Where To Try A Sound Bath In New York

The things that define New York as special—its 24 hour schedule, feverish energy, and concrete landscape—are the same things that make this place challenging. NYC is a wellness-focused city because it needs to be, and the trend currently resonating (literally) with New Yorkers is sound baths.

During a sound bath resonant, overtone-emitting instruments—like crystal singing bowls and tuning forks—are played over the resting bodies of those in attendance. This kind of auditory immersion is an entryway to the kind of deep meditative states most New Yorkers can only dream of, and regulars say the effect is accumulative, so sign up for a couple of these sonic soundscapes and soak up the zen vibes.

MNDFL

Yoga Studio

The rapid expansion of this meditation studio, which now has three locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, is a testament to the growing appeal of the practice. There are many disciplines offered at MNDFL, from Buddhism based “loving kindness” to simple breathwork, but the sound experience makes meditation particularly accessible. If you can, catch a workshop with Sara Auster, the studio’s sound director and leader of the sound bath movement.

Ishta Yoga

Yoga Studio

Ishta Yoga, a studio founded by Yogiraj (advanced teacher) Alan Finger, has a seriously legit lineage and is considered one of the city’s most authentic studios by many NYC yogis. Keep an eye of the schedule and catch a Soundbath Concert by Aya and Tyler—a musical duo who layer mantra vocals with shamanic rhythms and indigenous instruments that’ll reverberate through every cell.

WOOM Center

Yoga Studio

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New York’s most unique yoga studio is an all-encompassing sensory experience. The goal, explains WOOM co-founder Elian Zach is to “create the safest and most perfect setting for a meaningful exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness, with sound being our primary tool.” The Friday evening “Sound Journey” facilitated by Zach and her husband will take your mind in unexpected directions.

Maha Rose

This neighborhood healing center in Greenpoint, North Brooklyn, has the kind of cosy ambiance that’s necessary for a sound bath. Music psychotherapist Katie Down hosts sell-out sessions on the second and last Sunday of every month—the perfect way to wind down from the week and meet Monday head on.

Maha Rose, 97 Green St G3, Brooklyn, NY 11222 +1 718 757 2758

SKY TING

Gym, Yoga Studio

Leave it to one of the city’s hippest yoga studios to be on top of the wellness trends. On Saturday and Wednesday evenings SKY TING’s light-filled studios in Chinatown and Tribeca are filled with blankets and bolsters, creating a cosy nook for an 1.5 hour sonic experience guided by Nate Martinez.

About the author

Esme Benjamin

Wellness Editor

Born and raised in Bristol, England, Esme has been geeking out over syntax her entire life. She studied English Lit by the Brighton seaside before moving to London to pursue her writing career in 2009, going on to work for Grazia Daily, The Telegraph and SheerLuxe. In 2013 she swapped The Big Smoke for The Big Apple, where she trained as a yoga teacher and contributed to Refinery29, Self, Fitness Magazine and Greatist. When she's not glued to her laptop or iPhone you'll find her drinking Kale Margaritas at an East Village happy hour, planning her next adventure, or hand-standing (with more vigor than skill) at the yoga studio.