Social Workout

Mind Over Hands

The Inner Monologue of a Handstand

Om_Susanna rocks my yogaluvin' world every Monday night at Virayoga. For the most part I bathe in her yogaful guidance like Sookie Stackhouse bathes in the sun…but there’s one part of class that scares the bejebus out of me: Handstand time.

Susanna loves her some handstands and I, unfortunately, seem to have a center of gravity that very much likes to be feet first on the ground. So every Monday night, around 9 P.M. my thought process goes something like this, tranquil as it may be….

New York

Retreats

Yoga With Elena Brower at Parrot Cay

• What: Six nights on a private island in the Carribean, with twice daily Anusara practice led by yogalebrity Elena Brower and fancy spa fare. 
• When: October 24 - 30, 2010. We know October is a ways away, but we're giving you ample warning so you can save your pennies for this pricey retreat.
• Where: Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos 
• Why: Extreme spa luxury on 1,000 pristine acres of beachy heaven, and a contemplative daily practice designed by Elena "to usher in a state of alertness." 

Events

Flavorpill's Earth Day Yoga Party at the Standard

We know that you've been meaning to get to the Standard for yoga class since our news about public daily yoga classes on the 18th floor. Well, this Thursday is the day to go. The Standard and our friends at Flavorpill are teaming up to bring you Earth Day Yoga with Elena Brower of Virayoga. Cost is $20, but all proceeds go to EarthDay-NY, and after the 7 P.M. class, the party heats up with live music and free wine, chocolate, and kombucha. All the details after the jump. 

New York

Snapshot

All Elizabeth Wants is a Yoga Top That Stays Put During Inversions

Every day, we give you a snapshot of one fellow striver in fitness. We ask personal questions, they boldly answer. Today's snapshot: Elizabeth, aka joesgirl. 

• What's your number one workout spot? Virayoga in Soho. I've been a member of the kula (sanskrit for "community of the heart") at Vira for years. It is the best yoga studio in New York, in my opinion, and not just because it is a wonderful place to practice — some of my closest friends in life are people who I've met there over the years. It just seems to attract the most wonderful souls. Equinox, to which I have an all-access membership through work, is a distant second. I will candidly admit that there are times when I have routinely used Equinox for nothing more than access to the steamroom (LOL). In recent years, however, and as I get older, it's become more obvious to me that a little additional cardio and weight training doesn't hurt a person. So, I'm now also exploring spinning and various other brutal experiences at a variety of the downtown/Brooklyn-based Equinoxes (Equini?) 

DVD Divas

Yoga It Girl Elena Brower on Yoga DVDs and Finding Your Teacher

I've known Elena Brower for a while now, she just hasn't known me. She makes an appearance on my TV a couple of times a week. (Elena hosts a series of yoga DVDs for Element, and is the streaming video go-to girl for yoga. She can be seen teaching full length Anusara classes for YogaGlo and free 10-minute yoga segments for Adidas). After all these years, I figured it was time that I actually venture to her SoHo yoga studio Virayoga to experience the real deal.

After Elena opened the minds and bodies of 60+ students in class Saturday morning (which she taught straight from her MoMA Yoga Under the Whale class), she opened up about her own life and thoughts about yoga.

Not To Be Missed

Three Hours of Yoga to Heal the World

There are your garden variety yoga classes, and then there are three hour, transformative, sweat-until-you-cry-while-listening-to-a-haunting-live-cello and engaging in Pranic meditation kinds of deals.... You're invited.

Three star teachers at Virayoga, hub of downtown Anusara, have gotten together to host a benefit for the Breast Cancer Fund. One of those is Susanna Harwood Rubin, amazing artist and yogi, and dear friend. We agreed we'd spread the word. Consider yourself alerted: Susanna, as well as Vira founder Elena Brower, and Jennifer Pettit, all watched close family members battle breast cancer. Inspired and moved, they decided they would do a host a benefit. In short order, Pangea Organics jumped on board, and our friends at Vita Coco. More importantly, Elena called in Mark Pellerano, a Pranic Healer, and Garth Stevenson, Brooklyn cellist. This is going to be a live one. Mark your calendars.

• WHEN: Sunday, September 27; 12:45 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.
• WHAT: A three hour yoga practice to raise awareness and honor those whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.
• WHERE: Virayoga
• WITH: Elena Brower, Jennifer Pettit, Susanna Rubin on Yoga; and Mark Pellerano leading a session on Pranic Healing. Also: Garth Stevenson performing live.
• HOW MUCH: $40.00
• FOR WHOM: All Proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Fund.

New York

Workout

Tuesday Night Special

New office (!!!) is less than half a block from Virayoga. After our first team meeting in new office (!!!), I made my way to Susanna Hardwood Rubins anusara class. It was a lovely evening, with just six or seven us in the big room with the ceiling fans and gleaming hardwood floors.

Workout

YoGA at the MoMA sculpture garden

Yessssss!!! This class was terrific-- in the MoMA sculpture garden which was actually sort of like doing yoga on the patio of a skyscraper-- your view is mainly of the Citibank building above, etc, rather than feeling like you're in a serene artwork like the Pipilotti Rist must have been (where they did the class last time). But mainly-- fantastic yoga.