Zev Yoga Opens in Exeter

There’s many types of yoga: Hatha Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and more. But Jonas “Zev” Amberger, owner of Zev Yoga Studios, may have just come up with a new form of yoga: pro bono Yoga.

Amberger’s yoga studio in downtown Portsmouth is well-established and well-loved, and now he’s expanding westward into downtown Exeter, at 175 Water Street, right above George and Phillip’s Sporting Goods. But while Amberger has enough cache in the practice of yoga to charge premium prices – he’s been teaching yoga for almost 15 years, and holds a degree in Ayurvedic Medicine – he’s making all his classes at the Exeter studio free for the entire month of September.

This display of generosity is entirely consistent with Amberger’s larger philosophy: that yoga, like life itself, should be not simply experienced, but shared. “I want people to come see what yoga is all about,” mentioned Amberger. “It’s a spirit of being, as well as a really effective exercise and therapy for many health problems.” And given yoga’s therapeutic benefits for medical conditions such as back pain, stress, depression, and even cancer, it’s no wonder that yoga was the 6^th most commonly used alternative therapy in the country during 2007.  It even gained considerable mainstream notoriety in New Engalnd this Spring, when 43-year old Boston Bruins hockey player Mark Recchi attributed his revitalization to his use of Bikram Yoga to withstand the rigors of professional sports.

Because of Amberger’s desire to make yoga equally accessible to “first-timers” as to those who have been practicing yoga for years, he’s worked with architects to design the Exeter studio “with a flair”, in Amberger’s words. The ultra-appealing studio will feature “lots of windows, a 20-foot high ceiling, hardwood bamboo floors, low-VOC paint, eco-friendly furniture, and tremendous angles,” according to Amberger.  

He’s also retained the services of two Exeter residents to guide yoga students through various classes, which run at various times, seven days a week, to provide as much schedule flexibility as possible, including morning, late afternoon, and early evening classes. Lauri Sowers has been studying yoga with Amberger since 1997, and teaching since 1999. Jolie Yonker has been studying yoga for a year and a half, but don’t let that fool you; she comes from a fitness background, and is equally adept at working with all-around athletes as she is working with longtime yoga students. 

And while every single yoga class at Zev Yoga is free during September, there is no pressure to continue, no trial period, and no contracts to sign. “Of course, anyone can sign up for $25/month for one year at either Zev Yoga studio at any time, but our classes in Exeter in September are free with no strings attached,” explained Amberger.

To help spread the word about this promotion, Zev Yoga Studios is a member of the Green Alliance, which connects green businesses with the burgeoning eco-conscious communities in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Green Alliance members can sample a yoga class or two by paying only $5/class during their first five classes in downtown Portsmouth, or in Exeter, once October rolls around. 

And while some fitness facility operators would suggest that offering free yoga classes is a recipe for financial losses, Amberger is out to prove them wrong.

“I just want people to experience yoga and its benefits,” he said. “If my teachers and I do a good job, we’ll see many, many of those people back in October. This is an exercise and a therapy that sells itself.”

For more information:

Zev Yoga Studios: www.zevyoga.com

Green Alliance: www.greenalliance.biz