"Dharma isn't known as the "Rock of Yoga" for nothing. He's been teaching in NYC since the 1960's, before anyone else even had a thought of teaching yoga. We were all too caught up in our stuff, and too young to even get it. He's known as the Teacher's Teacher. Any teacher worth their salt in NYC (and beyond) has practiced with, and has been touched by Dharma. All the Jivamukti teachers have practiced with Dharma. That's who they go to when they want to be led. All the Anusara teachers, the Integral teachers, the Sivananda teachers, the Ashtanga Vinyasa teachers...all of them go to Dharma. There are only a handful of advanced yogis in the country. Dharma is at the top of that list. I lived with Dharma for 2 weeks during my training with him, and it was a life-changing experience" Ellen Pfeffer

The Local Area    

Gramercy Park was originally a swamp. Samuel B. Ruggles bought what was then farmland from James Duane in 1831. In 1966, the park was designated as a historic district. The name "Gramercy" is almost certainly a corruption of the Dutch "krom mesje," or "little crooked knife," the name of a small brook that flowed along what is now 21st Street. The area was part of Gramercy Farm until 1831, when its owner, Ruggles, donated the property to the city on condition that no commercial enterprise be permitted on the facing streets or in the park proper. To this day, the park contains no amusements, swing sets, snack shops or any other intrusions on its rusticity. It is the oldest private park in the United States. Many hotels, health food stores, and vegetarian/raw resturants are in the neighboorhood. We've listed some here. Hotels **offers 10% discount for LOAY Teacher Trainees and for 5-, 10- or unlimited-class card holders.

Affinia Dumont
150 East 34th St. btwn Lexington & 3rd Aves. | 212.481.7600 | www.affinia.com

American Dream Hostel **
168 East 24th St. btwn Lexington & 3rd Aves. | 212.260.9779 | www.americandreamhostel.com

Broadway Plaza Hotel
1155 Broadway @ 27th St. | 212.679.7665| www.broadwayplazahotel.com

Carlton Arms Hotel
160 East 25th St. @ 3rd Ave. | 212.679.0680 | www.carltonarms.com

The Carlton on Madison
88 Madison Ave. btwn 28th & 29th Aves. | 212.532.4100 | www.carltonhotelny.com

The Chelsea Inn
46 West 17th St. btwn 5th & 6th Aves. | 212.645.8989

The Gershwin Hotel
7 East 27th St. btwn 5th & Madison Aves. | 212.545.8000 | www.gershwinhotel.com

The Gramercy Park Hotel
2 Lexington Ave. btwn 21st & 22nd Sts. | 212.475.4320 | www.gramercyparkhotel.com

Hotel 17
225 East 17th St. btwn 2nd & 3rd Aves. | 212.475.2845 | www.hotel17ny.com
Well recommended!

Hotel Chandler
12 East 31st. btwn 5th & Madison Aves. | 212.889.6363 | www.hotelchandler.com

Hotel Roger Williams
131 Madison Ave. @ 31st St. | 212.448.7000 | www.hotelrogerwilliams.com

Hotel Stanford
43 West 32nd St. btwn 5th and Broadway | 212.563.1500 | www.hotelstanfordny.com

The Latham Hotel
4 East 28th St. @ 5th Ave. | 212.685.8300 | www.lathamhotel.com

The Marcel
201 East 24th St. @ 3rd Ave. | 212.696.3800 | www.nychotels.com

Murray Hill East
149 East 39th St. btwn Lexington & 3rd Aves. | 212.661.2100

Park South Hotel
122 East 28th St. btwn Lexington & Park Aves. | 212.448.0888 | www.parksouthhotel.com

The Seafarers and International House
123 East 15th St. @ Irving Place | 212.677.4800 | www.sihnyc.org
Well recommended at $99 per night! Book early.

Thirty Thirty Hotel
30 East 30th St. @ Madison Ave. | 212.689.1900 | www.citylifehotels.com

Union Square Inn
209 East 14th St. btwn 2nd & 3rd Aves. | 212.614.0500 | www.unionsquareinn.com

Vincci Avalon
16 East 32nd St. btwn 5th & Madison Aves. | 212.299.7000 | www.vincciavalon.com

The W Hotel
201 Park Ave South @ Union Square | 212.253.9119 | www.whotels.com

Vegetarian, Vegan and Raw Recommendations **offers DMY students 10% off

Bonobos
18 East 23rd St. @ Madison Ave. | 212-505-1200 | www.bonobosrestaurant.com

Caravan of Dreams**
405 East 6th St. @ 1st Ave. | 212-254-1613 | www.caravanofdreams.net

Chennai Garden (Indian Kosher)
129 East 27th St. btwn Lexington & Park Aves. | 212-689-1999 | www.chennaigarden.com

Dang Lai Palace (Chinese Vegetarian Kosher)**
108 3rd Ave. @ 16th St. | 212-505-2001 | www.danglaipalace.com

The Hummus Place
109 St. Marks Place btwn 1st Ave. & Ave. A | 212-529-9198 | www.thehummusplace.com
Awesome and inexpensive!

Jubb's Longevity
508 East 12th St. @ 1st Ave. | 212-353-5000

La Posada Mexican Restaurant
364 3rd Ave. btwn 26th and 27th Sts. | 212-213-4379 | Try the spinach tacos!

Madras Mahal**
104 Lexington Ave. @ 27th St. | 212-684-4010 | www.madrasmahal.com

Murray's Falafel and Grill (Kosher)
261 1st Ave. @ 16th St. | 212-533-1956

Natural Frontier Market**
325 3rd Ave. btwn 24th & 25th Sts. | 212-228-9133 | www.naturalfrontiermarket.com

Natural Green Market
162 3rd Ave. @ 16th St. | 212-780-0263

Organique
110 East 23rd St. btwn Lexington & Park Aves. | 212-674-2229 | www.organiqueonline.com

Pick-a-Bagel
297 3rd Ave. @ 23rd St. | 212-686-1414 | Downstairs from DMY! Veggie Tofu Cream Cheese! Fruit Salad!

Pure Food
54 Irving Place @ 17th St. | 212-477-1010 | www.purefoodandwine.com

Salaam Bombay (Indian Kosher)**
319 Greenwich St. @ Reade St. | 212-226-9400 | www.salaambombay.com

Saravanaas Vegeterian (Indian Kosher)
81 Lexington Ave @ 26th St. | 212-679-0204 | www.saravanaas.com

Viang Ping
210 East 23rd St. btwn 2nd & 3rd Aves. | 212-481-6416 | Authentic Thai Cuisine (8% off for DMY students)

The Cystal House
200 East 24th St. btwn 2nd & 3rd Aves.| 212.725.0225 | GGMC Parking

The Penny Lane
215 East 24th St. btwn 2nd & 3rd Aves.| 212.684.8687 | GGMC Parking

All images copyright 2008, Dharma Yoga Center. Site design and photography by Isrmittee Devi Om.
Original Artwork & Paintings by Rosangela Quinaud & Dharma Mittra.