The History
Bonnie Pariser started teaching Yoga in Frenchtown NJ at a small art studio in the Gem building run by local artist Jen Mazzucco. Jen’s vision of this studio was to have a community space where people came together in a way that would enrich their lives as well as the community.
Bonnie began by teaching one class there while she was pregnant with her first child. The space was by no means conducive to yoga. “We had to roll out 2 layers of carpeting before class and roll it back up again after class so it would stay clean.” Reflects Jen. “That in itself was a workout!”. “the bathroom was outside. That was a bummer for me being that I was 7 months pregnant.” Says Bonnie. Later Jen took another space “uptown” in Frenchtown. The class size grew as the space for mats increased. “Instead of using yoga blocks we used paint cans. Jen had a bunch of her art students paint the drop ceiling so everyone would have something nicer to look at when we did poses on our backs. That was part of the fun.”
After Bonnie’s son Zachary was born she continued to teach yoga at the Center Club in Lambertville under the direction of her first teacher, Parvathi Nanda Nath Saraswati (Kirin Mishra).
“I would hear Zachary crying in the nursery next door during final relaxation. I would go get him and he helped with the final chants at the end of the class”.
Bonnie’s daughter Dominique was born about 1 1/2 years later. She decided staying closer to home fit better with her mothering duties. “I started to teach yoga in my kids school, The River Valley Waldorf School, a little bit north of where I was living. It was great! People were so excited to have something close to home.”
One class led to another and another, and soon the perfect space opened up in a commercial building in Frenchtown NJ.
“The Landlord John Mathieu did an amazing job renovating the building. He was so excited to have a yoga studio in the space. His generosity has made a big contribution towards our success.” In less than 2 years a larger space opened up in the building and so Yoga Loka expanded. The healing room was added as was a comfy waiting area and boutique. More floor space in the main room accommodates some of the larger classes and workshops that now run.
After 14 years above the laundromat Yoga Loka began to seek a new home. The laundromat closed and the entrance to the studio became problematic. Plus the stairs to the second floor became an issue for some older students. A temporary location was found and a little less then a year later Yoga Loka found their new home at 23 Race Street. "I dreamed of having that space when I first starting to think about opening a studio in Frenchtown. It just was never available at the right time". Patience pays off!
Yoga Loka is now home to a variety of classes and boasts a wonderful and energetic staff of teachers and support volunteers. A lovely community has cropped up from the gathering of students, long time friendship have been formed, self-discovery and awakening has run rampant. People are getting out of pain in their bodies and removing stress from their lives. And no one, well maybe one person, can put their legs behind their heads.
Bonnie began by teaching one class there while she was pregnant with her first child. The space was by no means conducive to yoga. “We had to roll out 2 layers of carpeting before class and roll it back up again after class so it would stay clean.” Reflects Jen. “That in itself was a workout!”. “the bathroom was outside. That was a bummer for me being that I was 7 months pregnant.” Says Bonnie. Later Jen took another space “uptown” in Frenchtown. The class size grew as the space for mats increased. “Instead of using yoga blocks we used paint cans. Jen had a bunch of her art students paint the drop ceiling so everyone would have something nicer to look at when we did poses on our backs. That was part of the fun.”
After Bonnie’s son Zachary was born she continued to teach yoga at the Center Club in Lambertville under the direction of her first teacher, Parvathi Nanda Nath Saraswati (Kirin Mishra).
“I would hear Zachary crying in the nursery next door during final relaxation. I would go get him and he helped with the final chants at the end of the class”.
Bonnie’s daughter Dominique was born about 1 1/2 years later. She decided staying closer to home fit better with her mothering duties. “I started to teach yoga in my kids school, The River Valley Waldorf School, a little bit north of where I was living. It was great! People were so excited to have something close to home.”
One class led to another and another, and soon the perfect space opened up in a commercial building in Frenchtown NJ.
“The Landlord John Mathieu did an amazing job renovating the building. He was so excited to have a yoga studio in the space. His generosity has made a big contribution towards our success.” In less than 2 years a larger space opened up in the building and so Yoga Loka expanded. The healing room was added as was a comfy waiting area and boutique. More floor space in the main room accommodates some of the larger classes and workshops that now run.
After 14 years above the laundromat Yoga Loka began to seek a new home. The laundromat closed and the entrance to the studio became problematic. Plus the stairs to the second floor became an issue for some older students. A temporary location was found and a little less then a year later Yoga Loka found their new home at 23 Race Street. "I dreamed of having that space when I first starting to think about opening a studio in Frenchtown. It just was never available at the right time". Patience pays off!
Yoga Loka is now home to a variety of classes and boasts a wonderful and energetic staff of teachers and support volunteers. A lovely community has cropped up from the gathering of students, long time friendship have been formed, self-discovery and awakening has run rampant. People are getting out of pain in their bodies and removing stress from their lives. And no one, well maybe one person, can put their legs behind their heads.
