NEW YORK: It is 5 pm, otherwise known as rush hour in Manhattan. Julia Lyons, 31, finishes work and heads straight for her daily dose of peace and quiet -- half an hour at meditation studio "Mndfl." Since April 2016, when she discovered the then-brand-new studio, the investment bank employee has abandoned yoga and embraced meditation. "I have been meditating pretty regularly -- probably five times a week, 30-minute sessions," says Lyons, sipping a cup of tea on the studio´s sofa. "I just need a moment to chill out. This city -- you are always running place to place and there are not a lot of quiet spaces," she explains. "I think it´s made me a lot happier and also just helped me make better decisions, more thoughtful decisions." Practiced by millions around the world, meditation promotes mental wellbeing through concentration, breathing techniques and self-awareness. For a long time, those singing its praises were intelle