I recently did a bucket list item that I still think about- a Saturday morning yoga class on the 102nd floor of the Freedom Tower! This was the world’s highest yoga class and I couldn’t believe it! For some reason, I thought Dubai would have offered something like this and would have thought of such an experience first.

I discovered these classes through the account New York Bucket List on Instagram. They also have a site- I highly recommend signing up to receive email updates. There are so many experiences that they highlight – pasta-making courses, brunch specials, family-friendly museum exhibitions and wine tastings.

This experience was called “Up Up & Away Yoga on the 102nd Floor.” It started at 11 A.M. on a windy Saturday morning, but we were instructed to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled session. I entered the Freedom Tower and took the escalator downstairs. We checked in at the Guest Services Desk where I got a wristband, along with a general admission observatory ticket and a $10 voucher for the cafe. It was then a very smooth pass through security (It felt quiet, there weren’t a lot of people on Saturday morning) and then I was in the elevator on the way to the top with a fellow yogi. It’s a sixty second elevator ride to the top and it’s a sensory experience – images, sound and text on the four walls chronicle the history of New York City. Once you reach the top, you’re directed to the left side of the floor where the class will take place (If you purchase One World Observatory tickets, your experience will start on the right section on this floor – You’ll watch a short film about NYC before being directed to the viewing platforms).

The Freedom Tower was opened in 2014 and stands 1,776 feet tall, representing the year that the Declaration of Independence was written. I have been here five times and I absolutely LOVE IT. I highly recommend those who are visiting NYC to view the city from above, and out of all the observation decks that the city offers, I encourage everyone to choose this one. It has floor to ceiling views and it’s inside, so a windy day won’t affect visitors. But the most important reason why I encourage everyone to visit this particular observatory is the story behind it – After such tragedy, New York was resilient and was also able to build this architectural feat.

Another reason why I highly recommend NYC tourists to choose the Freedom Tower out of all the observation decks in the city is because of the short film you see before being directed into the viewing areas. After you take the elevator up, you’ll be ushered to the right where a dark screen shows a film about the five boroughs. And the screen lifts for the finale, revealing a ceiling to floor view of the city. I love hearing everyone’s oohs and aahs and seeing their amazed, surprised reactions.

The yoga class lasted one hour and mats were provided. I chose a mat more toward the right where I was able to see gorgeous views of Midtown (Those who were on mats toward the left got incredible views of the Statue of Liberty). Altogether, no matter where your mat was, you had pretty views – The observatory has floor to ceiling windows and it’s 360 degrees.

Certified yoga instructor Sarah Otey led the class and I really enjoyed it! The flow was a bit different than how some other classes I took were led and there were new moves for me in this class. Now this was a yoga class for the books! You kept soaking in the views and it was so much fun – When we were doing a left warrior pose, Otey said to look at the Statue of Liberty and when we were doing a right warrior pose, Otey said now turn to admire the rest of the city. I really liked what she said about taking in on how this site was rebuilt and that we’re able to have such experiences after such tragedy and how this site stands for resilience.

To be in shavasana – the final pose in yoga in which you lie on your back and close your eyes – at the top of the Freedom Tower felt unreal. I definitely ended the class feeling very zen. Once the class was over, we were allowed to stay on the same floor a bit and soak up the views. Afterward, I used my general admission ticket to check out the amazing views one floor down. My favorite viewpoint is on the right where you can see the Brooklyn Bridge. I used my cafe voucher to get a yummy latte and soaked in the views of the Statue of Liberty and Jersey. I didn’t want to leave the observatory! I definitely took my time admiring the views.

I can’t believe I took a class at the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the seventh tallest in the world! Just another casual day in NYC! I was inside the Freedom Tower for three hours that Saturday. I’m so glad I took myself out on a solo date that Saturday morning. It looks like I have a new fun fact or icebreaker to say at work.

For unique activities to try, I recommend taking a look at New York Bucket List. And guess what, folks! Yoga classes at the Freedom Tower are back for the month of June and tickets are available on the New York Bucket List main page! Run, don’t walk! And if you’re looking for more yoga, Bryant Park in the city will have free yoga classes over the summer.

Ready to experience the One World Observatory without yoga? You can purchase tickets here.

And here are some photos to wrap it up:

P.S.- If you’re visiting NYC, I definitely recommend carving out a day or two for Downtown! Not only is it super walkable, it’s relatively more serene than Midtown. In addition to enjoying the One World Observatory views, you can visit the Oculus, The National September 11th Memorial & Museum, Wall Street, the Charging Bull and Brookfield Place. You can also enjoy a walk through Battery Park, ride the Seaglass Carousel and visit the National Museum of the American Indian.