Though I consider myself a Bostonian I can't deny my NY roots, and my weekend girls trip to NYC certainly made me proud of my home state.
First stop: Anti-Gravity Yoga at Om Factory. Never mind the numerous benefits of this practice (improving strength and flexibility, developing core strength, calming the mind, more frequent and longer inversions, etc), it was just plain old FUN and EXCITING! Having been somewhat of an avid tree and monkey bar climber when I was little, there was no fear; only excitement and a reminder that there remains a dynamic child in us all! And hanging upside-down in an orange piece of silk sure is a great way to bring it out!
Second stop: Pure Food and Wine, a raw food restaurant in the East Village. There are no words to explain how incredibly delicious the porcini ravioli tasted... better than "real" ravioli (sorry mom!) Waiting in line for the restroom we struck up a conversation with another girl who'd just eaten and I think her quote says it all: "The cheesecake was DELICIOUS! We told the waiter we loved it and he told us it was RAW... we didn't even know this was a raw food restaurant!!!"
Third stop: Summer Solstice celebration in Times Square. I have never seen Times Square look as beautiful as it did with 500 yogis simultaneously moving through sun salutations. Even during our Bikram class I had to take a moment to soak it all in. There was something so unexpectedly calming and energizing about practicing yoga and focusing on the beauty of breath and slowing down in one of the busiest and most dynamic intersections and cities in the country. I'm still in awe.
Thank you New York for a wonderful RELAXING weekend of yoga!
