Yoga and Art Are the Perfect Saturday Pairing at the Brooklyn Museum

One Saturday every month, under the vast glass ceiling of the Brooklyn Museum’s third-floor Beaux Arts Court, more than 100 yogis practice a vigorous vinyasa. The institution has been hosting its Yoga + Art program in partnership with adidas since November 2017 as an exercise in community cultivation.

“Through public programming, we’re always striving to find meaningful ways to come together as a community,” a museum representative says. “We cherish this series as an opportunity to start the day surrounded by art and committed to the health and wellness of our neighbors.”

After the class, attendees receive instruction for a self-guided tour of thoughtfully selected ‘contemplative objects’ – works that are best absorbed from the place of calm receptivity they’ve just cultivated.

The Brooklyn Museum isn’t the only cultural institution in New York pairing wellness practices with art. On the first Wednesday of every month, the Museum of Modern Art opens its doors early for Quiet Mornings – a guided meditation and sound bath preceded by a private art viewing before the crowds arrive at 9am. In Chelsea, the Rubin Museum of Art offers lunchtime meditation organized and presented by lauded teacher Sharon Salzberg. Each 45-minute session is composed of an introductory talk, a 20-minute ‘sit’ and a closing discussion – all inspired by the museum’s collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions.

The Brooklyn Museum’s next Yoga + Art event takes place on Saturday August 11, 9-11am. Tickets are just $10, including general admission to the museum and yoga mats, so there’s no need to cart one around for the rest of the morning.

The Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 11238 +1 (718) 638-5000