Tuesday in NYC: Yoga, WSP, By Chloe.
- Kelly Stewart
- Jul 20, 2016
- 3 min read
Every Tuesday morning during the summer months Athleta and Yoga Journal host FREE yoga classes at Bryant Park. Yep, free! All you have to do is RSVP online beforehand and show up - they even have mats ready for you when you arrive. (Side note: I've been bringing my Manduka mat towel because the mats they use are a little slicker than what I normally use for my practice and it's easier to carry around the city than my mat...)
Every week the classes are led by instructors from NYC studios. It's a great tool if you're like me and still new to the awesome (but a little overwhelming) yoga scene in the city. Today's class was taught by Victor Colletti of Laughing Lotus. I enjoyed Victor's practice - he brought a great energy to the park. It made me want to take a class at Laughing Lotus.
...hold on while I add the studio to my NCY Bucket List!
I think my favorite part about Bryant Park Yoga is having the opportunity to come together with yogi's from all over the city, all over the country and all over the world. Since I was riding solo to today's class I decided to chat with the girl practicing on the mat next to mine. She was excited to talk to me - she said she loves talking with people to better her English. She said she's visiting her boyfriend in the city for the summer from their home in Italy. We chatted for a while after class and decided to visit again at yoga next Tuesday morning. I didn't even have to leave my back yard to make friends from around the world. Another grand thing about this city.
After the class and after visiting with my new Italian friend, I hopped onto the F train and took it to the 4th Street-Washington Square Park stop.
It doesn't take people long to figure out that Washington Square Park is one of my favorite places in New York City. I talk about it All. The. Time. Every time I visit WSP there is something new to see or hear. There is always music playing - guitars, grand pianos, saxophones - and it is constantly filled with chatter and laughter. It's filled with businessmen on their lunch breaks, college students cramming for tests, children playing in the fountain, dogs walkers and joggers. Everyone is different yet everyone fits in. Everyone belongs in Washington Square Park and I think that's why I love it. It's a truly beautiful sight.
I sat at the park for about two hours reading one of the books on my list of things to read for graduate school this fall and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon.
After basking in the sun and getting a lot of reading done I decided to check out a restaurant that I've been dying to try for quite some time. I headed south down McDougal Street to Bleeker Street and had lunch at By CHLOE. Their menu is - seriously - out of this world. Salads, sandwiches, burgers, avocado toast, fresh pressed juices, cocktails, cold brew - you get the picture... By CHLOE. is a completely plant based, vegan restaurant, but don't let that hold you back. I think a lot of people get the misconception that lack of meat means lack of flavor, but in this case that isn't close to true. From the second you walk in the door you're greeted by absolutely divine scents and a super-cute atmosphere. I opted for the "The Guac Burger" which was a black bean-quinoa-sweet potato patty, corn salas, guacamole and their chipotle aioli sauce (SO good) on a whole grain bun. It was the best vegan burger I've ever had; I'm already craving another.
And that was my Tuesday in New York City. After eating lunch I headed home and took our black lab, Jack, for a good, long walk - our country dog is finally starting to get used to apartment living and city life!
Until my next adventure,
Kelly
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