City ZEN

Who doesn’t wish to find some calm in this frenetic city? In Milan taking a moment for ourselves would really come in handy, and there must be a way to slow down, right? City ZEN might be the answer. It is the first “social” wellness center, a concept that its founder Carol Brumer created to finance non-profit organizations: it currently donates all of its profits to Fondazione Francesca Rava, protecting disadvantaged children around the world. How does it make profits? Easy: yoga, meditation and healing arts. This is the City ZEN experience: giving peace to mind and body through helping others.

How is this center? It is placed in Via S. Francesco d’Assisi, into a small courtyard delicately framed by thick foliages of climbing plants. Above a painted window, a simple golden neon sign: City ZEN. The interiors are warmly lit and comfortable, with a minimalistic touch and designed with heavenly taste and precision: the spirit of the historic building was left intact by intelligent renovations like the aged wooden furniture and fair-colored sofas.

The giant windows let the room breathe and soak the air with light. Natural light from the outside and the greenery of the plants accompany every practice. The transparent walls make the yoga rooms and the lobby one big open space, giving you the feeling to have a lot of freedom of movement, harmony and serenity. But there’s more to it: lively chatter of people is everywhere, over there someone is sharing a cup of herbal tea, here others are reading, everyone is laid-back and at ease.

Needless to say, you will remain smitten and will return many many times. Thankfully, there are plenty of reasons to: there are daily courses of yoga and meditation, pilates and tai-chi, from morning to evening, and Ayurvedic treatments and massages too. It’s easy to find the right activity, pace and timing, and satisfy every mood, whether you feel like flowing with it or sweating it out. Excellent teachers inspire and share words of wisdom, and leaving the room after every practice you feel empowered and strong, your mind calm and clear, ready to meet the chaos of the city face to face.

City ZEN is, in short, a beautiful initiative both inside and out. It’s rooted in the dedication of its founder, Carol Brumer, who didn’t just want to spread the healing arts culture but to give this business a deeper layer of meaning: serving others while discovering your inner balance. Coming here you’ll find out that the words of Ms. Brumer are true: “Wellness is contagious”.