It’s a rainy Tuesday on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. You’re standing outside a non-descript door on Allen Street, wondering if you’re in the right place because, honestly, the vibe feels more like a clandestine art gallery than a yoga studio. This is RA MA Institute NYC. It’s not your neighborhood "vinyasa and chill" spot where people compare Lululemon leggings and wait for the savasana nap. Not even close. If you walk in expecting a standard workout, you’re going to be very, very confused when you see people wearing white turbans, breathing like they’re trying to inflate a giant balloon in three seconds, and chanting sounds that feel older than the bedrock of New York itself.
People talk about RA MA like it’s some sort of secret society, but it’s actually just a very specific, high-intensity hub for Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan.
Actually, it’s a tech-forward global media company disguised as a yoga boutique. Founded by the late Guru Jagat—a woman who basically disrupted the entire spiritual industry before her passing in 2021—the RA MA Institute NYC location became a flagship for a new kind of urban mysticism. It’s where fashion designers, high-strung Wall Street analysts, and exhausted creative directors go when they realize that another soul-cycle class isn't going to fix their existential burnout.
Why RA MA Institute NYC Hits Different
Most yoga studios in Manhattan are about the "body." They want you flexible. They want you lean. They want you to sweat.
RA MA doesn't care about your hamstrings.
Seriously. You could spend an entire ninety-minute class sitting on a sheepskin rug, moving your arms in a specific angle, and breathing through your left nostril. It sounds ridiculous until you do it for eleven minutes straight and your brain starts to feel like it’s been hit with a high-pressure hose. This is the core of the RA MA Institute NYC experience: it’s about the nervous system.
New York City is a relentless sensory assault. The sirens, the subways, the constant pressure to "make it." Most of us are living in a permanent state of fight-or-flight. Kundalini, as practiced at RA MA, is designed to hack that. They use "kriyas"—specific sets of exercises—to stimulate the glandular system and strengthen the nerves. It’s essentially biohacking through ancient technology.
The Guru Jagat Legacy and the Allen Street Vibe
You can't talk about RA MA without talking about Guru Jagat. She was controversial, brilliant, and incredibly savvy. She understood that modern people don't want to go to a cave in the Himalayas; they want to feel enlightened while still being able to run a business and wear nice shoes. She took the teachings of Kundalini and stripped away the "hippie" fluff, replacing it with a sort of punk-rock aesthetic.
The NYC space reflects this. It’s bright. It’s white. It’s got a curated boutique selling high-end crystals, expensive oils, and books that look like they belong in a museum.
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But it’s also a place of deep practice. When you’re in that room on Allen Street, the sound system is usually pumping out high-frequency mantras that vibrate in your chest. It’s loud. It’s intense. It’s quintessentially New York.
The Science of the "Breath of Fire"
Let’s get into the weeds for a second because people often think this stuff is just "woo-woo" nonsense. It isn't.
When you practice the "Breath of Fire" at RA MA Institute NYC, you’re engaging in rapid, rhythmic diaphragmatic breathing. This does a few things. First, it oxygenates the blood. Second, it stimulates the solar plexus, which is tied to your sympathetic nervous system.
Research from institutions like UCLA’s Marcella Bakur Weiner and others have looked into how these specific yogic breathing patterns affect the brain’s alpha and theta waves. By forcing the body into a controlled state of stress (like holding your arms up at a 60-degree angle for a long time), you’re training your brain to stay calm under pressure.
- It’s not about "relaxing."
- It’s about becoming "resilient."
- It’s training for the chaos of the city.
What Actually Happens in a Class?
Walking into RA MA Institute NYC for the first time is sorta intimidating. You’ll see people dressed entirely in white. Why? They’ll tell you it’s because white expands your auric field by several feet. Whether you believe in auras or not, there’s a psychological effect to the uniform. It creates a "clean slate" feel.
A typical session goes something like this:
- The Tune-In: Chanting Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo. Basically, you’re "logging in" to the frequency of the practice.
- The Kriya: This is the meat of the class. It might be a set for "Prosperity," "Removing Anger," or "Cleansing the Liver." Expect repetitive movements.
- The Relaxation: You lie down. This is the only part that feels like a normal yoga class.
- The Meditation: This usually involves a mantra or a specific hand gesture (mudra).
It's weird. You’ll feel weird. But by the end, most people report a "high" that is much cleaner and more sustainable than a double espresso.
The Controversy and the Community
We have to be honest here—Kundalini Yoga has had a rough few years. Following the death of Yogi Bhajan, several allegations surfaced regarding his conduct and the structure of the 3HO organization. This sent shockwaves through the global community, including RA MA.
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RA MA Institute NYC has had to navigate this carefully. They’ve moved toward a more decentralized, "aquarian" model, focusing more on the technology of the practice itself rather than the worship of a single figure. It’s a transition that’s still happening. Some people left. Many stayed because the actual practice—the breathing, the sound, the community—genuinely helped them navigate their lives.
The community at RA MA is a strange mix. You’ll find 22-year-old models sitting next to 60-year-old grandmothers who have been doing this since the 70s. It’s one of the few places in New York where age and social status seem to evaporate once the chanting starts.
Is RA MA Institute NYC Right for You?
Honestly, maybe not.
If you want a peaceful, quiet meditation where someone talks to you in a soft, soothing voice about "letting go," you might hate RA MA. It’s loud. The teachers are often provocative. They might talk about astrology, the "Aquarian Age," or how the magnetic field of the Earth is shifting.
But if you feel like your brain has twenty tabs open and you can't close any of them? If you feel like you’re vibrating at a frequency that’s making you tired but you can't sleep? Then RA MA is probably exactly what you need. It’s a "hard reset" for your internal computer.
Practical Steps for Your First Visit
If you’re going to head down to Allen Street, don't just wing it.
First, check the schedule. Every teacher has a very different vibe. Some are more technical; some are more "cosmic." Look for classes led by senior teachers if you want a more traditional experience.
Wear something comfortable. You don't have to wear white, but try to wear light colors and natural fabrics like cotton. It helps with the sweat—and yes, you will sweat, even though you aren't doing "power yoga."
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Bring a sheepskin if you have one. It’s a thing. It’s supposed to neutralize the electromagnetic pull of the Earth so you can meditate better. If you don't have one, they usually have mats or rugs you can use.
Hydrate. The breathing exercises can make you lightheaded if you’re dehydrated.
How to Integrate the Experience
Don't just walk out of RA MA and immediately jump on a subway and start scrolling TikTok. Give yourself ten minutes. Walk through the Lower East Side. Grab a tea. Notice how your vision feels sharper. That "glow" people talk about after Kundalini? It’s real blood flow to the skin and a massive hit of endorphins.
The goal of RA MA Institute NYC isn't to make you a better yogi. It’s to make you more "effective" at being you. Whether you’re a parent, an artist, or an entrepreneur, the practice is a tool. Use it like one.
Actionable Insights for the Curious:
- Start with a 3-minute meditation: You don't need a full class. Try "Ego Eradicator" (arms at 60 degrees, thumbs up, Breath of Fire) for three minutes at home to see how the "tech" feels.
- Audit a digital class: RA MA has a massive online presence via RA MA TV. If the NYC studio feels too intense, try a session in your living room first.
- Focus on the sound: If the movements feel too hard, just focus on the mantras. The sound vibration is half the battle.
- Question the "Why": Ask yourself what you’re trying to change. Kundalini is a "fast-track" yoga. It’s for people who want results quickly and are willing to be uncomfortable to get them.
The Allen Street studio remains a lighthouse for those who like their spirituality with a side of grit. It isn't for everyone, and that's exactly why it works for the people who go there. It's a specific frequency for a specific kind of New Yorker. If you’re looking for a way to stay sane in a city that’s built to drive you crazy, it’s worth the trip down to the LES.
Next Steps for Your Practice
- Visit the RA MA Institute NYC website to check their current in-person workshop schedule, as they often host immersive weekend intensives that differ from daily classes.
- If you are new to Kundalini, look for a "Foundations" or "Intro" workshop to learn the proper technique for Breath of Fire, which is the cornerstone of almost every kriya.
- Consider attending a "Full Moon" or "New Moon" session; these are typically the most high-energy events at the studio and offer the best sense of the community vibe.