Heart Full

I couldn’t wait to try out Anti-Gravity yoga at Om Yoga Factory. After reading the rave reviews from NYMag, Timeout NY I imagined myself dancing through the air, emerging from the cocoon in a butterfly like manner. This was not the case. Not only because I’m not a butterfly but the “hammock” is more like a womb that you have to push yourself out from. But once you manage, oh boy! There’s nothing like hanging upside down. And we did let it all hang out, upside down. I could actually feel my spine decompress, after a few more minutes the blood rushing to my face felt more soothing than uncomfortable. It was as if I could feel my neck elongating, and my lungs enlarging with every breath. It’s not the same kind upside down feeling as in head stand, or other inversions, half the time I’m concentrating fully on balancing, and in headstand the neck isn’t fully liberated. Inversion with no effort, is like a dream that I didn’t realize I wanted to come true.

Still, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Perhaps because there were so many first timers in today’s open class, it was pretty slow almost restorative, and there wasn’t much of a “workout” despite what all the reviews say. The pace did allow for very detailed instruction which I appreciated. Still, I missed the flow and  I would’ve liked more “swing”.  The hammocks mainly serve as giant straps when you’re not inverting, and even when you are you’re hovering only an inch or two from the floor, so it doesn’t quite have the impact of height, as say an Aerial Silks class. In fact in a lot of ways it’s like an Aerial Silks class lite. Fair, given there were ~ 20 people in class, and an Aerial Silks class is often limited to 8 or less. There’s too much potential for injury.

I did enjoy the class, it has undeniable benefits, and now that I’m on the $30 unlimited for a week diet, I’ll come for seconds possibly thirds or .. just leave all of you hanging.

Voted by Citysearch as the best yoga studio in New York City since 2005, Sonic Yoga. I’ve been studying this yoga studio for some time, it offers an incredibly competitive membership price, including such tempting offers as 3 months unlimited for $180, well reviewed workshops, and a couple NYY teachers all at Sonic, it was almost too good to be true.

I arrived early, believing I’d have a harder time finding it than I did, but Google Maps can fix even the most hopelessly directionally challenged. I took in the small boutique, spacious couches, and soft water fall, I liked it. As I settled into the couch I noticed that the door to the studio was glass, how novel. I had begun to believe observing yoga classes was discouraged, (and the jury is still out) I was given a glimpse to an impressive space. Clean, long wooden planks, with soft natural light touching all corners. I liked the curtain motif at the front of the room, but secretly believe…Laughing Lotus has perfected the curtain art.

As time for my class approached, I had the luxury of watching the incoming students. And as they grew in number so did my anxiety. There was only one other girl there who didn’t seem to know anyone, and was questioned assertively on her yoga experience, “could it be that advanced?”, I wondered, “…this wasn’t an ashram … could it be so different  from the other yoga studios I’d been to”? It was. I looked around, and increasingly noticed all the other students knew each other, and not just a little bit, but well. I hadn’t seen this level of familiarity since my teenage years and-20-lbs-younger dancer days. These girls had spent a lot of time together, a retreat?

It wasn’t just the students either, but also the teacher. She spoke to them with such easy familiarity, it became painfully clear that I was odd man out. And just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. She reveals we’ll be doing partner yoga … later. Great. Middle school no-lunch-table-to-sit-at memories taunted me, “just wait” they said, “when the time comes, no one will be your partner”. Nice.
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