instructor and yoga therapist Suzanne Dianetti, of Svaha Yoga - has already reached the halfway point in the weekly practice session; it starts at 8 a.m. with a half-hour meditation before the one-hour practice of Ashtanga yoga.

Settled on a patch of the Genesee Riverway Trail just south of Corn Hill Landing, and shielded from the traffic on Exchange Street by shrubs and bushes, Dianetti leads the group through a host of poses and stances as only the sounds of lapping water and a slight breeze fill the silence between her calls to the group.

Dianetti, who was struck by the serenity of the practice location, began leading the weekly sessions at the end of May. On every weather-permitting Sunday since then she has guided both complete beginners and those with some experience through a relaxed-paced yoga practice.

Yoga, at its core, is a series of slow stretches and movements aimed at uniting the mind, body, and spirit. According to Dianetti, and echoed by several people at the practice, the outdoors lends itself nicely to this linking because there is no barrier. When you hold a pose and look up, you're not staring at a ceiling, but rather at the sky and clouds overhead.

Dianetti encourages beginners to join the group and learn by both watching and doing. If the moves are too difficult - touching your toes, for instance - they should only try what they are comfortable with, such as touching their knees or waist.

On any given week, there are people of all skill levels practicing within their individual comfort zones, and at their own pace. This is possible even in a group exercise because the movements proceed in slow succession, giving the uninitiated a chance to look around and mimic the movements of the more knowledgeable practitioners in attendance.

Participants come from as far away as Pittsford for the practice, and as close as two blocks away in the Corn Hill neighborhood. The diverse group includes both men and women, and people in their 20s to those in their late 60s to early 70s. Moreover, they run the gamut of fitness levels - some are very athletic, while others are just beginning the process of getting in shape.

With no charge for the practice sessions, and no commitment to continue each week, the handful of people that make it to the river's edge do so for the same reason as Dianetti - for a desire to practice in the outdoors.

"When you're outdoors, you're even more connected to the essence of what yoga is," says Lindsey Fryer, who attends the weekly practices. Maria Durkin, also in attendance, said practicing by the water gives her a feeling of having no boundaries - something she's yet to find indoors.

People interested in attending the sessions (the group doesn't have a proper name) should wear comfortable clothing that is easy to bend and move in. They should also bring whatever they need to practice yoga at a comfortable level, including a mat, bottle of water, blocks, and any other accessories necessary. For more information on outdoor yoga, e-mail Dianetti at svahayoga@gmail.com.