New York Yoga & Vegan Adventure ~ Day 1

When I had an idea we would be moving to Louisville earlier this year, I decided I wanted to go to NYC one more time from DC. Why? Yoga of course, and because it is so convenient and easy as we live close to Union Station where the MegaBus location is ~  I felt it would be a crime if we didn't take advantage of our proximity to so much amazing yoga. So...I needed to figure out a way to convince my husband to join me....the plot thickens. Yoga and Food, but not any kind of food ...an adventure in experimenting with various Vegan restaurants. I got him hooked! Off we went for a 3 day adventure.

Early Friday morning....

4:15am ~ Wake up and finish packing

Bye bye Big Kitty... we'll miss you too

5:15am ~ Depart D.C via MegaBus

10:30am ~ Arrive in NYC (YAY!)

View from Mega Bus as we drive into the city

11am ~ Settle into our hotel, Hilton New York Fashion District which was centrally located. I booked it using the name your own price feature on Priceline (I love that option, every time we've used we've been happy with the hotel).

View from Hotel Room ~ I realized on this trip I have an infatuation with the look of water towers on roofs of buildings. So cool!

12: 30pm ~ Flow with Ropes class at Yoga Union:

I chose Yoga Union initially because it was a yoga studio walk-able from our hotel and I wanted to squeeze in a yoga class early in the day in hopes we could squeeze in another class later in the day. After looking at their schedule I saw this ropes class and decided it was a MUST try.

Photo source: YogaUnion.com

The class is set up like many yoga classes, with a centering, movement to create heat, strength exercises, inversions and back-bends and of course Savasana.

This yoga studio space is very inviting. Opposite the picture above is a beautiful large open window with views of city rooftops and lovely water towers and expansive blue sky. You walk directly into the studio from the elevator, which was simple, clean and calm. I found the woman that checked us in extremely pleasant and helpful. There was a little bit to be desired from their woman's changing room, which also seemed to coincide a bit with their storage space.

To the class....GREAT! The attention to detail in each pose, specific placement of feet on the wall and hips within the rope is important so as not to cause yourself unnecessary pinching or pain, but allowed for a very mindful practice. Although there was some 'flow', it was completely different than a vinyasa class which I found refreshing. Sitting or hanging from the ropes for what felt like several minutes in various poses provided an opportunity to BE in the pose, make minor adjustments to the spine, sacrum, floating ribs, etc.

I enjoyed listening to the the teacher, Kay Grigar's, cue-ing style. I suppose as a teacher myself, I love taking other classes from various teachers and styles because I learn so much from their method of teaching and cue-ing poses. Some of my favorite cues and words she used were:

• Reference to the 'Plum Line'
• Cup the fingers (vs. spider fingers)
• Absorb the sacrum (vs. tucking)
• Broaden the collar bones

She focused the class on strength building versus stretching and extension, so there was only one inversion, legs up the wall using the ropes for added lift, which felt quite amazing. During the strength portion of the class she taught some unique movements using the rope to support us, for example we came into handless Vashistasana, legs against the wall, hips supported by the rope and did open arm twists facing the sky and the floor ~ talk about a workout for your core, I felt it days later!
Although I would have loved to have done full headstand with the ropes, it was not part of her sequence for the day. Just means I have an excuse to try a ropes class again!

1:40pm ~ Attempt to make a 2pm class at StralaYoga with Tara Stiles. So sad we were unfortunately not able to make it.....I didn't realize 20 blocks in NYC would take so long in a cab, we barely moved in 5 minutes before we decided to nix that idea and grab lunch at a nearby Vegan 'fast food' restaurant, Terri, quite delicious wraps ans fruity 'shakes'.

4pm ~ MOMA ~ Museum of Modern Art~ It's FREE on Friday evenings from 4pm to 8pm! Definitely worth checking out.

7:30 ~ VNote ~ Organic Wine Bar & Vegan Bistro ~ Delicious Mushroom Lentil Ravioli with a side of Kale and a lovely glass of wine (*or two)

10pm ~ Sleeping & Dreaming of tomorrow's yoga class and food adventures