YogaTwist hits New york City

My most favorite picture from our NYC adventure...from our walk in Central Park

I have been wanting to go to New York City for the last 2 years that we've lived in DC, and this past weekend it finally came to fruition! I've been to New York before over 10 years ago (wow...can't believe I used that in a sentence!), and it was in my pre-yoga-discovery life. So, I've been super excited to practice yoga in the big apple.
Living in DC, I sometimes feel that we are the step child to NYC in relation to Yoga, so I felt going to NYC would broaden my horizons a bit on yoga. Somehow I thought I was going to have this amazing, fabulous, grandiose, magical experience. Why do I build things up so much in my head anyway...just leads to disappointment.

So...my initial thoughts of yoga every morning...well, they didn't come true as much as I had hoped....as I tend to OVERplan. In our 4 day trip I had wanted to wake up every morning for yoga, meet up with friends, walk central park, go to an art museum, eat wonderful food, see a show, go shopping in soho, experience the city night life......hmmmm we did just about all of it, but somehow my idea of trying a different yoga studio every morning didn't quite make the list.

BUT....the first day we arrived, we dropped off our luggage at the hotel and headed straight to Jivamukti yoga school near Union Square. Being in teacher training, I've read the Jivamukti book and have practiced with several Jiva~trained teachers in DC, so I thought if I went to the source of their training, the actual studio, I would somehow be WOWed beyond yogabliss.


Lesson learned = Setting crazy expectations = bit of disappointment --> Don't do this in the future

Class was really wonderful actually, I do enjoy a well rounded class, especially because it is a treat to experience kirtan chanting (for the 1st 5 minutes) and a few minutes of meditation at the end. The class itself was as many vinyasa inspired classes I've taken, at a quick pace with unique cues, and surprisingly a relatively simple flow with no super crazy poses (which was pleasant). Overall, I liked the class. (Can't say it was yogabliss though) :)

What I loved most about Jivamukti was the Vegan cafe that is connected to the yoga studio. I can't say that I would absolutely go back to the studio to practice yoga (I think first I'd like to try a few of the other studios in the city)...but I'd definitely go back to the Vegan Cafe! DELISH!!

My most favorite part of the trip to NYC (other than seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway...can you say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!) was actually our hour(s) long Saturday afternoon walk around Central Park with @bigblueyogamat (aka my hubby's alter-ego). I couldn't resist taking the opportunity for few shots of Yoga in the big apple...and of course in heels, can't do NYC any other way right?!?!

The remainder of my trip, I did practice yoga every morning, but not in a studio as I had hoped...instead just for a few minutes in our hotel room. A few stretches before our sightseeing, and some legs up the wall after each evening absolutely helped the low back and feet/ankles recover.

I'd love to hear about your New York City yoga recommendations and experiences....because I definitely plan to go back again and hopefully live up to my initial plan of visiting a different studio each day.

But in the meantime I've learned....DC is not the yogi stepchild to NYC...we have absolutely amazing teachers here (check out this recent Washingtonian article featuring great DC yoga teachers (& moi)), and so many great opportunities for yogabliss.