Only in Chelsea: Naked Yoga
I have meditated while in sauna-hot rooms and perfected my warrior position while on palm-lined beaches in the Caribbean but never have I posed downward-dog sans clothing. That is just what Naked Yoga NYC, the much buzzed about Manhattan yoga studio, has been encouraging students to do since they opened earlier this year.
The Vinyasa Hatha-style naked yoga classes are meant to liberate you from negative belief patterns, body consciousness and, of course, clothing. According to Naked Yoga NYC, naked yoga was created with the thought that
…by removing clothing we are forced to examine our bodies and our belief patterns. We let go more quickly of what is holding us back, and plunge more deeply into our truth and our bliss.
Naked yoga classes are open to both sexes but tend to draw more men than women by a margin of 3:1 and because the studio is in the gay-friendly neighborhood of Chelsea, the students tend to be as such. For women who want a more gender-specific class, Naked Yoga NYC offers a women-only, clothing optional Goddess Circle Celebration that emphasizes reconnecting to women’s power and reclaiming a positive body image.
All open-level classes are taught by either Isis or Britt, two instructors who have their own personal style of teaching. Isis received her Yoga Alliance certification from Laughing Lotus in New York and has studied with various healers and shamans. Isis’ focus is on mysticism and her classes incorporate spiritual practices and sensual flow. Britt, also a certified instructor, is more focused on physical alignment and believes that the breath is the key to a meaningful yoga practice.
Mark your calendars now because in the summer the classes move to the rooftop. Nothing screams Chelsea quite like getting your inner-Zen on while posing naked on a rooftop and watching the sunset over the Hudson River!
For a full list of classes and schedules, visit the Naked Yoga NYC website. Classes are $25 and you must RSVP to info@makednewyorkyoga.com. Don’t forget to bring your own mat.
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POSTED IN: Chelsea, Sports & Recreation
2 opinions for Only in Chelsea: Naked Yoga
Mary Jo
Dec 17, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Your title says it all — only in Chelsea!
Heather
Dec 17, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Yes, this isn’t something that would go over well on the Upper East Side. But I hear that it has also become popular in San Francisco!
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