Because I am a yoga nerd, I was unreasonably excited to learn that on the Saturday morning of BlogHer, Lululemon would be hosting a free yoga class in Bryant Park. A whole new and different kind of squeee.
So I trotted down 6th Avenue at the appointed hour, and it was perfect. It was sunny and warm, but not too hot or humid. The sky was beautifully blue. There were lots of people, but plenty of room. In front of me was a woman who had to be at least 75 years old, pushing one of those old lady shopping carts. Her hair was dyed bright red and she wore a leotard and tights under her clothing. After the class she sipped water from an old bottle of ibuprofen.
Two celebrity Jivamukti teachers, Dechen Thurman (yup, same Thurman) and Matthew Lombardo, led the class from the same stage that plays host to Monday night movies in the park. But down on the grass were two dozen more teachers (see the group in yellow, second photo) who circulated among the students to give corrections and adjustments.
Normally, I take class in a small, windowless room with one teacher and no more than 10 other students. And I love it. But being outside, in a large group, is really special, and not just because we were encouraged many times to share our energy with those around us (so not why I practice yoga). And hands-on correction from teachers who know what they are doing is like getting a really, really good massage. A short massage. But still.
After the class was over (60 minutes flew by) and I was rolling up my mat to leave, a butterfly landed gently on my neighbor’s mat. Everyone admired it, and then it fluttered away. And I walked back up 6th Avenue to the Hilton.
P.S. If you’re curious about what it takes to become a yoga teacher (I was), I just posted an interview with a friend who’s in training.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This sounds fabulous. Everyone looks so tidily spaced too – was that guided by the instructors, or do yoga participants just know how to arrange themselves?
There are more photos of this event on the Dechen Thurman blog: http://www.dechenthurman.blogspot.com
Nice! Got to swing by Bryant Park on our last day in town. Had a nice lazy dinner at one of the cafe tables.
I wish I could have gone to this, but I had a breakfast commitment that morning.
Incidentally, my sister is a yoga teacher (although I’m the one who started practicing yoga first).