Happy Sunday! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. Bo and I have enjoyed plenty of time with our friends, catching up on sleep and relaxation, cooking in the kitchen, and long walks through our neighborhood enjoying the Fall weather.

After yesterday’s amazing run and afternoon of rest, my body wasn’t feeling too rough when I woke up this morning. Then I bent over to grab a pillow that had hit the floor and I felt the tightness that I expected. My hips were screaming and my quads were definitely tight.

Luckily, an hour later I was walking towards Yoga Vida NYC for the second NYC Blogger Play date, organized by the lovely Keelie. I really enjoy events like this that combine catching up with fellow NYC bloggers and an activity, such as yoga. 

Everyone in our group arrived by 11:45 so we were able to spend fifteen minutes chatting and catching up. It was great to get to know Juliette and Keelie while catching up with some familiar faces like Theodora, Ashley, and Sofia.

This was my first time practicing yoga at Yoga Vida NYC and I was immediately impressed. A local studio which has two locations, one in Union Square and one in NoHo.  As I left the elevator I was greeted with a fresh, light incense scent instead of sweat and grime which is often found at NYC yoga studios. The receptionist was very friendly, quickly informing me that they have a special for first time students, $10 for 1 week of unlimited classes!

The space includes two very large studios, bathroom, changing area, a relaxing lounge, and mat storage area.  Everyone I encountered at Yoga Vida really reinforced their philosophy,

At Yoga Vida we make yoga accessible, affordable, and inclusive.  Believing your daily yoga practice should not become a financial burden; we serve as a comfortable and inviting oasis where you can connect your body and your mind through the movement that resonates with you. There is no judgment, pressure, ultimatums, nor demands.  This is yoga for everyone.

Their classes are all 65 minutes, other than the Saturday and Sunday flow classes which are 75 minutes in length.

We were signed up for Yoga Flow, a 75 minute open level Vinyasa class, taught by Alex F. Alex immediately took his place in the front of the room on the yoga podium, an elevated mat sized podium where the instructor can practice so all students in the room can see the poses. His voice was calm and soothing as he welcomed us to his class. Like many distance runners, my muscles have grown extremely tight during training even though I stretch and foam roll frequently. There are some tight areas and knots that only a deep twist or inversion can access.  This class started with a longer than normal sun salutation series before moving into hip openers, twists, and floor poses.  Alex focused on adjusting students throughout the entire class, helping us move deeper into poses and properly align in unfamiliar poses. 

I am already looking forward to my next class at Yoga Vida NYC, hopefully one evening class this week and Alex’s noon class again next Sunday.