While yoga dates back more than 5,000 years in India, and meditation can be traced to the 1st millennium BC in India and China, these practices didn’t begin to gain real momentum in America until the 20th century.
The seed planted by Swami Vivekananda—who came to America in the late 1800s to share peace and spirituality—took root decades later. In the 1950s, Richard Hittleman, a student of Ramana Maharshi in India, returned to New York to teach yoga in a way that emphasized physical benefits while opening the door to deeper philosophy.Fast forward to 2025, and yoga and meditation are firmly part of the American mainstream. Studios continue to grow in number and variety, blending ancient traditions with modern wellness trends, from mindfulness apps to immersive sound baths. New York City, in particular, remains a hub for every style imaginable. And if you’re seeking everything in one place, The Marmara Park Avenue’s Fresh Start Staycation Package is the ultimate NYC wellness reset—complete with a personal poolside yoga session, juice cleanse, massage, and breakfast.
With so many yoga and meditation studios across Manhattan catering to different styles and preferences, here are a few of the most notable.
Manhattan Meditation Center - Brahma
The Manhattan Meditation Center, part of the Brahma Kumaris, offers a quiet refuge from the city’s constant motion. Located on Fifth Avenue, the center provides courses in Raja Yoga meditation, along with talks and workshops designed to help visitors cultivate inner peace and clarity.
What makes it especially unique is its commitment to accessibility—all programs are offered free of charge as a community service. For anyone looking to slow down and reconnect with themselves in the middle of Manhattan, this center offers a thoughtful balance of ancient practice and modern relevance.
Yoga Union
Yoga Union in NYC’s Flatiron district is a well-respected yoga studio and center for scoliosis treatment and back care. Yoga for the treatment of scoliosis and back pain has gained acceptance by the American College of Physicians (ACP).
This studio offers sessions centered around specific back care and prevention of scoliosis and herniation through traditional poses as well as special classes using ropes & slings. Director Alison West’s trademarked Liquid Steel® yoga classes are for those advanced students who are physically able and desire an intense workout to “heat the body and cool the mind.”
Yoga Union is committed to consciousness in all they do and offer to their clients, whether they are practicing as a student or training to be an instructor.
Golden Bridge Yoga
After studying under Yogi Bhajan (a legendary master of Kundalini Yoga) for many years, two of his students—Gurmukh and Gurushabd—opened their own Golden Bridge Yoga studios in California before expanding to New York City.
Kundalini yoga is a practice that raises energy within the body through a combination of yoga postures, breathing, and repeating mantras. At Golden Bridge Yoga’s inviting Soho studio, both novices and experts are welcome to participate in one of their many classes and workshops. They also offer teacher training and special private and group lessons for healing or to celebrate special occasions.
Equinox
This international franchise, which claims to have become “the leader in yoga across Asia” before opening their NYC studios in the Upper West Side and Upper East Side, offers something for everyone.
Equinox features 350 weekly classes in a variety of both traditional and innovative yoga styles, such as hot yoga, Iyengar, Figure 4 Barre, PXT Conditioning, and more. Highly regarded instructors teach both group classes and also private sessions.
Members can relax in Equinox’s serene lounge and take advantage of their luxurious facilities, including large showers, steam rooms, towels, and economically friendly locker areas equipped with skin and hair care products from Kiehl’s. They also offer trial classes for non-members.
Seek And You Shall Find
Regardless of experience, those seeking to raise their consciousness and quiet their minds have an abundance of studios and creative spaces to choose from. Amid the rush of traffic, endless footsteps, and the sometimes relentless pace of Manhattan, there are countless sanctuaries waiting to offer calm and renewal.
Book your stay at The Marmara Park Avenue and situate yourself close to some of the best relaxation experiences Manhattan has to offer. Namaste.
