Sure, meditation is an ancient practice, but it’s definitely having a moment. It’s the secret weapon of everyone from Kobe and Arianna Huffington (who adorably compare techniques here) to Bowie, and it promises the one thing we all want: a sense of calm.
Thankfully, MNDFL, New York’s first drop-in studio (and a gorgeous inviting space, at that) is making it easy to get into, whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned vet. In the few months since it opened, MNDFL has built quite a following, thanks in no small part to the easy, approachable vibe and veritable menu of class themes.
We asked the brains behind this much-needed respite, Ellie Burrows, where she finds peace in a busy place: Instagram.
Says Ellie Burrows, the founder of MNDFL and a writer:
“I started MNDFL mostly because I needed it myself. There was simply no modern, non-religious, drop-in meditation studio that felt approachable and casual. I wanted a beautiful place to go that felt contemporary and communal without ascribing to a particular religion. So we created it. We designed it to be cozy and familiar—we always have teas on the house and there’s plenty of space to curl up and relax before or after class. People say it feels like a home, that means we are doing something right. We have a pretty cool community, both physically and digitally. I look at our tagged photos every single day and make sure to like or comment if someone shows us love. I check my own feed mostly for pleasure: my own pleasure and the pleasure that others are experiencing.”
