Meditative workouts: Chill out and exercise
Erin Stutland leads her Shrink Session class at Crunch. Credit: Erin Stutland leads her Shrink Session class at Crunch.
It can be hard to relax in this city. Taxicabs, sirens, long workdays, commutes. When do you get a break? And who has time to exercise and meditate? If you're looking for ways to chill out while working out, here are five exercises that combine relaxing meditation and an intense workout.
Yoga Fight Club
Probably the only yoga class with burpees, Yoga Fight Club mixes meditation, Vinyasa poses and kickboxing and will leave you physically and mentally exhausted. Teacher Kristina Cubrilo says her class is not counterintuitive.
"You do Warrior poses in yoga," she said. Yoga Fight Club is great for people who want to relax and work out their aggression at the same time.
"In my classes, it's OK to scream," said Cubrilo. Om Factory, 873 Broadway, omfactorynyc.com
Shrink Session
Part cardio, kickboxing, yoga and dance, with a little life coaching and meditation sprinkled in, each Shrink Session helps you transform your body as well as your mind.
"The most lasting results don't come from how you exercise. They come from how you think," said founder Erin Stutland. "You can bypass negative self-talk and self-limitation, dive deep into self-love and empowerment, and end up with a tighter butt, a lean sexy body, all while having fun and feeling energized." Crunch, Various locations, crunch.com, shrinksessionworkout.com
Tai Chi
Tai chi is a Chinese martial art of self-defense and meditation. Tai chi's slow movements are very slow and specific, and cultivate chi in the body, which, according to traditional Chinese medicine, energizes the body's organs and systems. CK Chu Tai Chi, 156 W. 44th St., 212-221-6110, chutaichi.com
Nia
Nia combines dance, martial arts and healing arts to exercise the body while teaching people to access their emotions. Yvonne Puckett, 75, teaches 20 classes a week, and says Nia helps people "from the inside out."
"Some students can't believe they can move like they never have. ... If I see people reaching their joy ... I know I'm doing my job." Body Strength Fitness, 250 W. 106th St. yvonneserena dance.com
Walking Meditation
Developed by the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Han, this movement helps unify the body and mind and creates awareness. For a guided meditation, see Gabrielle Bernstein's podcast: gabbyb.tv/meditate
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
