I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t actually taken a devoted yoga class since studios closed 6 months ago. Clearly I am not practicing what I preach.
I was super excited to hear that VERAYOGA has (socially distanced!) outdoor classes on their glorious rooftop. Over the weekend I finally got to take class and it. was. awesome. Here’s what you need to know in case you want to go!
If you’re looking for more pandemic-friendly outdoor workouts in NYC, check out this blog post.
The Setup:
Located at the crossroads of Tribeca and Soho, VERAYOGA has the cutest rooftop space for yoga. It feels like you’re tucked away from the hustle and bustle of downtown NYC. My friend and I both commented that we were pleasantly surprised how quiet it was up there. New Yorkers know how rare it is to experience silence in this city.
VERAYOGA has done an awesome job of making the roof feel like a sweet little yoga oasis. There are plants throughout and a tent above to block any direct sun. The rooftop is split into two sides. From the side I was on, I couldn’t really see the instructor but it didn’t matter because she had a microphone on for the whole class. If you are newer to yoga I’d recommend getting there early to scope out a spot on the side where the instructor demos.
The rooftop is set up so that each person has their own platform to set their mat down on. The platforms are all well distanced and you are allowed to take off your mask for class.
In my experience, everyone was super respectful of each other. All yogis were giving each other personal space and wearing masks when they were walking around the roof.
The Class:
VERAYOGA yoga offers a few different class formats. I took their Flow class which is a sweaty vinyasa-style format. The class starts with a short warm-up and then you head into three different sequences: Sun Salutation A, a Sun Salutation B variation, and a Sun Salutation C. Class ended with a short ab series, some long holds of poses before slowing things down.
The first time of each sequence we went super slow holding the postures for a few breaths, then we started to speed things up, and then finally you had a few minutes to take the sequence on you’re own. In that sense, the class was really similar to Y7 where I teach. Where it differed was we did about 10 rounds of Sun Salutation A. I don’t think I’ve done that many in rapid succession since my yoga teacher training!
Throughout the class, there were opportonuties to make the sequence your own and get creative with things.
The class I took was all house music — the instructor referred to it as “Playa on the Roof” and talked about bringing a burning man vibe to NYC. House music isn’t my personal jam, but it was fitting for this class as it created an almost trance-like feeling. I personally would have preferred hip-hop or pop music and a heads up about the playlist, but I’m sure people LOVED it.
As I said earlier, I personally couldn’t see the yoga teacher because of where my mat was. I was able to hear everything, though, thanks to a microphone and the music was pumping through the speakers too.
All in All:
I left class totally blissed out. Between the yoga, the fresh air, and seeing humans IRL, it was awesome. I’m hoping I’ll be able to take a few more rooftop classes there before it gets chilly in NYC.
Important Info:
Don’t forget to bring your mask (duh!), a mat, water, and a towel if you get sweaty. If it’s sunny you might also want to bring sunscreen. No props will be provided to be sure to bring everything you might need for class.
Visit VERAYOGA:
406 Broadway – Rooftop
New York, NY 10012
[CLASSES AVAILABLE ON ZOOM, TOO!]
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