Perhaps you already have your sparkly dancing shoes picked out for New Year's Eve, or you're planning to spend the first hours of 2009 in another city (or country) altogether. But if you're still pondering your options for welcoming in the new year locally, you might want to consider doing something mellow and mindful. The winter season is a good time of the year to be quiet and go inside, and the new year is the perfect time to be contemplative about the past, future, and, most importantly, the present.

Here are some local yoga and meditation events to look into on December 31. If you know of any others, please let us know!

Where: Laughing Lotus
When: 10pm-midnight
What: New Year's Eve Midnight Yoga with Kate (celebrating yoga, music, and community)
How Much: $25

Where: Integral Yoga
When: 8:30pm
What: New Year's Eve Interfaith Service and Peace Chanting
How Much: See website for details.

Where: Being Yoga
When: 10pm-midnight
What: New Year's Eve Yoga in Burlingame
How Much: See website for details.

Where: Yoga Tree Castro
When: 6:30pm-8:30pm
What: Yoga For the New Year with Janet Stone (and kora master Daniel Berkman)
How Much: $35

Where: Yoga Tree Castro
When: 10:30pm-12:30am
What: New Year's Eve Kirtan and Revival with Rusty Wells (an evening of candlelit with special musical guests)
How Much: $25

Where: Spirit Rock
When: 8:00 pm - 1:00 am
What: Another Year? We Just Had One: A New Year's Eve costume-friendly meditation and celebration hosted by Wes Nisker and Nina Wise with drumming led by master percussionist Barbara Borden and dance music by 5Rhythms DJ diva Davida Taurek.
How Much: $50 - $80, sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher