You can’t touch the latest trend du jour in NYC—it’s all in the mind. New Yorkers are swapping their superfood lattes and heart-pumping indoor cycling seshes for soothing meditation classes geared towards on-the-go lifestyles. From half hour lunchtime classes to upscale chill-out lounges, the latest crop of meditation studios in NYC has us feeling zen..
Inscape
45 W. 21st St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 646-952-0706
22 to 88 minutes for $18 to $29
One of the latest boutique meditation centers offering tailored classes uses a smartphone app to achieve the max relaxation. Known as the “SoulCycle of meditation,” Inscape’s founder Khajak Keledjian was the former CEO of women’s fashion line Intermix. Step into an egg-shaped room (aka, “the Dome”) with precalibrated lighting, sounds and scents, and chill out with the help of a recorded audio guide. Post-inner reflection, hang out in Inscape’s community spaces complete with drinks and bites.
Kadampa Meditation Center
127 West 24th Street, New York, NY
For older-school mediation, check out the Kadampa Meditation Center in Chelsea. Similar to yoga teacher training, Kadampa offers long-term spiritual study in addition to its warm and welcoming meditation classes. For those in a hurry or about to travel, there is also a snappy 30-minute lunchtime meditation for just $5!
MNDFL
Multiple locations (Manhattan and Brooklyn)
30-minute classes are $18, cheaper if you buy in bulk
Geared towards beginners dipping a toe in the pool of meditation, MNDFL is perfect for first-timers or for drop-in meditation while traveling. The studio offers 150 30-minute classes a week from 35 teachers, so you’re sure to find something that fits your busy schedules. MNDFL’S studios are sunlit, bright and lush, with vertical green garden walls. Choose from a selection of breath, mantra, emotions, or intention. Snagging a spot is easy—you can reserve your seat online. But buy the multi-class option for the best bang for your buck.
Ben Turshen
853 Broadway, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10003
From lawyer to bliss guru, Ben Turshen opened his studio to share his passion for Vedic meditation, one of the oldest forms of meditation actually designed for people with busy lives. These classes teach rushed New Yorkers how to max out happiness in everyday life without even trying (which should definitely make our subway rides way more pleasant). You’ll see finance execs, PR mavens and others harnessing the calming teachings of Turshen’s Vedic meditation. An independent instructor, make sure to check in with Turshen’s calendar online to see when he is offering his blissful instructions in NYC.
