Kids are fueled by imagination, and yoga can help them grow. Video by Kelly-Jane Cotter

Mary Ansell, owner of Open Heart Yoga in Red Bank(Photo: Courtesy of Open Heart Yoga)

When you're on the mat in yoga class, does your mind wander?

Are you all about Warrior Pose, or are you thinking about meeting a deadline at work, or what to make for dinner, or that time in high school when you really embarrassed yourself, or that impossibly toned person a few mats away? How does she make it look so easy? Why don't my arms look like that? Should we have pasta tonight?

Mary Ansell is not judging you for that.

"Life is never easy," she said, "and yoga is not easy or perfect."

As the owner of Open Heart Yoga, at 93 Shrewsbury Ave. in Red Bank, she knows how challenging it can be to stay in the present. She wants her studio to be a place where stress evaporates, where anxiety and competiveness fall away, and where yogis can focus on everyone's value and dignity. And she created her business model with all that in mind.

With her friend and business partner, Robin L. Klein, as president of the venture, Ansell opened her studio as a non-profit organization. The women reached out to other local non-profits,in hopes of collaborating with them.

Robin L. Klein, president of Open Heart Yoga in Red Bank.(Photo: Kelly-Jane Cotter)

Everyone was on board, from Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which fights hunger, poverty and homelessness; to 180 Turning Lives Around, which helps those affected by domestic and sexual violence; to the Tigger House Foundation, which helps those affected by the opiod and heroin addiction crisis,to Count Basie Center For The Arts, dedicated to fostering inclusive artistic experiences for the community.

"No one said no," said Klein, who lives in Middletown, "and there are others who want to be involved, and we hope to bring them in at some point."

Ansellstarted practicing yoga 23 years ago, after the birth of her daughter, and stuck with it as she raised her two sons as well. She gained balance and perspective from yoga, and felt grateful that she had the time and resources to devote to it. But she also realized not everyone was as privileged. A one-hour yoga class can cost $15, $20 or more. Child care needs, transportation and work schedules also can present roadblocks.

"I saw versions of me in those classes," saidAnsell, who lives in Shrewsbury,"and I wanted as many people as possible to experience it. So that idea marinated for years."

Ansell's goals wereboth simple and deep: Create opportunity for people of all walks of life to enjoy the benefits of yoga together. Foster the physical and spiritual benefits of yoga for everyone in the class. Build community.

And here's how it works: When you buy an individualclass or package at Open Heart Yoga, the studio donates the same experience to a client or volunteer from one of the local non-profits. You get to choose which one. And you get to take a tax deduction for half the price of your purchase.

Sylvia Hofmann, a licensed professional counselor and yoga instructor leads a yoga class focused on anxiety and stress reduction Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 at Mind, Body and Soul Wellness Center in Haddon Heights, N.J. Produced by Joe Lamberti/Courier-Post

In addition to the aforementioned non-profits, Open Heart Yoga also benefits The Beauty Foundation For Cancer Care, which gives financial aid to families with cancer; Bloom Again, which gives emergency funds to economically vulnerable working women; Lunch Break, which provides food, clothing and life skills to people in need; Parker Family Health Center, a free health care clinic for people without medical insurance or sufficient money; Stephy's Place, which offers free support groups for the bereaved; and the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, which serves vulnerable populations, including at-risk children, the elderly, those with disabling and chronic illness, and people facing the end of life.

Open Heart Yoga is part of a thriving block of businesses on Red Bank's West side.(Photo: Courtesy of Open Heart Yoga)

"We're so happy to be on the West side, with everything going on here," Klein said.

The West side of Red Bank, traditionally less wealthy than the East side near the Navesink River, has seen significant development in recent years. Two River Theater anchors the neighborhood, with Triumph Brewing Co.drawing the craft beer crowd. The newly rehabilitated Anderson Building, at Monmouth Street and Bridge Avenue, offers loft-style office space across from the train station. Sickles Market,a much-loved gourmet and farmers' market in Little Silver, opened a second location to occupy the ground floor of the Anderson Building.

Even better for Open Heart Yoga, many of the studio's community partners also are based on the West Side, enhancing that connection.

"For me," Ansell said, "it's a community-seeking thing."

When you buy a class or package at Open Heart Yoga in Red Bank, the studio will donate the same to a local charity.(Photo: Courtesy of Open Heart Yoga)

Ansell hopes to eventually have fully integrated classes, with equal numbers of paying students and students who've received gift vouchers.

"Once you walk in here, it's not intimidating," said Klein.

The studio was previously a karate center. It has one room, with plenty of daylight pouring in. The Rumson-based artist Kathleen Palmeri created and donated art work for the studio: three painted hearts.

"One for "Open," one for "Heart," and one for "Yoga,"" Ansell said.

Instructors at Open Heart Yoga include Ann Yocum, Mary Ansell, Amy Crowe, Elizabeth Kirk, Linda Vera and Katherine Amoedo. Not pictured are Caroline DeFelice, Katie Leasor and Kelly Annarella.(Photo: Courtesy of Open Heart Yoga)

Open Heart Yoga opened in May, due in part to support received from community sponsors: Shore Point Distributors, Chelsea Senior Living, Care To Give, Ansell Grimm & Aaron, Denholtz Properties, Newport Capital Group and West Side Lofts.

"It's been a community effort on every level," Ansell said.

The pay-off, she hopes, will be better health for all.

"Physically, yoga works every muscle and tendon system in your body," Ansell said. "When you connect to your breath, you get mental and emotional benefits as well. Mindfulness seeps into you."

In time, even that interior monologue of list-making,worrying, and envying might go away, replaced by calm and gratitude.

"We learn how to transition calmly, and not to live from holiday to holiday, like the stores do," Ansell said. "Yoga even helped me after my kids went to college. A lot of people pine for the past, but I don't. Now is a good place to be."

For more info on Open Heart Yoga, call 732-859-6749 or go to openheartyoganj.org

Hi, there! I'm Kelly-Jane Cotter. My favorite styles of yoga areKripalu and Iyengar. Readmore of my stories below, follow me@KellyJaneCotter,reach me at kcotter@gannettnj.com, and please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.

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