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I get it: New Yorkers tend to be pretty stressed out. When my dentist told me that I had a serious teeth-grinding problem, he added that it's just part of living in New York. And it seems that we're pretty obsessed with finding convoluted ways to mellow out. Meditation in NYC has become one of the hot new tickets for calming down, but steep session prices make it a luxury reserved for the privileged. So if you lie in bed with your grind-proof mouthguard, dreaming of achieving levels of bliss only seen on Gisele's Instagram, why not start small—and free?
That's where Friends of the High Line comes in to help you get elevated—literally. The Integral Yoga Institute and Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center lead free meditation sessions on the High Line at 22nd St from 8–9am every Tuesday through September. If you're feeling energized afterwards, and want to try your hand at some Chinese martial arts moves, the Taoist Tai Chi Society conducts free introductory lessons every Tuesday from 9:30–10:30am at the same meeting spot.
Meditation and Tai Chi are said to reduce stress and increase focus and calm, and being outside in the summer is that much nicer when you can get away from street traffic. So reach your higher self (get it?) on the High Line by showing up for some free relaxation. If it turns out that chill bliss is not your thing, you can hit up a Blue Bottle kiosk on the elevated path and get jacked up on some of the best iced coffee in New York.
You can learn more about the free meditation sessions here.