#manhattanyogi

[wanderandreid]

Welcome to the Space Jam

A rainy day in New York is never fun, I laid in bed until my Fly workshop with Jess at Laughing Lotus BK. I could unfortunately only go for an hour, but it was a great experience. I learned how to jump up and center my body. Engaging my core and small tricks to work up into a handstand. I really rigged it, until I had to bounce to work at Fino. 

Then it was bro night, I met up with the guys uptown. Where I had to pee sooo bad that we ran around the block to an ally where they blocked for me to squat and do my business - HAHA yes this happened. We went to a dj club called Space uptown. Unreal, Unreal. The music was bumping, I could barely hear myself think. We spent almost 4 straight hours dancing and it was an absolute blast. I love bro nights.  

[wanderandreid]

Ice Cream

After working at my supervisors apartment in the West Village, which was so cute. She had great places like Cowgirls and a speakeasy called Employees Only near her apartment. We ate at a place called Dumplings Go. I ordered the Veggie Dumplings with a Jasmine tea and a sesame seed paste Bao. I was famished so I devoured the dumplings in record time. 

When I went home, Gabrielle and her boyfriend Trey who was visiting, we decided to hop the subway and take it to Brooklyn. We walked around the city for a few blocks trying to find a place to eat, I wanted a glass of wine. There was so much cool art and buildings - we are def checking it out before heading home in the day time. We got some ice-cream on the pier. Which totally broke my vegan streak - but hey I am new at this. It was so good, but bed felt even better.

[wanderandreid]

1Oak

I will repeat, BEFRIEND PROMOTERS. We skipped the line and felt like Paris Hilton the entire night - minus the sex tape. We danced til our feet hurt, sipped on Champagne and got hit on by guys who I am sorry we are just way too out of their league. The club is dark and you just have to wonder what it looks like in the day light. We ran into our good friend Kit, but with work in the morning I decided to only have one sip of champagne and hit up an Uber. Seriously it is a fun club, but you have to go on the right night. Dress super classy. And there is an Artichoke Pizza place right next door for late night nomz.

[wanderandreid]

Relationships: It is okay to cry.

Mondays are probably the hardest day of the week. On this Monday, I decided to go vegan after reading the book Skinny Bitch. Honestly if you are about healthy living and have not read this book yet, you need to. It is an eye opener and even though I grew up devouring meat, I have a profound love for fruits and veggies. 

After work I was feeling a lot of emotion in my heart. I had not talked to my best friends in days, I had been a shitty communicator with my boyfriend and my family. I was completely out of my element. I felt like I was in the wrong place, like what do I want to do with my life because I as hell have no idea what I want to do. There are some days I love where I am at, there are others that I want to quit everything, travel to india and live in an Ashram. Honestly I maybe consider this daily. I just felt so stressful and needed to breath. I needed yoga and I needed it now. I honestly felt bad my roommates had to hear me bitch before I was out the door.

I plugged my headphones in and was out the door, over thinking as usual. When I arrived to the studio, I felt a wave of relief. I was in a safe place. I was taking class from the owner, Dana Trixie Flynn. She came up and introduced herself before class and gave me a hug. I knew how this class was going to go. 

Amazing flow, amazing practice, so many heart openers and the whole time she focused on Relationships….I was meant to be in that place at that time. At the end of class we sang a Mantra. A healing Mantra, Ra Ma Da Sa. Tears began to fall down my face and as I continued to cry the emotion and stress I felt released. I had surrendered. It felt amazing. Having that feeling that you understand, you understand what is going on around you, those around you and yourself. Looking deeper into myself and understand what was going on and what the root of the problem was. I needed to communicate. I needed to cry and it was going to be okay. Dana came up to me after class and held me as I balled and told me to let it out, to let go and that it was okay. I was grateful. I was in a safe place, without judgement, without self judgement or fear or anything. I was in the moment and it was amazing. 

Of course then I called and texted my friends, my boyfriend and told them about my experience and the thoughts I had in my head, but they reassured me I had nothing to worry about. My heart was free and lifted and I felt lighter as I walked home. 

Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in a moment and forget who we are and what we represent. We forget ourselves and those around us. We forget the things that make us happy, and we forget to do these things every day. It takes a moment to take a breath in and breathe. Truly, madly, deeply breathe. Reassure yourself that you are where you are supposed to be, re-connect with your loved ones and find that balance that brings you back to yourself. Inhale clarity, exhale anxiety.

[wanderandreid]

Go A Rod Go A Rod….ZA

You can not call yourself a New Yorker if you have never gone to a Yankees Game. We hopped on the train and headed wayy up town, after a nice restful sleep of course. 

A man, or a Rastafarian, jumped onto our transit with his guitar in hand and began to sing “Go A Rod Go A Rod, Go Yankees, 1st Base 2nd Base 3rd base…HOME RUN.” We were loving it. It was hard to understand him but he began shoot off things like “Obama is coming” and things I will never be able to recall again. 

Finally we were in the Bronx, and it was time for a Yankees game. Of course I was cheering for the Tigers. We got our beers, Cracker Jacks, hot dogs and fries and found our seats in the bleachers. It was a blast. We ran into some guys from Pike MSU and ended up leaving the game early, because Detroit was getting creamed, and headed to the bar across the street called The DugOut. 

When everyone else headed out on the town, Gabrielle and I decided to head home once we were back in Manhattan. We hopped on the subway and made a change a Bleeker St. Where I said to Gabrielle we should get some Pizza…..I mean it was only midnight.

Once we were above ground, I chose the first and only place that was open until 2 am. Prince St. Pizza. We were back in Noho, and came to a bumping street. The pizza place was a little hole in the wall, with specialty slices, calzones, and full pizza options. There were photos all over the walls of the whole Sopranos cast, Little Stevie himself, and so many Gangster-Mafia superstars. We were in the right place, a local place. We each got two slices, which were so hard to finish but we had to finish. It was so worth it and delicious. Hands down, the best pizza I had ever had in my life, next to Italy. 

The crust was thin and the cheese perfectly melted. We went to bed happy as clams.

The next morning we relaxed and that night had family dinner, pulling out the wine and having a grand time. 

[wanderandreid]

Bunch’a Dimes

When we were up, we headed to meet up with my cousin Lexi. We walked all the way up towards Canal St. to eat at a little diner called DIMES. It was honestly so worth the wait. We had fresh Acai and Pitaya bowls, the breakfast tacos and avocado and their homemade “love toast with peanut butter and raspberries” DE-LICIOUS. It was reasonably priced as well. After eating, we decided to explore and hit up some bakeries, I mean why not we just ate an amazing breakfast and the best way to top it off is doughnuts. 

Our first stop was at a vegan-gluten free bakery called Baby Cakes. They had everything from cakes, cookies, muffins, doughnuts, and cupcakes that were all vegan, gluten and natural ingredients. I got a vegan chocolate chip cookie and a mint chocolate chip cupcake. Of course I ate them on the spot. 

Then we walked to The Doughnut Plant. OH MY GOD. We had to limit ourselves to one doughnut because there were so many to choose from. I got the coconut lime - ugh I couldn't even wait. Then of course next door was a little bakery, and we had to look inside. It was called Kossars. They had bagels, bread and these bagel-like things called Bialys. They were only 90 cents so of course we got some for breakfast that next week. 

We were in Noho area so Gabrielle and I decided to walk around for awhile. We found cute vintage shops, a perfumery called La Labo and of course graffiti all over the place. Writing down names of places that we felt were perfect for future brunches and grabbed some tea at The Soho Cafe. 

We have declared ourselves the Fat Fucks. Due to the fact we, as in I send foodie pictures to our group chat. I absolutely love my roommates. 

[wanderandreid]

Roof Tops

After a long work week, it is honestly so great to kick back with your roommates and hangout on the roof. We decided to host a pre game at our apartment before hitting the bars and I wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, so before it got too crazy, I went for a little stroll. It is so nice being by the water and there is actually a beautiful walk way right by our house. 

The bridge was fantastic and walking just clears my head. You get a whole view of Brooklyn and New York City sky lines. And when you go at midnight the sky is just orange, red, purple and just gorg. 

I walked to the BK, then decided to turn around and head home and get ready for a night out with friends. We invited our friends from Cornell and had a large group on the roof. 

We decided to hit our favorite bar - Phebes. And the second we walked in (and when I say we I mean only Jordyn, Gabrielle and myself because Brook did not make it out lol) we were handed tequila shots. shot after shot. We got over it pretty quick and decided to head home and try and get some pizza. When that was a fail….our beds had never felt so good. And waking up at noon is just the best. Okay that is a lie…we woke up at 1 because Jordyn thought she lost her debit card. If she wouln’t have come to this realization then I think we would have slept all day.

[wanderandreid]

Tribe Love

In a city so huge it is so easy to lose yourself. Actually in any place in the world, it is so easy to feel lost. Maybe you physically feel like you are out of place or mentally you can not feel balance because you are in a new element. 

Through my own experience, the only therapy I can recommend is finding your tribe. People who you want to celebrate life with, people who match to you. And for me, I found a tribe (outside my roommates) at Laughing Lotus. 

The moment I walked in, the goddess painted walls and glittered floors sent chills of excitement through my soul. The studio wall were spray painted graffiti, glitter and sparkles and unicorns. It was totally me. There are 3 rooms in the studio, 2 smaller rooms and one large room - all with spray painted art and sparkles. Just Glam-tastic yoga. Although the studio had this glitzy feel, there was an alter and Ganesh and Shiva, basically this indy - ashram vibe and absolutely amazing energy in every direction.

We began the Soul Sweat class with 3 amazing, humming Oms. It was such a fluid flow and the music was amazing. A smile honestly came to my face and I just felt so free and in the right place. I was honestly where I was supposed to be. I also decided to mess around with a few inversions and help a free handstand - whoot!

After class, I introduced myself to the instructor, Jess, she was amazing and so great! Of course I ended up getting a membership for the summer, and i HIGHLY recommend if you are in the city to take a class at LL <3

For my second class, I headed over to Brooklyn for the first time - EVER! The studio was the first stop over the bridge and the studio was wicked. Outside was a spray painted “BK YOGA” garage door and sign. Up the stairs the studio had two rooms, one large one smaller.  Another great flow and another great practice.  

I spoke to the instructor, Lizzie and met another amazing soul. She was very welcoming and gave me some great advice on what classes to go to - and I have already signed up. 

Yoga practice creates a community of people who come from all different places and want different things in life, but there is this pull where they gravitate to this energy source, the practice of yoga. But with it comes so much more, there are similarities and likenesses where friendships are created, relationships formed, homes built. Truly, the community of yoga creates a home, family and a haven. 

When you feel lost or not yourself, turn to yoga. turn to something you love and do it every day. Form a community. Be love, find love - it is so simple, even if it seems like the most difficult thing to do. Express love and love will come in return. You will find the balance and find yourself, maybe you will find your true self, a deeper self. Take a deep breath in, inhale. 

Find your tribe, find yourself and find love. Believe. Know that everything is gong to be okay and I am you and you are me, we are one together. Namaste.