Time Out New York – Winter Solstice

Posted in Own This City by Alex Schechter on December 21st, 2009 at 11:38 am

Today, the sun rose at 7:16am and will set at 4:31pm, thus making it the shortest day of the year. Fifteen hours of darkness! The horror! But don’t get too worked up—the Winter Solstice also marks the beginning of the sun’s return, since every day henceforth brings a little more sunlight back into our lives. This silver lining is something we can all celebrate at Shri Yoga (487 Greenwich St between Canal and Spring Sts, buzzer No. 1; 212-343-9642, shriyoganyc.com), which has very appropriately organized a candlelit class for tonight’s festivities.

Elizabeth Rossa, who is certified in Kundalini yoga and reiki, teaches in the anusara tradition, which blends hatha yoga with the tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness and celebration of the heart. She describes Shri Loft, which recently relocated to this new space, as “a beautiful artist’s loft with a serene vibe and great acoustics”—which works perfectly, since electric cellist Topu Lyo will provide musical accompaniment for the majority of the class. Show up with your own mat tonight at 6:30pm (suggested donation $20), and be sure to stay for refreshments afterward. Candles, food, yoga, music—what else do you need to ward off the darkness?