ZENyc is a blog about staying centered amid the chaos of New York City, written by veteran blogger Amanda Hirsch.

Hi. Here I am:

As a recent NYC transplant, I’ve struggled to cultivate a feeling of peacefulness in the face of the city’s intense and constant stimuli. I remember going to a meditation class in my neighborhood, only to spend the hour quietly raging as a rock band practiced noisily through the studio’s thin wall.  From noisy neighbors to sauna-like subway stops, to the smell of garbage and the constant jostling of millions of people, living all together — it can be difficult to avoid a state of constant agitation.

On this blog, I’ll share strategies for finding Zen amid the city’s buzz — strategies, by the way, that can help you no matter where you live. I’ll also showcase local businesses and events designed to deliver calm amid the chaos (for example, see my review of Chelsea Market’s TSalon). And I’ll share news and features about good people in New York doing good things; knowing these people are out there helps me feel good about New York, no matter what else it throws my way.

I’m no guru, but I’ve got a few things going for me:

• First, I need this blog as much as anyone else — the more useful the information I provide, the more I benefit, along with you.
• Second, I’m an experienced blogger. Before moving to New York earlier this year, I wrote the popular Creative DC blog in Washington, DC, showcasing and inspiring creative living in a city not known for its creative pulse (…kind of like New York not being known for its Zen qualities). I’m also the former editorial director of PBS.org, and I’ve written for PBS, POV, Revolution Health, The Journal of Cultural Conversation and other outlets.
• Third, I’ve been practicing yoga since 2004, and earlier this year I completed an initial yoga teacher training with Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, DC — named one of the best yoga studios in the world by Travel and Leisure. Also this year, I completed a yoga and meditation retreat with world-renowned yogi Cyndi Lee of New York’s OM Yoga, and her husband, Zen teacher David Nichtern. Again, I’m no guru – but I’m a serious student of yoga and all it can do to cultivate physical, mental and spiritual health.

For more about my background, visit amandahirsch.com.

At the end of the day, the hard truth is that it’s up to you to find Zen in the city — no one can do it for you. You can’t press a button and find inner peace. But this blog, created with love by someone who needs it as much as you do, will provide a steady stream of resources, ideas and perspective to help you coexist more peacefully with the wild and crazy ride that is life in the Big Apple.

Namaste,
Amanda

P.S. The red lotus flower in my header graphic is courtesy of Peter Garnhum, and the brown paper graphic comes from “Playingwithbrushes” – thanks, guys!