By Gena Ansell-Lande, Writer and Editor, JLife and Community Magazine
“Yoga is a journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” Bhagavad Gita
As the founder of Open Heart Yoga (OHY), Mary Ansell’s mantra has always been, “Believe, Be Present, and Be of Service.” As a non-profit yoga studio where every yoga package purchased is also donated to one of its many participating community partners’ local charities, OHY continues to bring joy, peace, and clarity to its many students.
Mary adds, “Each of our students will enrich and unite our community by gifting yoga and mindfulness to volunteers and recipients of our local charities and nonprofits.” The result? The program has created a ripple effect that continues to reverberate throughout the community.
Now entering its 6th year in business, Mary continues to receive blessings from this inspiring space. “My practice and the studio nourishes me daily in countless ways. As a schoolteacher by trade, creating and starting a business pushed me out of my comfort zone. As I pushed my way through the process and said YES more than no, I kept persevering and trying, and it strengthened me.”
She counts balance, strength, and emotional resilience as gifts she continues to receive due to pushing herself beyond her level of comfort. When she began practicing, she imagined a more diverse and inclusive studio with a mission to enrich and unite the community. While on the mat, she set an intention and it took passionate yoga students, board members, and the generosity of donors to bring her concept and Open Heart Yoga to life. Each Community Partner provides important resources that any of us may benefit from. Students can decide which organization receives their free yoga voucher. Some of these recipients include 180 Turning Lives Around, The Beauty Foundation for Cancer Care, Bloom Again, Count Basie Center for the Arts, JBJ Soul Foundation, Lunch Break, Parker Family Health Center, VNA Health Group, Tigger Foundation, and Stephy’s Place.
Although the nonprofit was formed ten years ago, her brick-and-mortar studio turns six in April. In this time, there have been opportunities for change and growth, both personal and professional. She says, “We have learned something as simple as our Yoga pass system used to be given in paper vouchers to each of our ten nonprofits weekly. Now, it is all done using an app and much easier for our recipients to redeem. We also offer daily virtual classes, aerial classes and include outdoor yoga on Broad Street, The Grove, and on the beach. Our teaching staff has doubled, and our paying and redeeming students have increased.”
Recently, she began working on a pilot program called Wellness Within. It was created because the healing and nourishing benefits of yoga are a great starting point to invite others to dive in and bring more awareness to where they are. Yoga helps those who practice to stay mindful and curious about what works and what needs to be modified. Yoga, in addition to having a clinical therapist present, may facilitate deeper insights during therapy sessions. Physical postures and breathing techniques help to lower stress levels, making sessions more productive, expressive, and articulate. Mary adds, “We are starting the process by collaborating with the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County (MHAMC). To encourage group therapy, rather than individual therapy, MHAMC feels this collaboration will be beneficial. We received a grant to illustrate the importance of mental health care and how much yoga can enhance someone’s life.”
Monica Loperena is a living example of this very notion. Her entry point to OHY was as a student receiving yoga passes through the Parker Family Health Center, where she volunteered as a nurse. She fell in love with the practice and was inspired to become certified to teach both aerial yoga and vinyasa.
Mary explains, “She donates her teaching time back to the studio as a result of paying forward the gift that was given to her originally.”
Monica adds, “I teach at Open Heart Yoga because it embodies everything I value—community, generosity, and giving back. My mom, Mercedes, introduced me to yoga and brought me to the studio while I was volunteering at Parker Clinic in Red Bank. She spoke to Mary, who graciously offered me a free year-long membership.
That year was a particularly difficult time in my life, and yoga became so much more than just a practice—it helped me reconnect with myself and find a sense of peace when I needed it most. Teaching donation-based aerial and floor yoga classes is my way of giving back to the community that supported me. I keep teaching with the hope that through my classes, even one person might discover the same connection, healing, and transformation that I found at Open Heart Yoga.”
It is worth noting that every class at OHY is appropriate for all levels and encourages beginners to attend. While many students come to the mat for physical exercise, Mary has found that they remain on the mat for how the practice affects everything else in their life. “We practice on the mat for benefits off the mat.” Besides improving flexibility, yoga is a natural way to build resilience against age-related declines and makes you less prone to injuries in the future. “We work on ourselves together. The social aspect can really complement the physical work. Seeing my students when class ends with that yoga glow (If you know, you know) nourishes my heart in many ways.”
Her story brings to mind an old saying, “From little seeds grow mighty trees:” By taking an initial intention and acting upon it can lead to significant impact and growth, inspiring others to pursue their own paths of self-discovery and service.
Open Heart Yoga is located in the Anderson building on the West side of Red Bank, with plenty of free parking. Spiro Harrison & Nelson, Del Negro Integrative Health, and Axis are building neighbors and Philanthropic Sponsors along with others in the community including Family Sponsors. Students are encouraged to view the schedule and sign into class using the Mindbody app or their website OpenHeartYogaNJ.org. Follow them on Instagram @OpenHeartyogaNJ.
Gena Ansell-Lande is a local writer and editor living in Red Bank. She currently writes monthly articles for an online publication called JLife and Community Magazine. Before working in the editorial field she spent time as a Legislative Aide for local Senators.
