Tag: yoga

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Events Health

Fitness Friday: Outdoor Yoga

Fitness Friday is here and this week we are featuring the best outdoor yoga spots downtown. Summer is FINALLY officially here and it is the time to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather, so why not find a local yoga class and enjoy the weather while relaxing and staying active?

Downtown has searched different outdoor yoga practices offered around Manhattan, focusing mainly on the Downtown area, but added a few close by just in case you find yourself in other areas of the city.

Downtown

Washington Square Park

Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Each week all summer long, on Wednesdays at 8:30-9:30 a.m., Garibaldi Plaza in Washington Square Park puts on a yoga event with Sacred Sounds Yoga for FREE, courtesy of NYC Parks. Afterwards, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., your kids can also go to a free yoga class at the kids playground. Spend your Wednesdays in Washington Square Park to ensure a relaxing workout.

Battery Park 

Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Battery Park offers two yoga sessions each week from now until August 27th by Tejal Patel of Tejal Yoga, who is dedicated and passionate. One session is on Sundays from 11:30 am to 12:30 p.m. and another is every Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.. The suggested donation is $10, which goes to The Battery Conservancy.  You must RSVP to attend these sessions. Sunday mornings are for all ages while the Wednesday evening sessions are for the after-work crowd. I can vouch that this was a great class; peaceful, relaxing, and grounding. Take advantage of this opportunity to practice yoga in the beautiful Battery Park!

Citi Summer in the Square

Photo Courtesy of Summer in the Square

Every Thursday, in the morning and afternoon, in Union Square Park, Citi Summer in the Square has two yoga sessions you can attend up until August 10th. To start off your day, you can attend a 7 to 8 a.m. yoga session in the South Plaza, put on by Paragon sports. Or, to end your day, you can attend sunset yoga at 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the North Plaza, with New York Health & Racquet Club. All events in Citi Summer in the Square are free. Make your Thursdays extra special by participating in these awesome events while you can!

Complete Body – Financial District

Photo courtesy of Yelp

Every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., there is a 45 minute Vinyasa yoga outside class in the Financial District location of Complete Body — located at 10 Hanover Square. It is an open level class driven to strengthen and open the body. Through different postures and certain breathing techniques, Complete Body encourages a “calm, self-awareness and vibrant energy.” Complete body requires a membership.

…. Along with these 4 spots, as promised we’ve included a few places abovee Downtown:

Downtown Goes Up

Summer on the Hudson

Photo courtesy of City Atlas

The Parks Department’s annual outdoor arts & culture festival has begun and takes place in Riverside Park, which is from 59th Street all the way to 153rd Street. Within Riverside Park South, every Wednesday from now until September 27 at 6:30 p.m. there is a yoga class – an evening salute to the sun, located at The Plaza at 66th Street. In Mid Riverside Park, Yoga Flow is every Thursday, present until September 28, at 6:30 p.m., located at the Lawn at 78th Street.

Bryant Park

Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Open to all ages and fitness levels as well as free to the public, Bryant Park puts on a hit yoga class every Thursday — from now until September 7 — at 6 p.m. held on the lawn. This is their 14th season of outdoor yoga classes and allows anyone and everyone to have an opportunity to end up perfecting their downward dog at their own pace.

Hudson Park

Photo courtesy of HY/HK Alliance

Every Sunday, from now until August 6, the HY/HK Alliance puts on a free morning yoga session with Malorie Bryant 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.. Held at the Hudson Park Fountains, in Hudson Park (between W 34th and W 35th, 10th Avenue and 11th Ave), they are reaching out to all different levels and only require you to bring a mat. The Hudson Yards is a perfect place to practice yoga on the beautiful Manhattan Sunday mornings.

Along with these, Central Park is full of many yoga opportunities for beginners, all levels, and more. Although some may require a fee to join the class, there are classes offered at a variety of times and with different groups or even just meet-ups.

Namaste to summer days and outdoor yoga!

Categories
Events Living

Downtown TripPicks: June 12 – June 19, 2017

Trip.com is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.” Trip.com’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.

Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip.com. Visit their site or download the app for more upcoming events.

Dance and Fitness Week

During New York Dance Week notable dance and fitness studios invite participants to try their hand (and foot) at ballroom, tap, bhangra, mozambican, ballet, modern, swing, hip-hop, pilates or yoga. Take free classes at some of New York’s best dance and fitness studios, such as Mark Morris Dance Center, The Ailey Extension, Peridance Capezio Center, Capoeira Guanabara New York, Flamenco Vivo, Bolly X, H+ | The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory and many others. Free.

Check site for locations
Thursday, June 15-Saturday, June 24 (check site for times)

 

Queer Comedy Festival

The unofficial LGBTQIA Comedy Festival, QueerCom 2017, is a 3-day event jam-packed with laughs, hilarious improv, stand-up, sketch, drag, musical acts, film screenings and a ton of other creative acts that showcase the best and funniest of NYC’s LGBTQIA comics and artists. $10.

Peoples Improv Theater (Flatiron)
Friday, June 16-Monday, June 18 (check site for showtimes)

River to River: Music, Theater, Dance and Art

Taking place in various locations throughout Lower Manhattan, River to River is a festival of music, theater, dance and art. Among our must see events are the “Black Gotham Experience,” “Harbored,” “A Marvelous Order,” “Catacomb” and “R2R Living Rooms.” Definitely hit up “Night at the Museums.” Free.

Check site for complete list of venues
Thursday, June 16-Sunday, June 25 (check site for times)

Rooftop Bar Cinema

This summer, Hotel Hugo’s Cuban themed rooftop bar, Azul, presents a new rooftop cinema series, essentially combining two of summer’s quintessential activities – outdoor film screenings and scenic rooftop drinking. Think pastel sunsets, comfy seating, tropical cocktails, yummy tacos and cool films. Cheers to that!

Azul Rooftop (South Village)
Check site  for times. 

Egg Rolls, Egg Creams and Empanadas

The Museum at Eldridge’s annual Egg Rolls, Egg Creams and Empanadas Festival is a celebration of Lower East Side – one of New York’s most diverse neighborhoods. Hear Chinese opera, klezmer, salsa and plena music. Brush up on your Yiddish, Mandarin and Spanish with onsite language lessons.  Learn Hebrew and Chinese scribal art, design Puerto Rican masks or play mah jongg. And, it goes without saying, egg rolls, egg creams and empanadas will be abundant. Free.

The Museum at Eldridge (Lower East Side)
Sunday, June 18 from 12-4pm

Yoga Recharge

Start the week off right with yoga, in a castle! Presented by the Consulate General of India, Castle Clinton, located inside Battery Park, will host an evening of yoga, meditation and music. Choose from a host of wellness activities including shankdwani, yoga mudras, sun salutations, yoga on the pole, pyramid formation, desk-top yoga, yoga on ropes, pranayama and meditation, with musical performance by Butterthief. Free.

Castle Clinton (Battery Park)
Monday, June 19 from 5-8:30pm

Soho International Film Festival

The Soho International Film Festival has grown exponentially since its inception in 2010. It showcases films from filmmakers (both seasoned and emerging) around the world that broach a variety of topics. See them here first, before they are picked for a wider distribution. Tickets start at $16.

Village East Cinema (East Village)
Thursday, June 15-Thursday, June 22 (check site for times)

Categories
Events Living

Downtown TripPicks: June 5 – June 12, 2017

Trip.com is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.” Trip.com’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.

Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip.com. Visit their site or download the app for more upcoming events.

 

Photo courtesy of Hotel 50 Bowery. 

New Rooftop Bar

A new rooftop bar, aptly named the The Crown, now tops the 21st floor of Hotel 50 Bowery. Come check out the breathtaking views of Manhattan and Brooklyn while sampling Asian-inspired craft cocktails and  “a small menu of rotating globally-inspired street food.” Trust us: you’re going to be very impressed.

Hotel 50 Bowery (Chinatown)
Sunday-Wednesday from 12 pm-2am; Thursday-Saturday from 12pm-4am

 

The Zinfandel Experience

Though the grape’s origin can be traced to Croatia and Italy, Zinfandel is the quintessential American wine. The Zinfandel Experience showcases the wine’s versatility, which ranges from dry to semi-sweet, with wine samples from awarding wineries.  Tickets start at $69.

Union Square Ballroom (Union Square)
Wednesday, June 7 from 7-10pm

 

Kundalini Disco Yoga

Awaken your higher self with groovy music, Kundalini yoga and meditation. This original two hour class will take participants on a unique spiritual journey that will rejuvenate, renew and revitalize from the inside out. Class is $30.

Woom Center (Nolita)
Sunday, June 11 from 2-4pm

 

Washington Square Classical Music Festival

June 6 marks the start of a month-long classical concert series at Washington Square Park. We can’t imagine a lovelier Tuesday evening than in the company of Bizet and Carl Orff‘s “Carmina Burana” with The Stonewall Chorale, the nation’s first LGBT chorus, and soloists. Free event.

Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village)
Tuesday, June 6 at 8pm

Lower East Side Film Festival

The Lower East Side Film Festival showcases low-budget and independent films from across the globe, but this affair is far from low-profile. Don’t miss the opening night film “Avenues” and the after-party hosted by Vimeo at DROM where a $20 cover includes live music and an open bar with beer and wine. While you’re at it, hit up the filmmaker reception and ice cream social on the rooftop of Meet on Bowery. Tickets start at $16.

Check out the site for a complete list of venues and times
Thursday, June 8-Thursday, June 15 

 

Bourbon Bash

Meet fellow bourbon enthusiasts and enjoy eight different premium bourbon tastings at eight different downtown bars. Among them Copper Still, 2A, Parkside Lounge, East Village Social and Plug Uglies at the New York City Bourbon Bash. Neat, on the rocks, or with a soda mixer: it’s bottoms up! Tickets are $65.

Parkside Lounge (Lower East Side)
Saturday, June 10 from 12-10pm

Big Apple BBQ

“Get sauced” with 15 of the finest pitmasters from across the county during two days of Big Apple Barbecue. We can’t wait to taste the heat and smoke from Hometown Bar-B-Que, Baker’s Ribs, Fox Brothers Bar-B-Q, Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ and Salt Lick BBQ. There will also be live musical performances throughout the day.

Madison Square Park (Flatiron)
Saturday, June 10-Sunday June 11 from 11am-6pm

Outdoor Moonlight Screening

Presented in partnership with The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center in observance of June’s LGBTQ Pride Month, don’t miss Barry Jenkins’ moving coming-of-age story, “Moonlight“, under the stars. Free event.

Corporal John A Seravalli Playground (Meatpacking District)
Wednesday, June 7 from 8:30-11:30pm

Categories
Fitness Health

Heidi Kristoffer Brings Yoga to the Financial District

Master yogi Heidi Kristoffer is on a one-woman mission to transform the Financial District “yoga desert” into an oasis. The neighborhood resident and mother of twin toddlers was initially mystified by the lack of options.

“There’s no classes here. There’s none. There’s zero in Financial Proper,” Kristoffer explained.

After noticing the extreme popularity of mid-morning yoga classes in TriBeCa, Kristoffer partnered with CompleteBody in Hanover Square to offer the same service in FiDi, especially catered to neighborhood moms. Every Wednesday morning, she holds a Power Flow yoga class at 9:30. Although it’s no easy task to break the ironclad routine of busy New York moms, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We have a lovely little crew of moms that come each week… It’s a support network, and such an unexpected one,” Kristoffer stated.

A strong believer in the connective power of yoga, Kristoffer hopes her FiDi class will provide a restorative atmosphere where maxed-out moms can take a little time for themselves and just breathe.

“You focus on your breathing, you focus on your body, you focus on your mind, which makes you a better mom, and a better everything,” she explained.

Access to CompleteBody’s host of amenities, including showers, a steam room, and a sauna, doesn’t hurt either.

“It’s like a pause button in the middle of the day,” Kristoffer said.

However, the power to help people improve their physical and mental wellness remains at the center of Kristoffer’s yoga philosophy. The former actress fell into the world of yoga somewhat by accident after an unanticipated move landed her far from her go-to gym, New York Sports Club. After taking one class at a studio close to her apartment, Kristoffer was hooked.

“I was sometimes taking three classes a day. I fell so hard, so fast, in love with the way yoga made me feel,” she explained.

When three of her upcoming films lost funding, Kristoffer attended a teacher-training course and soon took on instructing full-time, eventually working as a yoga expert for Shape magazine. Her mash-up fitness videos for Shape lead to the creation of her signature workout, CrossFlowX, a powerful combination of tabata interval training and yoga.

“I’ve always known that yogis need cardio, what I didn’t realize was how badly regular fitness people needed yoga… It’s great because it’s a doorway for people who would never take a yoga class,” Kristoffer said.

Currently, Kristoffer only offers CrossflowX classes at Five Pillars Yoga in the Upper East Side. However, if enough of her students are interested, Kristoffer has plans to offer a class downtown. While many find the workout intimidating, especially after watching the video available on her website, Kristoffer encourages those who want to be physically challenged to give it a try.

“There’s really something to this pushing hard and then going into a restorative yoga pose that maybe your body doesn’t love, because your body has no choice but to relax when its exhausted,” she explained.

For now, Kristoffer continues her crusade to bring yoga to, arguably, those in the city who need it most.

“There’s so much good that yoga can add to your life. Yogis bend so they don’t break. Everybody needs to bend so they don’t break.”

Photos by Jay Sullivan

Categories
Fitness Health

Fitness Friday: CompleteBody & CBXT

Much as the name implies, at CompleteBody — an exclusive NYC gym with three locations — the physical aspect isn’t the only focus. Focusing on six essential elements of strength, cardio, flexibility, nutrition, meditation and rest, CompleteBody make sure its members’ workout regime comes full-circle from inside out.

Besides excellent amenities such as a full cardio and fitness floor and an amazing climbing wall, CompleteBody offers a variety of classes to fit the gym-goers. Members can join in on everything from Yoga and Barre to Spinning and Boxing classes.

CBXT: The class

Their signature workout class, however, is called CBXT. A workout that hits all the major muscle groups in just one class–and even better, in as short as 45 minutes. Perfect for busy New Yorkers! The workout is based on the Tabata Method, high intensity interval training.

“This is a timed workout including 45 seconds of high intensity followed by a short 15-second cooldown before starting up in high intensity again. This short rest enables the body to keep the heart rate up, creating an aerobic state and in turn burning more calories over the 45-minute class than your basic workout,” explained Davide Butson-Fiori, regional group fitness director at CompleteBody.

The class is fast-paced and you go through six stations with different exercises targeting different muscle groups. By using TRX, kettle bells, agility ladders and so much more, the stations allows you to. Each station has two different exercises and are moreover supported by tablets playing a video of an instructor demonstrating each exercise.

What sets it apart from other classes are two-part. “First, all instructors are certified personal trainers. This allows the member to get the best instruction for a safe and effective experience. Our trainers know how to push and also how to modify if needed, and they are encouraging and motivating,” said Butson-Fiori.

“Secondly, our CBXT workout is done with heart rate monitors that display real time heart rate, calories burned and your activity level. This allows our instructors to monitor your progress and afterwards review your workout and give goals for the next session,” he added.

The CBXT workout is great for improving your overall physical health on three levels. With intervals of cardio, it builds great lung capacity and a strong heart, it builds muscles and tones through its targeted exercises, and the classes end with a core section, a stretch and a guided meditation to “help members reset.”

And best of all is the energized feeling in the class. “The energy and the desire to succeed that every member exudes, it motivates and feeds everyone involved,” Butson-Fiori stated.

Photos courtesy of CBXT

Categories
Events Miami Travel

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge & mindbodygreen to celebrate Earth Day

Photo courtesy of Pexels

Mission-driven luxury hotel brand 1 Hotels and leading lifestyle media company mindbodygreen have partnered for Earth Day. On Saturday, Apr. 22,1 Hotels’ newest property — located in Brooklyn Heights — will celebrate Earth Day with a free-to-the-public mindfulness event. Beyond this event at 1 Hotels’ new flagship property, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, there will be supporting satellite activations at other 1 Hotel locations including New York City’s Central Park and Miami’s South Beach.

“Every year, the world pays tribute to our planet on Earth Day, utilizing it as an effective advocacy vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change and protect the Earth for future generations,” said 1 Hotels’ Vice President of Sustainability, Amanda DeSantis. “At 1 Hotels, our core philosophy is that the world around us is beautiful and we want to keep it that way, so it was a natural alignment for us to host this nationwide first event that facilitates awareness of the world’s largest environmental movement.”

Curated by mindbodygreen, the Brooklyn event will host a variety of activities including rooftop yoga led by Los-Angeles based instructor Caley Alyssa, group meditations led by Light Watkins and 1 Hotels’ in-house meditation leader Biet Simkin, astrology readings with Bess Matassa of Mojave Rising and one-on-one sessions with Treatment By Lanshin, a Brooklyn-based wellness studio. Additionally, there will be a musical and visual performance by BELLA GAIA and live panel discussions facilitated by CEO and Founder of mindbodygreen, Jason Wachob around sustainability, which will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/mindbodygreen.

Brooklyn vendors including Keap, Natchie, Matchaful and Devoción will be selling and sampling locally-made food, beverages, gift items, beauty and wellness products. Additional refreshments will be available for purchase through 1 Hotels, along with local vendors from the new DeKalb Market Hall, opening later this spring including Ample Hills Creamery, Bread & Spread, and Jianbing Company.

“Environmental sustainability is in our DNA at mindbodygreen! We strive to help people live their best life mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and environmentally,” said CEO and Founder of mindbodygreen, Jason Wachob. “We’re proud to be partnering with 1 Hotels this Earth Day to bring our community together to inspire them with information that will drive action to protect our environment.”

More information on the hotel can be found at http://www.1hotels.com/brooklyn-bridge, while RSVPs are being taken at https://1earthdaybb.splashthat.com.