I've always been a fan of East West books near 14th street, even when it was a scrudgy little place that felt like it needed a bath. Since it opened in 1977 it's been crammed with books on yoga, mysticism, veganism, tantra, alternative heath, and the like. For me it was a great (and rare) place to pick up incense in a pinch; I never made it to the yoga studio I knew was inside. One multi-million dollar renovation later, and it's now a chic, glittering palace of spiritual books and stuff—complete with vegetarian café with wifi and a large yoga section with mats and raw silk zafus.

The new space feels like Whole Foods' younger, literary, more Zen cousin. And in October, they'll add finishing touches to the outside and the little snack café will expand to an actual restaurant.

I stopped by the other day for a look-see (sometimes I slip in when I need to calm down and get a hit of spiritual materialism—the antidote to material materialism), and after handling a chunk amethyst and sniffing jasmine oil, I went out the door, into the one next door and up to their equally reno'd yoga studio. I could have licked it for its loveliness. Pale bamboo floors, Hagrid-high ceilings, and two surprisingly roomy studios, one facing a quiet back courtyardy thing.

I talked to Grace at the front desk, who couldn't have been nicer. Turns out the place was sold in 2005 from the Himalayan Institute to a company owned by one of Swami Rama's students. And their events are now getting bigger—apparently last month Tibetan monks did a sand mandala on the floor of the café. Plus, of course, they've got a slew of yoga classes, from Kundalini to Vinyasa to plain old Hatha. I haven't had a chance to take a class there yet. Check out their schedule here. Later this month they're hosting a "bio-energetic" conference with the U.N.'s recreation council—with speakers on healing, astrology, feng shui, and more. Who knew?

Have you taken yoga at East West? Are you a fan? Grossed out or inspired by the spiritual materialism thing? You can comment below (and please do!).