Salem Keizer Living  ·  Local Events  ·  Things To Do  ·  March 2026 Yoga + Wine at Chemeketa Cellars: The Most Relaxing Evening in West Salem This March

Some evenings are just designed perfectly. An hour of yoga to clear your head, followed by a glass of award-winning wine poured by the students who made it, on a hillside property with sweeping views of the Willamette Valley — all for a suggested donation of $5 to $10. That's exactly what's on offer on March 30th, and it's one of those Salem-area events that feels almost too good to be real.

Cheers & Namaste — the Portland-based organization behind the beloved Yoga + Beer and Yoga + Wine series — brings their monthly gathering back to Chemeketa Cellars in West Salem on Sunday, March 30th. Class runs from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, the tasting room opens at 5:00 PM, and the whole evening wraps up at 8:00 PM. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or someone who hasn't unrolled a mat in years, this one is worth showing up for.

🧘 Quick Details

What: Yoga + Wine — 60-minute indoor yoga class followed by post-class sips

When: Sunday, March 30, 2026 | Tasting room opens 5:00 PM · Class 6:00–7:00 PM · Tasting room open until 8:00 PM

Where: Chemeketa Cellars, 215 Doaks Ferry Rd NW, West Salem, OR 97304

Instructor: Kristen Aubert

Cost: Suggested donation of $5–$10 per person

What to bring: Your own yoga mat or towel (loaner mats are no longer available)

Pets: Not permitted on this property due to Chemeketa College policy

Register: cheersandnamaste.com

What Is Cheers & Namaste?

If you haven't heard of the Yoga + Beer and Yoga + Wine series, here's the quick version: it's exactly what it sounds like, and it's been bringing people together across the Pacific Northwest for years. Cheers & Namaste partners with local breweries, wineries, and cideries to host community yoga classes in tasting rooms — the idea being that good movement and good drinks are a natural pairing, and that doing both together in a beautiful setting with friendly people is simply a great evening.

The format is inclusive by design. Classes are open to yogis of all levels and all ages — you don't need experience, flexibility, or any particular gear beyond a mat. The atmosphere is relaxed and social rather than competitive or intimidating. It's yoga as a community experience, not a performance.

All Salem-area classes run on a donation-based pricing model, made possible because venues like Chemeketa Cellars generously donate their space. The suggested donation of $5–$10 goes directly to the instructor. In exchange, attendees are expected to support the host by purchasing wine, a gift card, or other items from the tasting room — which, at Chemeketa Cellars, is genuinely no hardship at all.

About Chemeketa Cellars: West Salem's Most Unique Tasting Room

The venue for this event is worth talking about on its own. Chemeketa Cellars isn't your typical winery — it's the student-run tasting room of Chemeketa Community College's Wine Studies program, located on the Chemeketa Eola campus in the rolling Eola-Amity Hills just west of downtown Salem. Every wine you taste here was grown in the property's own 8-acre teaching vineyard and crafted by students working toward degrees in viticulture, winemaking, and tasting room management.

That backstory makes a real difference in the experience. When you ask a question about a wine you're tasting, the person pouring it may well be the person who made it — or at least someone who was in the room when it happened. The Wine Studies program has been running since 1999, and over those years the student-made wines have racked up numerous awards at regional and national competitions. This is not novelty wine. It's genuinely excellent, made with world-class Willamette Valley fruit by people who are deeply invested in their craft.

The physical setting is equally impressive. The Northwest Wine Studies Center sits above the banks of the Willamette River with panoramic views of the vineyard and the valley beyond. On a late March evening, as the days start stretching longer and the hills begin greening up, it's one of the more beautiful spots in the Salem area. Arriving at 5:00 PM to settle in before class and take in the view is highly recommended.

What's Pouring

Chemeketa Cellars produces over a dozen varietals from their estate vineyard, with a strong focus on the cool-climate grapes that have made the Willamette Valley one of the most respected wine regions in the country. You can expect to find wines including:

Pinot Noir Gamay Noir Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc Chardonnay Viognier Riesling Sparkling Dessert Wines Red Blends

Beer, cider, and non-alcoholic options are also available for those who prefer them — the event is inclusive in that way too. And if you're the kind of person who believes chocolate and wine belong together, you're in luck: chocolate truffles are on offer as well.

Local tipThe tasting room opens at 5:00 PM — a full hour before class. Arrive early, pour a glass, find a spot with a view, and let the week decompress before you even step onto your mat. The patio views over the vineyard and valley are genuinely worth the extra time.

About the Yoga Class

The 60-minute class is led by instructor Kristen Aubert and takes place indoors at the Chemeketa Eola venue. The practice is accessible to all levels — whether you've been doing yoga for decades or you're stepping onto a mat for the first time in a while, the Cheers & Namaste format is specifically designed to be welcoming rather than exclusive.

A few practical things worth knowing before you go:

Bring your own mat. Cheers & Namaste no longer offers loaner mats, so this is important — a towel works as a substitute if you don't have a mat. No pets. This property is part of Chemeketa Community College, and college policy does not permit animals on the premises — leave your four-legged friend home for this one. All ages welcome. The class is open to yogis of all ages, making it a flexible option whether you're coming solo, with a friend, or making it a date night.

How the Donation Model Works

The donation-based pricing is one of the things that makes this series genuinely accessible. Here's how it works in practice:

💚 Suggested Donation: $5–$10 per person

You can donate when you register online, drop cash in the cash growler at class, or pay via:

Venmo: @yogaandbeer  |  PayPal: yogaandbeerthanks@gmail.com

Note: All attendees are expected to support the host (Chemeketa Cellars) through a wine, beer, cider, or gift card purchase. This is how the venue is able to donate the space — and it's a reasonable ask given the quality of what's being poured.

The combination of a $5–$10 donation for an hour of yoga instruction plus the cost of a glass or two of award-winning Willamette Valley wine makes this one of the best-value evenings Salem has on offer this month. You'd spend more on a mediocre Tuesday night out without half the experience.

Who Is This Evening Perfect For?

The After-Work Unwind

March 30th is a Sunday, which means the end of the weekend — and for a lot of people, that Sunday-evening tension before a new work week starts creeping in around 4 PM. An hour of yoga followed by a quiet glass of wine in a beautiful setting is about as good a prescription for that feeling as exists. Arrive at 5:00, be home by 8:30, and start Monday in a completely different headspace.

Date Night with a Twist

If you're looking for something more memorable than dinner and a movie, yoga and wine at a hillside winery is a genuinely distinctive evening. It's active, social, and gives you something to talk about — and the relaxed post-class atmosphere at the tasting room is a natural setting for good conversation. For more inspiration on exploring what Salem and Keizer have to offer as a couple or with friends, our roundup of local Salem spots worth supporting is a good starting point.

The Curious Wine Lover

If you've explored some of the bigger names in the Willamette Valley wine scene but haven't spent time at Chemeketa Cellars, this is an ideal reason to finally go. The student-made wines are genuinely impressive, the prices are accessible, and the educational angle of the tasting room makes for a richer experience than the average winery visit. Oregon's wine country starts right here in West Salem — and this venue is one of its best-kept not-quite-secrets.

The Social Yogi

If you practice yoga regularly but usually do it alone at home or in a studio where people scatter the moment class ends, the Cheers & Namaste format is a refreshing change. The post-class social hour is built into the evening by design — you'll naturally end up chatting with fellow attendees over a glass of Pinot Noir, and that kind of low-stakes community connection is something a lot of people find they've been missing.

Getting There

Chemeketa Cellars is located at 215 Doaks Ferry Rd NW in West Salem — about a 10-minute drive from downtown Salem across the river. The Eola campus sits in the hills above the Willamette, which means you'll notice the scenery getting more dramatic as you approach. Parking is available on site. The address feeds cleanly into Google Maps and Apple Maps if you search "Chemeketa Cellars Salem."

West Salem has a distinct character worth knowing about if you're newer to the area — it's quieter and more residential than downtown, with the Eola-Amity Hills wine region effectively beginning in its backyard. If you're curious about what different parts of Salem and Keizer feel like as places to live, our guide to the best neighborhoods in Salem and Keizer covers the different personalities of the area in detail.

Worth knowingThe Chemeketa Cellars tasting room is regularly open to the public Thursday and Friday from 4–8 PM and Saturday from 12–4 PM — so if you enjoy the wines on March 30th, you have easy options to come back. It's the kind of place that becomes a regular rotation once you discover it.

Want to Explore More Cheers & Namaste Events?

The Chemeketa Cellars class is one of several regular Salem-area events on the Cheers & Namaste calendar. If you find yourself wanting more after March 30th, you can browse the full Salem yoga + wine event schedule on their website to see what's coming up at other local venues. Classes rotate through different tasting rooms, so each one has its own character while keeping the same welcoming format.

Join Us on March 30th

60 minutes of yoga · award-winning Willamette Valley wine · sweeping vineyard views
Suggested donation $5–$10 · Bring your own mat · Tasting room opens at 5 PM

Register at Cheers & Namaste →

Salem and Keizer have more going on than most people realize — and events like this one are a big part of what makes this community worth exploring. Whether you've lived here for decades or you're still finding your footing, there's always something new to discover right in your backyard.

Thinking About Making Salem or Keizer Home?

West Salem's hillside views, proximity to wine country, and easy access to downtown make it one of the area's most compelling neighborhoods — and it's exactly the kind of place people fall in love with when they discover it.

I'm Hannah Fouts-Sparks with Sparks Property Group, and helping people find their place in this community is what I do. Whether you're just starting to explore Salem and Keizer or you're ready to make a move, I'd love to be a resource for you.

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