Integral Yoga ups the ante

The Integral Yoga Center For Holistic Health has officially opened this month in Highland Park, replacing the Turning Point Studio at 141 Raritan Avenue. Prema Spozdzial, who has been a Yoga instructor for many years in Highland Park, once teaching at the former YM/YWHA, has now gone to having a full program that includes classes in meditation, Hatha Yoga, and workshops every weekend.
Her schedule will be expanding in December with more yoga and meditation as well as workshops in healing the body with Reflexology and Foot Massage, integrative massage therapy and Eden Energy Medicine workshops.
According to Prema, who has studied with yoga masters for more than 30 years, Yoga is more than just an exercise. Her students range in age from 14 year olds to 70 year olds. She teaches the integral yoga style that she says combines physical postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, meditation, mantra repetition, and even self awareness.
"To see students' stress transform to calm and for us to feel each other's peaceful presence in just one hour and 30 minutes always amazes me," Prema said. "The (Integral style) is so calming it serves everyone equally."
In addition to adding classes and workshops, Prema has also modified her studio physically. She has hung her own art show, Angels and Light Beings in Water Color, and other meditative objects to her spacious studio. Even her entrance is changing with a newly designed cedar arbor. The entrance will be on the side of the building, between International Deli and the Raspberry Beret Consignment Shop.
In 2010, the board-certified massage therapist and Reiki master plans to expand into community workshops on Urban Green Living, Back Yard Organic Gardening, Vegetarian Diet and Nutrition workshops.
"Yoga is not something I practice a few days a week, it is the way I live," Prema said. "It truly has helped transform some of my students' lives. . .  with the full-time studio, I hope to share even more of these ancient teachings."
"My mentor, Yoga Master Swami Satchidananda taught me 'Live life with a peaceful mind, easeful healthy body, and useful joyful life' was what he often said."
The Integral Yoga Center is registering for fall classes and workshops. Visit www.yogaprema.com for more information, or call 732.470-4696.