The technique of “mindfulness” is on the rise via an industry of self-help manuals, mobile apps, and private classes—but is it substance or fluff? Originally rooted in eastern philosophy, mindfulness has been popularized as a remedy for everything from anxiety and stress to overstimulation and lack of focus. Could “urban mindfulness” be a meaningful tool for harried city-dwellers?

For this workshop and walking tour with Dr. Jonathan S. Kaplan, clinical psychologist and author of Urban Mindfulness: Cultivating Peace, Presence, and Purpose in the Middle of It All, we got a taste of what it really means to apply the technique of mindfulness to everyday experiences in the city, and saw for ourselves if it can focus our attention and heighten our awareness of the urban environment around us.

Tours at 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Tours departed from Van Alen Institute, 30 West 22nd Street.