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Favorite New York City Yoga Studios

As I prepare to say goodbye to New York for a few years, I am focusing on putting together a few easy to use city guides which I can share with friends and blog readers alike. Since I won’t be in the city to tag along to workouts or dinners, I want to make sure that I’m still able to provide ideas and suggestions easily!

If there are any certain guides you’d like me to work on, let me know otherwise I’m focusing on the following:

  • Favorite yoga studios
  • Favorite workouts
  • Favorite restaurants
  • Favorite museums/tourist attractions

Today I’m going to share my favorite yoga studios with you guys! While you know that I have never practiced yoga on a regular basis for a long period of time, I never go more than a month without hopping in a studio for some much needed stretching. I tend to go in spurts where I’ll go 3-4 times in one week (like this week) and then go 2-3 weeks without but practicing more, even at home, is definitely a goal of mine.

Another thing to note is that Pure Yoga is one of my favorite studios in the city due to the diverse nature of their classes and the fact that they have classes almost any hour of the day. However, you must have a membership or friend with guest passes in order to attend.

So, now on to my favorites which welcome anyone and everyone for drop-in classes or memberships!

Yoga 216 
511 W 20th (between 10th and 11th)
212 337.3530

Yoga216

Though I only experienced Yoga 216 on Thursday for the first time, I have already signed up for 2 more classes thanks to my new Fitist package. The studio delivers a spa like atmosphere beginning the moment you pass by their adorable chalkboard welcome sign. Their sign-in and welcome area is clad with shoe storage benches and is scented with the beloved Anthropologie candles! In addition, they also have an onsite masseuse, blow out room, and tea & cookies. Their studio is all about making semi-private yoga accessible by only offering 6:1 yoga classes. They have both a heated (~94 degrees) and non-heated studio, each which are simply decorated with white washed brick walls and beautiful floors. They provide mats, water, towels, lockers and locks as well! Individual classes are $35 though they have a 3 classes for $75 class pack available for new students. In addition, their monthly rate of $275 makes daily classes $9 if you practice regularly.

Laughing Lotus Yoga 626 6th Avenue (at 19th Street) 212.414.2903

Laughing Lotus Yoga

Strala Yoga 632 Broadway 917.488.7195

strala yoga

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Trust

 

Every now and then, you have to lean forward into your arms, and trust your body. For years, I looked at other yoga students in awe as they moved their body through inversions in a controlled, smooth manner.

Over the past three years the excuses have changed and evolved, just as my level of fitness has changed.

“I can never do that. I’m too heavy.”

“I don’t have strong enough abs.”

“My arms are too weak.”

“I can’t risk injuring myself before the marathon.”

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Three weeks ago, when I took my first Strala Yoga class I realized that I didn’t know a single person in the class other than Melissa. My relationship with Melissa is one of complete trust. She’s seen me at my worst points of a 26.2 mile run and my best moments during our three years of friendship. Feeling at peace and free of judgment, I asked the teacher ahead of class if we were going to do any inversion work.

“Would you like us to focus on it towards the end.”

My response was one of someone who felt unsure, self conscious, and embarrassed.

“Well, I know I can’t do it but I want to start trying.”

In a calm and easing voice he stated what I always knew. He explained that yoga teachers are there to assist and aid students. He, and every yoga teacher since, has happily assisted me for at least a few minutes during class in my inversion practice, as long as I’ve asked them in advance.

From that moment on, I’ve spent at least 30 minutes each week, both in and out of yoga class, practicing my headstand. Much to my mother’s dismay, I spent time in our small New York apartment practicing even though I risked falling into our sofa, TV, or damaging our freshly painted walls.

Tonight, for the first time, I had the confidence to attempt every move during class, including a side crow and headstand. While other students moved to the side of the room for wall aide, I said a prayer, bowed my head between my clasped hands, and talked myself through the movements.

A minute later I cried in elation to my yoga friends for the evening.  Ashley, Caitlin, and Jillian saw me hold my first unassisted headstand and for this I will always be thankful.

It wasn’t a dream.

Tonight I finally reached a milestone in my yoga practice and now, more than ever, am looking forward to the next.

Side crow, I’m coming for you next.

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ashleyd /

My New Sunday Routine

Lately, my Sunday routine has changed for the better. Instead of spending the day lazily at home and rarely fitting in a workout, I’m out of the house by 10:30 each Sunday ready to start my day with a stretching, detoxifying sweat.

046

Now, two weeks in a row, I’ve started my Sunday with the 11am Strala Yoga strong class. Each class is different than the last and none have followed a standard vinyasa routine. In fact, both have started with a very challenging abdominal series and ended with a longer than normal shavasana, complete with lavender aromatherapy.

Over the years I’ve tried just about every type of yoga studio in the city: the hipster, the spa like, the strenuous, and the down right boring. For me, yoga will never be my primary form of exercise but instead cross training. My goal while I’m on the mat is to relieve stress, lengthen my muscles, and become more limber.

Strala Yoga is the perfect yoga destination for people looking for yoga without all the added incense, oms, and meditation. While this aspect of yoga is important to some people, this isn’t essential for my practice.

What’s important to me is that a studio or class is small enough that you feel like a person and not a number while also providing time for ample adjustments during class.   048 010

This morning Melissa and I twisted our way through another wonderful detoxifying class alongside a weekend visitor, Kath! I know Kath practices a lot of yoga so I was weary of brining her to this studio, unsure whether it would meet her expectations. Luckily, she loved it!

009 After class we answered Kath’s bagel craving at Ess-a-Bagel.

001Even though the line was longer than expected, the delicious, warm freshly made bagels made up for it. The very “New York” crusty interior also added to the experience, especially the dirty chandeliers.

002 003 The whole wheat everything bagel with low fat vegetable cream cheese was a delicious treat paired with our great conversation about New York’s different neighborhoods and the unbelievable rent costs.

From there Melissa and I gave Kath a tour of Gramercy area, my favorite part of town. I’m a bit partial since we live in Gramercy but every time I show someone the neighborhood I fall more in love with it.  It really has everything that you could wish for in New York City: wide sidewalks, quiet streets, wonderful architecture, a gorgeous park, delicious restaurants, and welcoming bars. We took Melissa to our favorite coffee house, 71 Irving, for a latte and warmth as the wind was gusting far too much for our cold faces.

007 008 011 Our lattes were the perfect way to warm up while exploring the neighborhood before parting ways for the afternoon. 

Now it’s time to shower before heading out for some more afternoon fun.

Don’t forget to enter the Friday the 13th Gaiam giveaway!

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