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Balance in the Big Apple: The Viceroy Central Park's wellness package
Can a 5km run and sunrise yoga soothe body and soul in the hustle and bustle of New York?
The Viceroy Central Park in Manhattan has teamed up with Fit Tours NYC and MNDFL to create a package promoting physical and mental wellbeing in one of the busiest, most exciting cities in the world.
The clue's in the name - the Viceroy Central Park is a luxury hotel just five minutes' walk from New York's celebrated park. Thanks to its location in the heart of Manhattan, the city's cultural, recreational and culinary highlights are on the doorstep.
The hotel's black and gold exterior opens out on to a stylish, moodily lit reception area that would be intimidating were it not for the incredibly welcoming staff.
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Stylish touches can be seen throughout. The corridors resemble the hallways of a retro cruise liner and the design of the rooms is a charming mix of wood panelling, white cotton and brown leather that is both comfortable and contemporary.
The chaise longues positioned in front of each room's floor to ceiling windows might not be quite as comfortable as they look, but the silver lining is that their firmness could prevent you from wasting precious hours gazing out at the amazing views across Central Park and the Upper East Side.
The Roof, the hotel's rooftop bar, offers stunning views and excellent martinis. In autumn and winter, it may be too cold to sit outside, but the bar is a prime spot for sunny days. Guests at the hotel are probably too high up for people watching but the view of the skyline won't disappoint.
The hotel's Wellness Weekend packages give guests the opportunity to choose from a 60-minute "Fit Tour" of Central Park (which can be a 5km run), Sunrise Yoga or a "Central Park Core Tour", where you can see the park's famous landmarks while burning some extra calories.
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Alternatively, a meditation session at MNDFL's sleek new studio in the Upper East Side can be arranged.
I personally believe holidays are all about trying local delicacies (such as New York pizza in abundant quantities) rather than exercising or being healthy, but I did opt for a meditation session, which was surprisingly tranquil and relaxing considering where it's located. The state-of-the-art studio is smack bang in the middle of New York City's traffic thoroughfares, but the cleverly designed space blocks out almost all the noise.
Studio staff are very welcoming. Teachers have their own bookshelves filled with textbooks and routines – a great way for new clients to gauge which class is right for them. The half-hour class I went to focused on breathing and flew by. After three days working in Manhattan, the meditation session made me feel both rested and energised.
New York may be the city that never sleeps, but right in its heart, the oases of Viceroy Central Park, Fit Tours and MNDFL offer genuine rest and replenishment.
The new two-night Wellness Weekend Package at the Viceroy Central Park in New York starts at $345 (£276) per night and includes accommodation in a king-bedded room, one meditation session of choice at MNDFL's new state-of-the-art studio on 60th Street and one FIT Tour (participants can choose from a 5K run, Central Park Core Tour or Sunrise Yoga)
