By Gena Lande
“Yoga is a light which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.” —-B.K.S. Iyengar
Like most great ideas, the concept for Open Heart Yoga started with a question. What if there was a studio where participants can not only practice their asanas, but also exercise their altruistic muscles at the same time? With that one concept in mind, yoga practitioner Mary Ansell began the journey of living out her intention. As a non-profit studio, every dollar spent on a yoga package is simultaneously donated to one of the community’s local charities. Open Heart Yoga designates these charities and nonprofits as their “Community Partners.” As Ansell explains, “It is the ultimate gift of giving and self care. Each Open Heart Yoga student will enrich and unite our community by gifting yoga and mindfulness to volunteers and recipients of our local charities and nonprofits. As a non-profit studio, every yoga package purchased is simultaneously donated to one of the community’s local charities. This will undoubtedly create a positive ripple effect that will affect an infinite number of souls.”
Those who practice regularly know that yoga is contagious and by spreading the love and joy that is YOGA, we are contributing to a more peaceful community. Service is another byproduct of yoga. When you see yourself in others, you will be more apt to give, serve, and better the community. Practicing with Open Heart Yoga connects you to someone else’s ability to practice, and that feels better than any headstand or challenging pose you may finally master.
Mary is someone who has always had service in her blood. Originally a public school educator, she took time off from teaching to raise her three children. It was during this time that she became aware of the many local resources that are available to Monmouth County residents. She began volunteering in schools, nonprofit organizations, and charities. As her journey continued, she combined her passion for teaching with her yoga practice and transitioned to full time yogi.
Teaching yoga in high schools, safe houses, hospitals, and at a variety of nonprofit organizations, was just the right foundation to provide inspiration to combine these experiences into something unique. While practicing yoga, she imagined a more diverse and inclusive studio with a mission to enrich and unite our community. “Yoga’s life enhancing tools that positively affect our physical and mental health should be a need, not a want. Getting to know new members of our community by practicing together, breaks down barriers and unites us,” she says.
On her yoga mat, she set an intention. It took enthusiastic yoga students, board members, and generous donors to breathe life into Open Heart Yoga. Each of the Community Partners provides critical resources that any one 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, JBJSoul Foundation, Lunch Break, Parker Family Health Center, Stephy’s Place, Tigger House Foundation, and the VNA Health Group.
As yogis, we want the entire world to feel in tune with their body and mind, but for now, thanks to the efforts of one woman with an idea, we can begin from the ground up, in our own community.
Open Heart Yoga is located in the Anderson/Sickles building. 200 Monmouth St., on the West side of Red Bank, just steps from the train station. Come meet the Board Members and teachers who are on the cutting edge of changing the way we practice and think about Yoga. Follow Instagram @OpenHeartayogaNJ, favorite them on Mindbody and for additional information, OpenHeartYogaNJ.org.
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.
