You know, I know, NYC is to inner calm what writhing, naked, nubiles are to chastity. Making it the perfect place to practice finding stillness, some say. (Hey, the celibate Gandhi allegedly invited hot women into his bed so he could not touch them).

And this week we get a little help from New York magazine's "Peace + Quiet" issue--subtitle: "finding calm in the urban squall." (My source two weeks running--if anyone's counting--but no worries, not three.)

The package kicks off with a piece about my Beliefnet office mate Martha Ainsworth (hi, Martha!), who's officially trying to become an "urban hermit"--think: prayer and vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience--all while working a regular job, commuting, and socializing like (almost) the rest of us.

If that's not your bag, the mag offers 20 places to get quiet, including two of my faves: the Quaker meetinghouse on 16th street and Walter De Maria's Earth Room.

Then there's a handy guide to free yoga (something I've been meaning to write about for a while). You can grab free classes at Integral, Yoga Sutra, Atmananda (wait, hadn't they switched their name to Centerpoint? Are they back now? Oh, that Jhon T.), and Yoga to the People. There's even a section about chanting in NYC.

All of this is a little extra-spiritual, not the usual yoga-lite spa-y froth. It's refreshingly real. I might add to the list for how we can all cope with/escape subway rider rage and related stressors:

- Read "Finding Peace and Quiet in New York City"

- Actually go to a Quaker meeting. I went to elementary school at Friends, host to the aforementioned meetinghouse, and so got silence drummed into me early and often. I recommend it, whatever your beliefs. There's 16th street ; a Morningside meeting; and a Brooklyn meeting.

- Get up early on Sunday and walk around. Before the brunch crowds hit.

Which reminds me of Digable Planets' great '90s ode to NYC Sunday peacefulness. Some lyrics:

Butterfly searchin for a relax
pullin from the jazz stacks cause it’s sunday
on the air is incense
sounds to the ceiling
tryin to get this feelin since monday
lookin out the window
watchin all the people go...
buggin off the calmness in the apple
who me i’m coolin in new york
i’m chillin in new york
the hoods is on my block
and the brothers at the court
the baseball hats is on
and the projects is calm
dream times extended

(Ladybug)
and highly recommended

(Butterfly)
but early birds like me’s up checkin out the scene
the early worms job, forget about your job
just come dig the essence while the decadence is hidden
when people act like people, the theory is in picture
if you know the norm it’s like hades transformed
on sunday's early hours the city sprouts its flowers
so get with the rhythms while you gettin with the planets
vibe off the jams but don’t take em for granted
just chill

Where do you escape to?