Go Apple Picking – Local blog Becoming Brooklyn recommends a day trip to the unfortunately named Outhouse Orchards, about an hour outside the city on Metro North’s Harlem line; get off at Crogan Falls, and either ride your bike or hop in a cab for the 3-mile trip to the orchard. See also: This list of the top 5 places for apple picking near NYC (all accessible without a car), courtesy of green-living website offManhattan (note, Outhouse Orchards makes the cut).

Attend a Dharma Open House - Stop by the Shambhala Meditation Center’s weekly dharma gathering on Tuesday at 7pm for an opportunity to meditate in a supportive group setting, followed by a dharma talk titled The Warrior’s Posture – Taking Our Seat in Everyday Life. If you’ve never meditated before, don’t worry – instruction is available. The Center is located at 118 W. 22nd Street in Chelsea.

Take a Restorative Yoga Workshop at Element Natural Healing Arts in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn – (This one’s for my fellow freelancers, or others with flexible daytime schedules, since it takes place from 10am – 12:15pm on a Thursday.) “Focusing on the heart and lungs to release holding and tension in the upper spine, ribs, shoulders, and neck, this deeply restorative practice transitions through a slow flowing vinyasa into supported postures, pranayama, and meditation. Experience a place of profound support, space, and possibility, while deepening the bond between mind and body.” Thursday, September 30 from 10am -12:15 pm, $30.

How about you? How do you plan to relax in NY this week?

Photo above by Ed Yourdon on Flickr

Photo by 'an untrained eye' on Flickr

Attention New York writers! If you’re craving a peaceful, quiet space in which to work, check out these venues:

Brooklyn

Room 58: A Writers’ Space (located in the Brooklyn Artists’ Gym – Gowanus)

Brooklyn Writers Space (Park Slope and Carroll Gardens locations)

Manhattan

The Writers’ Studio at the Center for Fiction (E. 47th Street)

Paragraph (W. 14th Street)

The Writers Room (on Broadway, in the Village)

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If you’re looking for a workspace outside the home that isn’t intended exclusively for writers, here are a few more options (this list is far from exhaustive):

Brooklyn Creative League (Park Slope/Gowanus)
Ditmas Work Space (Ditmas Park)
Green Desk (DUMBO)
Hive at 55 (Financial District)

Do you write (or do other work) from any of these spaces? If so, any rants or raves? Or any places I should add to the list?

P.S. Here’s a list of writing spaces in other cities.

The other day I read something on Twitter that got me thinking:

I don’t know about you, but I do a better job taking care of myself some days than others. Some days I skip yoga class because I’m caught up surfing the web, and don’t feel like changing my clothes or schlepping to the studio; or I have that late-night drink, knowing it might trigger my acid reflux (sorry to over-share), because I’m having fun and don’t want to let what I “should” do kill the buzz. Other days, I roll out of bed and into meditation, getting a boost of clarity and warmth to send me through my day; I have fresh produce with every meal, and savor the feeling of so many vitamins and nutrients coursing through my veins.

While my behavior may vary, my underlying determination to live a healthy life is unwavering — and I think that’s what matters most. I’ve learned that I’m no good to anyone if I don’t take care of myself first. Only when I’m attentive to my personal health am I able to be the best Amanda possible, ready to share my gifts with the world.

Just like love for another person, our love for ourselves is dynamic, in flux, something that needs care and feeding in order to thrive.  As an artist, I know that if I go too long without creative expression, I get antsy and irritable; similarly, as an introvert (who comes across as an extrovert most of the time), I know I need to give myself downtime in order to recharge — and in order to enjoy my time with people again.

How about you? How do you take care of yourself? If you feel like you haven’t been taking care of yourself lately, what’s one thing you could give yourself as a gift this week?