Free Meditation and Yoga

MindfulNYU hosts a wide offering of FREE yoga and meditation classes throughout the week during the academic year. All yoga classes require an NYU ID. Some of our meditation classes are open to the public, please see below for more information. These are drop in classes and no prior registration is required. Our class schedule follows the official University Academic Calendar.

Yoga and meditation sessions (unless otherwise listed) are located in the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life at 238 Thompson Street on the 4th floor.

For up-to-the-minute news on cancellations or subs for yoga classes, mindfulness based inspiration, and information on all of our offerings, please follow us on Facebook.

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Meditation Classes
Yoga Classes

Meditation

The type of meditation we practice involves simple — but not always easy! — breath and awareness exercises that bring our attention to the present moment. We learn to relax and rejuvenate our bodies, look inward with more insight and wisdom, and cultivate greater compassion for ourselves and others.

Our meditation practice is enriched with teachings from a variety of spiritual traditions, as well as lessons from our own personal lives. We offer Monday through Thursday classes for both beginner and advanced practitioners, as well as affinity sessions for students of color and LGBTQi students. Comfortable clothing is suggested. There is nothing quite like meditating with a community!

Sign up for our meditation incentive program! Attend 5 or more classes a semester and get some swag. Attend 10 or more and get a $50 Amazon gift card!

For inspiration, more detailed information and updates on all of our programs, please follow us on Facebook.

Meditation Schedule for 2018-2019

Monday 6:00pm-7:00pm, All Levels with Rev. Qalvy Grainzvolt

Location: GCASL 475

These weekly community meditation sessions offer instruction for different forms of guided practice (i.e. sitting, walking, metta) and discussion on various Buddhist and mindfulness-related topics. Practicing with others is the best way to get started or nourish your individual practice.

OPEN TO THE NYU COMMUNITY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Monday 7:00pm-8:00pm, Students of Color Meditation with Stay Woke & Meditate

Location: GC 475

Stay Woke welcomes students of color from the NYU community to gather together to meditate, connect with community and seek healing. Weekly meditation sessions are led by teacher, Rev. Julie Novas and peer leader A'Nisa Megginson.

STUDENTS ONLY.

Tuesday 5:30pm-6:30pm, LGBTQi Meditation with OUTbreath

Location: KC 602

OUTbreath is a queer-centered space for students seeking healing and liberation from intersectional forms of oppression and marginalization. Facilitation will support a collective container for learning and engaging with mindfulness practices. Sessions will be led by teacher Brian Liem and peer leaders, Hannah Leffingwell and Matthew Gesicki.

STUDENTS ONLY.

Tuesday 7:00pm-8:00pm, All Levels with Rev. Doyeon Park

Location: GCASL 475

Starting with a light moving meditation (stretching), these weekly sessions includes sitting meditation — some guidance as needed — and a discussion on various Buddhist and mindfulness-related topics.

OPEN TO THE NYU COMMUNITY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Wednesday 7:00pm-8:00pm, Meditation and Posture with Rev. Malik Walker

Location: GCASL 475

For those who wish to go deeper, these sessions will provide instruction on developing strong body posture, core strength, and deep breathing. It is a time to “cast off mind and body” by bringing concentration to the sole task of just sitting, breathing, and being fully attentive to the present moment.

OPEN TO THE NYU COMMUNITY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Thursday 7:00pm-8:00pm, All Levels with Generation Meditation

Location: GCASL 475

Looking for a student led session for meditation and discussion? Join Generation Meditation peer leaders and teacher, Miles Bukiet to meet others who share your interests, curiosity for life and positive intentions. The group focuses on the benefits of mindfulness including meditation, present-moment awareness, and finding peace in everyday life.

STUDENTS ONLY.

Meditation Room

MindfulNYU also offers a meditation room, open during our office hours, for individual practice (quiet, seated, upright meditation). During the semester, meditation room hours are Mondays-Thursdays, 9am-9pm and Fridays, 9am-5pm. Come by GCASL 486 for quiet, peace, and calm right here on campus.

Yoga

MindfulNYU offers FREE yoga classes Monday through Saturday. These classes are taught by certified, dynamic, and highly experienced teachers from all over the city. Classes focus not just on physical fitness and health but also on connecting to our center and finding peace through meditation-in-movement.

Classes require a current NYU ID. Mats are first-come, first-served and we close admission 5 minutes after the start time or when capacity is reached. Be sure to get there early to secure a spot! Comfortable clothing required. We do not have changing rooms or showers but single stall bathrooms are available.

For up-to-the-minute news on cancellations or subs, mindfulness based inspiration, and information on all of our offerings, please follow us on Facebook.

Yoga schedule for 2018-2019

Monday 9:30am-10:30am, Beginner with Sam Chase

Location: GCASL 472

Sam's beginner class combines flowing, dynamic poses with an emphasis on mindful movement coordinated with breath. Each class contains a multitude of choices and variations, encouraging students to explore possibilities and personalize their practice.

Monday 7:00pm-8:15pm, Intermediate with Hunt Parr

Location: GCASL 461

Hunt's intermediate class focuses on finding strength, stability and clarity, as well as setting students up for a life long yoga practice. We will explore breath awareness, mindfulness meditation, creative and integrated asana sequences, and the pathways of connecting yoga as a practice to your daily life.

Tuesday 9:30am-10:30am, Intermediate/Advanced with Brian Liem

Location: GCASL 472

Brian's intermediate/advanced class incorporates a dynamic, vigorous, physically and spiritually energizing form of flowing vinyasa yoga with mindfulness meditation. It’s a catalyst for quality transitions between postures, awareness of breath and mental clarity. More challenging postures are explored, including inversion variations, balances, binds, and more. Deepen your practice in this diverse, well-balanced, well-sequenced yoga class. Yoga experience is strongly recommended.

Tuesday 5:30pm-6:30pm, Beginner with Amy Coombs

Location: GCASL 475

Amy's beginner-level vinyasa-style class is perfect for newcomers to yoga. Those without any prior experience will have the chance to explore the fundamental postures of yoga, ask questions, and receive thorough explanation and demonstration. As each individual practitioner grows — and as the class as a whole grows — more challenging poses and sequences will be introduced. Students are encouraged to modify or return to the previous levels of poses depending on their needs. There will never be any pressure to "keep up " or impress, only to grow at your own pace. This class can also be beneficial for those practicing at the intermediate level who wish to get back in touch with the basics, deepen and refine the foundational poses, and ease into their evenings with a gentler flow.

Wednesday 9:30am-10:30am, Intermediate with Sam Chase

Location: GCASL 472

Sam's intermediate class combines flowing, dynamic poses with an emphasis on mindful movement coordinated with breath. Each class contains a multitude of choices and variations, encouraging students to explore possibilities and personalize their practice.

Wednesday 5:30pm-6:30pm, Advanced with Emily Bielagus

Location: GCASL 475

Emily's advanced class combines flowing, dynamic poses with an emphasis on mindful movement coordinated with breath. Each class contains a multitude of choices and variations, encouraging students to explore possibilities and personalize their practice. Please note: a knowledge of yoga basics, and previous yoga experience, is assumed.

Thursday 9:30am-10:30am, Intermediate/Advanced with Brian Liem

Location: GCASL 472

Thursday 5:30pm-6:30pm, Beginner/Intermediate with Tina Paul

Location: GCASL 475

Tina’s class emphasizes breath coordination and mindful movement to help cultivate body and energy awareness with loads of yoga face poses to relax the muscles in your face. Asana poses will be held for more extended breath count and few yin yoga poses will be incorporated to help reduce stiffness. This class builds gradual heat in the body and challenges you to breathe full and embody your presence.

Friday 9:30am-10:30am, Intermediate/Advanced with Hunt Parr

Location: GCASL 472

Hunt's advanced classes move more vigorously, exploring unique sequencing, arm balances, and inversion work, all while including strong imagery and a sense of play. Each class will develop in a unique and thoughtful way, always relating back to the present experience unfolding in front of us.

Friday 12:30pm-1:30pm, All Levels with Ellie Aaron

Location: GCASL 475

This Vinyasa Class is a flow and alignment based yoga practice that links conscious breath with mindful movement. Each class explores meditation, sun salutations, and standing postures. Open to all levels, modifications will be offered.

Saturday 12:00pm-1:15pm, All Levels Flow with Ric Mathews

Location: GCASL 461

Ric's vinyasa-flow based class is open to all levels where both new students and experienced practitioners can expect to be challenged with modifications and variations offered for all poses. With attention to the breath and emphasis on alignment, this practice will bring mindfulness to the forefront of both the physical and energy body. A fun, upbeat and energetic flow is balanced with meditation and finding inner stillness. Come as you are and leave a stronger, more open and more aware version of yourself.

Saturday 1:30pm-2:15pm, Restorative with Ric Mathews REQUIRED SIGN UP

Location: GCASL 461

In need of deep relaxation with gentle opening of the body to start your weekend? This the ultimate safe zone to release and let go. Using supportive bolsters and props to aid the journey into bliss, we will ease through a handful of classic Restorative Yoga poses that allow you to completely rebalance your mind and body.

Space is limited, sign up REQUIRED. Prompt arrival required, late entrance will not be allowed to avoid disrupting this meditative experience. Sign up here.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question that isn't answered here, email mindfulness@nyu.edu.

Should I bring my own mat?

We provide mats for all yoga practitioners but you are welcome to bring your own. However, it is important to note that mats are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I drop in, or should I register ahead of time?

All classes, except Restorative Yoga on Saturdays, are drop in and there is no pre registration. We do suggest you get to class 5-10 minutes before the start time to ensure a spot.

PLEASE NOTE: All yoga classes will close for admittance 5 minutes after the start time or when class hits capacity. This is to ensure your safety by allowing time for warm up, which will prevent injury.

I am affiliated with the University. If I bring my NYU ID, is it free?

Yoga and Meditation classes are free for all those with a current, active NYU ID. Make sure to bring the ID with you.

I am not affiliated with the University. Can I still participate?

Yoga classes are for NYU community members with a current and valid ID ONLY. This means that your ID is active. All IDs are swiped before class. Some meditation classes are open to the public: Mondays with MindfulNYU, Tuesdays with Rev. Doyeon Park and Wednesdays Advanced Practice with Malik Walker.

Are affinity group sessions (people of color and LGBTQi) open to faculty or administrators?

These groups are closed to students only to ensure the comfort and safety of students.

Are there any showers or changing rooms at the Center for Spiritual Life?

There are no showers at the Center. You are welcome to change in our single-stalled or multi-stalled bathrooms on the 4th floor. Please DO NOT use the small ablution rooms located across the hall. These are meant for religious practices only.