Joni Wellness

Joni Yecalsik is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor with special expertise in hands-on assists, yoga therapeutics, Pre-Natal, and more. She has trained as a Doula (childbirth support), Hospice Volunteer, Nutrition Counselor, Drum Circle Facilitator, Lifestyle Coach, and has served as Massage Therapist and Yoga teacher to elite athletes and dancers. She has been practicing and teaching yoga since 1970, in the brilliant Iyengar sytem since the late 80's. In the mid-nineties she moved to Bellevue , Washington to apprentice with one of Iyengar’s longtime students from India . She continues her advanced yoga studies with Senior teachers in the Iyengar method. She is the official East Coast Trainer for The Great Yoga Wall. See more about her under Bio.

Here's what some of Joni's students/clients have said about studying yoga with her:

Joniwellness Studio is currently in Weehawken

Yoga Class Schedule - see new calendar feature and click on month, week, day

Ongoing Classes:

Mondays 5:00-6:30 pm (skip Aug 27, Sept 3) Oxygen Fitness, 25 Washington Place , Tenafly , NJ 07670 (201) 503-1155 for members: $15 single class; non-members: $20 single class. All levels* (away last week in August)

Mondays 7:00-8:30 pm Ongoing Level I-II Series (must have previous experience),8:45-9:30 pm Introductory Semi-Private Series,for residents of Horizon House, Fort Lee: $250 for 15-week Fall series from Sept 10 through December 17, 2007 $25 drop-in including props, $20 if you have your own props. Yoga Props REQUIRED - bring your own yoga props, or props may be rented - reserve ahead! ($5 full set: mat, 2 blocks, 2 belts, 3 blankets)

Tuesdays 4:30-5:45 PM Iyengar [filling in for another yoga teacher Tues Aug 21 at 8 pm.] Can Do Fitness City Place at The Promenade, River Road at Gorge Road, Edgewater, NJ (201) 313-3300 map General level 10-class card $175 for non-members

Tuesdays in Newark through December - see calendar

Wednesdays 7:00-8:15 PM Can Do Fitness

Thursdays 7:30-8:45 PM Can Do Fitness will resume in January

Thursdays in NYC at Yoga Union 6:30-8 pm with Wall Ropes through beg of Jan- see calendar

Fridays 9:45 - 11:00 AM Can Do Fitness

Saturdays - coming in Jan 2008

look for Open Practice Dates under "calendar" feature (you must reserve ahead!)

Series and Workshops:

Restorative Yoga Workshop - Wednesday at Can Do (see above) August 1, 7-8:15 PM. bring extra props from home: blankets, 2 matching pillows, belts, blocks, eye bags, head wraps.Free for members and first-time guests to Can Do.

Introductory Yoga for those with no Iyengar Yoga experience. A thorough orientation to this brilliant method. Semi-private group, limited to 4 students. New time slots in November

Yoga for Beginners in the Iyengar method, regardless of previous Yoga Experience. Precise Instruction with Expert Hands-On Assists in a small group setting to give you a deep understanding of the Fundamental Principles of this brilliant method. This is a pre-requisite for Joni's other classes and groups.

Open Practice Class is for Joni's regular and/or serious Iyengar Yoga students who have or would like to have their own regular practice. Sequence, instructions and corrections given for appropriate level. $25 drop-in (with reservation). $300 for 20 sessions ($15 per session), 3 month expiration. $180 for 10 sessions ($18 per session), $100 for 5 sessions ($20 per session). see calendar feature for dates and times or call to schedule.

The Great Yoga Wall - please contact Joni if you are interested in training - dates are being organized for Fall/Winter 2007.

Basic Back Care, Pre-Natal, Healthy Knees workshops will be scheduled for Fall 2007. For Self-Massage, Nutrition, Vision Board and other non-Yoga Workshops, look under "Workshops"

Please inquire about rates for private sessions and packages.

CORE YOGA STUDY GROUP Yoga in Action: Preliminary Course by Geeta Iyengar is our study text as well as Light on the Yoga Sutras by B.K.S. Iyengar (or any other Sutra translation). We will meet monthly in Weehawken for potluck, Iyengar Yoga videos, demonstrations, philosophy discussion, and inspiration. Joni will share her notes from the recent Las Vegas Iyengar Yoga Convention at next Pot Luck. Sunday June 17 (?) tbc.

Inquire about Private, Group, Corporate, and Retreat rates, full schedule and other details.

OM n : supreme and most sacred syllable, consisting of the three Sanskrit sounds “a”*, “u”, and “m”, representing various fundamental triads and believed to be (like other sounds), the spoken essence of the universe. It is sounded as a mantra and in affirmations and blessings (Hinduism and Buddhism). You may feel it vibrating in your whole body. It may be sounded out loud or silently. Traditionally, when practicing on your own, the pitch is as low as possible, without strain. When practicing with your yoga class, take the lead from your instructor. Sometimes the group chants in unison, sometimes teacher first, class following/responding.

Pronunciation: It starts from the sound of the earth, from nothing, like a low rumble (the Sanskrit “a”* is our “u”, as in fun) develops to the “oh” and ends in “mmm” fading back to nothing. An English written transliteration would more correctly be U-O-M.

In Yoga Classes we sing Om during opening: to create a harmonic satsang, group connection, to center our energy, to bring clarity and focus to the practice, and to change (raise) our vibrational rate; during closing: to seal in and acknowledge the benefits of the yoga.

SANSKRIT n : an ancient classical language of India (the language of the Vedas and of Hinduism); an official language of India although it is not used in every day language. It is known for its perfection. We say the names of the yoga asanas (poses) in Sanskrit for invocational effect, aiding in receiving the metaphysical benefits of practicing the yoga asanas.

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