2nd Blog - Dharma Yoga Center, New York

Leaving off from Sunday in New York.

              The Monday following I googled a Forever 21 to buy a few items for my stay because the weather was a bit colder then I had anticipated and I didn’t want to bring cold weather clothing en route to the Caribbean. Luckily Irina had a few jackets I could barrow for the time being. It was a 2.5 mile walk up Broadway to get to Forever 21 and I had more then enough time to walk. Just after Irina scurried off to work, I left shortly after to familiarize myself with Manhattan.
 
             I headed north and took in the hustle and bustle of a New York minute watching people rush off to work, buying their breakfast donuts and coffees from the street stands, making their way on foot in the local commute with an umbrella, phones, and earphones. To my pleasure, I found a 24 Hour Fitness along the way, which was a bonus. Eventually I found the Forever 21 (yep I’m not boujie) I spent an hour rummaging through the clothes, trying on a few items until I finally felt satisfied with what I had.
 
            Previously, I looked up Yoga to the People for locations and times. I saw on the schedule a noon Power Vinyasa class at a location relatively close to where I was that was in contingency. I decided to look up Dharma Yoga Centre and their class schedule also had a noon class as well for 90 minutes. Decision made. The studio was approximately 1.5 miles away from where I was, a tad further but not entirely a stretch. I calculated X amount of blocks walking at X pace to get there in the knick of time. It was cold, wet, raining, dreary, and I was, loving the atmosphere. I had nowhere to be other then on my way to Dharma to get in a practice.
 
            When I arrived, I walked in like a little kid in a chocolate candy store. I was excited, I finally made it to this studio I’ve heard of, read about, saw on the television, and there I was. Dharm Mittra the owner and master teacher was not around during my time frame unfortunately. No worries, I was still so excited to be there, to be at this space that has such a invaluable reputation. The front desk staff was kind and I could tell it was going to be a great session, just by hearing the chanting from the previous class as I walked in. There was something about this studio I immediately fell in love with.
 
            The energy spoke to me and I was eager to be a student all over again, more so than Y7. People started piling into the space in all different directions, grabbing props, yoga wheels, blankets, blocks, chit chatting amongst others. I placed my mat down in a corner tucked in the back so I could see the entire space. It’s a very basic studio, no showers, or hip music playing. To me, I felt like I was definitely in a New York yoga class simply by the array of beings that came together in this space. It’s interesting to accept the notion that this was east coast vs west coast, traditional but not. I don’t get classes like that back in San Diego unless it’s Ashtanga based or Rocket.
 
           We started in standing of traditional Surya Namaskar A moving into B with only the name of the poses. No cookie cutter cueing, just get your bum right into it and move. Our teacher was male, slim, seemed young, perhaps early 30’s. Strong of course with standard inner strength in flexibility, giving me the impression he only teaches this particular style. His voice was dry and that of a master teacher. There is an essence of demeanor from different styles of teaching and many programs teach their YTT’s to be embracing, soft, and inviting. He was not. He was not mean, nor harsh, he was matter of fact, and that’s what I liked. He had a drawing distance to his teaching methodology and that has always been my go to in practice. I feel personally, that is what makes a master teacher; a slight separation of camaraderie but not entirely unapproachable.
 
            Throughout the 90 minute session, I received everything I was quietly feening in a practice. The Dharma sequence is attractive yet intimidating. Like a beautiful human walking into a room that has all the sex appeal and qualities of a well-rounded person, only to have you question yourself. Of course I couldn’t nail every advance posture like I use to before, taking into consideration I just don’t practice that hard anymore. Nevertheless, because of the environment I submitted myself to, my inner yogic practice was heightened and I’m glad I took the initiative to make it to Dharma.
 

---

63 West 23rd,
​New York New York

Studio Review - Modest, Enlightening, Big Space

From the elevator you walk into the small area to take shoes off. Lobby is of moderate size, plenty of Dharma souvenirs and other yogic essentials, beads, malas, how to books, etc. The look is not hip or up to date and that's what makes it what it is. 

Changing area - Two curtained off areas for men and women to leave their stuff.

Bathrooms - Small, basic, no showers

​Main room - Very big, plenty of props to use.