Free-ing your Mind: Free Yoga in New York City
Living in New York, between weaving through tourists staring blankly at the Empire State Buiding, cabs almost running you over on a regular basis, and everyone trying to sell you something, even just to get from point A to point B, it can become easy to lose a connection between your mind and body.
The natural, trendy, and obvious solution is yoga. But, of course, these days, even regaining your sanity costs money (ask any New Yorker’s therapist). Even cutting out the fluff — you don’t really need those fancy Lululemon yoga pants, do you? — you’re still stuck with the cost of paying either per class at a yoga studio, or buying a pricey membership, and hoping that six months from now you’re still going to be as enthusiastic about that Yin Yoga class as you are today.
Fortunately, re-balancing your mind and body connection doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, it doesn’t have to cost anything at all. Here are two free yoga options, one ongoing, and one temporary.
1. Lululemon Athletica (yes, they of the adorable yoga pant) offers complimentary open level yoga classes in varying styles on either Saturday or Sunday mornings depending on their location:
- Upper East Side (1127 Third Avenue @ 66th Street)- The series is (very adorably) called Sun(day) Salutations, and takes place (guess when), every Sunday from 9:30-10:30 am
- Lincoln Square (1928 Broadway @ 64th Street)- This store has Lulunights which take place from 8:00 -9:00 pm every Sunday night.
- Union Square (15 Union Square West)- Their series takes place on Saturdays and is called Sunshine Yoga. It takes place from 9:00 – 10:00 am.
On Tuesdays (9:30-10:30 am) and Thursdays (6-7 pm) all of the Lululemon New York City stores offer open level outdoor yoga classes in Bryant Park (40th-42nd Streets b/n 5th and 6th Avenues). For all of these classes you can bring your own mat or borrow one of theirs.
2. PURE Yoga, which recently opened its first United States branch on the Upper East Side (203 E. 86th Street, between 3rd and 2nd Avenues), is offering complimentary yoga classes for the week of June 14 only to celebrate their One Year Anniversary. The schedule is here, and there are classes and special events going on every day from Sunday, June 14 until Friday, June 19.
Pure Yoga is AMAZING. I had a free pass to go here once, and I was almost convinced to sign on for $150 a month. I thankfully came to my senses (I couldn’t afford that and my gym membership), but it will woo you. Be warned. And they will probably try to make a sale, but stay strong. Do the yoga, which is done in well-built, sound-proof rooms with new, clean, sturdy equipment, and only give in if you want to.
I, personally, will be going to the Sun(day) Salutations class at Lululemon, and the Tuesday morning yoga in Bryant park on a regular basis. I’m also going to be taking advantage of the classes at Pure, although I haven’t decided which best fit into my schedule (with all of the scouting I’m doing for you guys!)
I will report back on Sun(day) Salutations next time I go, which I am anticipating will be this Sunday.
