When she was a young girl, Jessica Proulx thought she would likely find a career away from Watertown. But here she is, sitting in The Buddha Bistro, part of her sprawling yoga studio and wellness complex off Siemon Avenue in her hometown, quite content and having a significant impact on hundreds of lives.

Proulx, a graduate of Watertown High School and the University of Connecticut (degree in psychology), owns, operates and teaches at The Om Center, a wonderful and unique space that includes two yoga studios (one designated for heated yoga classes), massage therapy/body work offices, a meditation room, and The Buddha Bistro, a fun place to enjoy homemade sandwiches, soups, breads and liquid nourishment. The bistro is operated by her mother, Laure Proulx.

Says Jessica Proulx I guess I figured that I wouldnt be staying around Watertown once I graduated from college, but it has worked out that way and Im very pleased. It is a lot of work, but Im loving it and its rewarding.

Proulx has a comprehensive background that makes her ideal for her position. She has been studying yoga since the age of 16 and has been teaching yoga since she was 18. While in college, she completed a study-abroad program in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she furthered her education in Buddhism and Thai culture. The Reiki practitioner graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2005 and from The Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 2009.

Proulx has operated a yoga center for the past four years, moving several times, the last being in January when she took her thriving business into its present location, a pleasant space that has polished wood floors and open and airy studios where individuals can find inner peace through a variety of programs, ranging from yoga and meditation to massage.

This is an ideal spot for the center, she says, after conducting a yoga class for about a dozen students. I moved from Main Street in Watertown, where the studio was much smaller. Here, we have 4,000 square feet and we can do so much more in comfort and privacy. And we have the Bistro where people can relax and enjoy organic food or have a smoothie.

By the way, Om is a mantra and mystical sound of Hindu origin (geographically India and Nepal), sacred and important in various Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The syllable is also referred to as omkara or aumkara, literally "om syllable, and in Sanskrit it is sometimes referred to as praava, or "that which is sounded out loudly.

Proulx is a firm believer that yoga and wellness should and could be affordable and attainable for anyone. She has assembled a staff of talented individuals to assist her, all of whom have extensive backgrounds in their fields. The center also offers a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program led by Claudette Adams. Along with Proulx and Adams, Oms other instructors, as well as outside speakers and guests, often make appearances as part of the program. Oms Yoga Teacher School encompasses all of the requirements laid out by Yoga Alliance to create a comprehensive program. Deeper than just the asana (posture) practice, the program delves into pranayama (breath work), meditation, anatomy and physiology, history, philosophy,and the deeper practices of yoga.

The programs asana focus is on Vinyasa, but students learn gentle yoga practices, chair yoga,therapeutic yoga, practice Kundalini Yoga, restorative yoga and yoga nidra. A weekend program (every other Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday) can be completed inless than four months (there are also once-monthly, weekday evening workshops). Students are required to observe classes and log practices outside of training and complete a community service project. Oms three-week intensive program takes place at The Sanctuary at Two Rivers in Cabuya, Costa Rica, where Proulx has taught yoga and taken students on retreats several times.

The trip to Costa Rica is something I do every year, she says. I teach yoga and try to take a bit of a vacation, but doing the latter is difficult because there is so much going on. The country is beautiful and conducive to yoga and the practice is very popular there. Continued...

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Om Center Teaches Yoga, Meditation in Watertown