When running gets redundant, and the gym becomes drab, it may be time to rekindle the dimming flame of your exercise routine. In some cities, everyone's a runner. In others, water sports like surfing and kayaking are a primary source of calorie burners, muscle toners, and serotonin inducers. In Manhattan, it's yoga. You won't get through the day without seeing at least ten yogis dangling a mat from their back. It's everywhere – and when in the city, why not take a couple classes with some of the best instructors in the world?
Today, Western civilization sometimes imbues yoga with a somewhat negative connotation. It's looked at as a practice only "hippies" partake in, and is also feminized. However, the origins of yoga practice prove these Eurocentric theories wrong. Created long before any type of spin class, yoga dates back to 1000 BC in India. A practice formed to exercise the soul rather than the physical being, yoga is a workout that manages to do both. Centered on the notion of connecting the self with spirituality, yoga practice will lighten your emotional load while sculpting your body.
The thing about yoga is that there's not just one kind. Here are some of Manhattan's most praised and diverse yoga studios that will help you discover your inner "Ohm."
What do you get when you cross a sauna and yoga class? Bikram Yoga. In a 95 to 100 degree room, drain your body of its toxins and focus solely on yourself in this 90-minute, 26 posture class. In just one Bikram class, you'll walk away feeling emotionally and physically lighter, as the class is extremely meditative and you can lose up to five pounds in just one session . There are several Bikram studios in Manhattan, and thousands around the entire country. Visit www.bikramyoganyc.com for studio information.
Sometimes the cost of feeling good is a steep one; however some yogis believe yoga practice shouldn't have a price because, well, how can you put a price tag on happiness? Yoga to the People, located on 12 St. Marks Place, lets the yogi decide what to pay. Even though Yoga to the People is donation-based, the studio still has some of the most specialized teachers to coach you through class. Different than Bikram, sans heat and incorporating a more traditional practice inspired by yogi Brian Kest, Yoga to the People offers a balance of bodily awareness, effort and breath. Yoga to the People welcomes all levels and donations – and if you're short a buck that day, no worries, they won't make you go away. Visit www.yogatothepeople.com for more information.
If a yoga studio that anchors itself in emotional exercise sounds more like the workout you need, Laughing Lotus Yoga Center at 59 W. 19th Street will make your soul sweat. The Yoga Center is a community environment that celebrates life, laughter and love. Its classes are structured to nurture freedom of expression and personal transformation. Laughing Lotus Yoga Center offers beginner Vinyasa classes, 7am daily Sun Celebrations, Midnight Friday classes, and if you fall for the studio and want to become a teacher, the Yoga Center also has teacher-training courses. For more information on Laughing Lotus Yoga Center, visit www.laughinglotus.com.
Yoga may be a new thing for you and sometimes attempting new things, especially in a class in front of several other people, has the power to restrain you from even trying. Then, when you finally have built up the courage to give yoga a chance, there are so many styles, that the mere thought of them all simply crushes your motivation to go to class. For these reasons and many others, there are yoga blogs and magazines that allow potential yogis to learn about what practice best suits them through the trials and tribulations of yoga fanatics.
Daily Cup of Yoga is a blog that discusses topics ranging from new positions, to a how-to guide explaining how to recycle your old yoga mat into new yoga sandals. The blog is geared more to the yogi who wants to get creative with his or her practice, and less toward the new beginner, but it does give some inspirational tips that make the life of a yogi even more colorful.
Bikram Yoga Chick is one woman's blog journaling her attempt at a 60-day challenge. She will take a Bikram class once a day for 60-days straight and document the emotional and physical transformation of her body. Even though you may not want to delve as deeply into the Bikram practice as this yoga chick, it's a site you can visit and witness the bodily transformation of a yogi – a transformation that may inspire you to go to class.
If you're not that internet savvy or inclined and prefer your facts in print, subscribe to the Yoga Journal. This monthly magazine features everything from a healthy diet to a healthy practice. Yoga Journal is geared toward the person who aspires to live a healthy and happy life. It features yogis who have been practicing for eight weeks to eight years, and provides step-by-step photographs of positions you can work on at home. To subscribe, visit www.yogajournal.com.
Yoga has been said to change lives, lifestyles and livelihoods, and while the yoga epidemic has spread all over the country, New York harbors some of the most versatile and interesting classes in the world.
Information
- General Yoga Resources:
- • For yoga blogging visit: www.dailycupofyoga.wordpress.com
- • Track the transformation at: www.bikramyogachick.blogspot.com
- • Read it in fine print at: www.yogajournal.com
- • To laugh about life visit: www.laughinglotus.com
- • Save a buck at: www.yogatothepeople.com
- • Sweat it out at: www.bikramyoganyc.com
- NYC Yoga Blogs:
- • Yoga Dork: www.yogadork.com/
- • New York Yoga: www.newyorkyoga.com/
- • Bikram Yoga Blog bikramyoganyc.com/blog/
- • New York Wellness Guide: www.nywellnessguide.com/
- • Yoga With Neo: www.yogawithneo.com/yogablog
