Amidst the commotion of New York City, it might be easy to forget about the summer solstice—but not for yogis. Friday, June 21 was the longest day of 2013 and the first official day of summer. Yoga enthusiasts arrived in Times Square as the sun rose to usher in the new season, with a united-we-pose mindset.
Officially called “Solstice in Times Square: Athleta Mind Over Madness Yoga,” the 11th annual event offered a challenge to its participants: “Anyone can find tranquility on top of a mountain. Can you find it in the middle of Times Square?”
Yoga in Times Square means coping with pollution, crowding, surrounding noise. But the all-star team of instructors for the event knew how to bring everyone to a collective “Ohm” before long.
Five outdoor yoga classes were offered across five busy blocks of Broadway between 7:30am and 9:00pm, making good use of the ample daylight. Organizers granted free yoga mats to the first 1,200 to arrive to each class and hosted three 15-minute yoga-wear fashion shows throughout the course of the day.
By the end of the event, over 15,000 participants could meditate on their success of finding peace in the city that never sleeps.
Photo of participants by Lucas Jackson