Yoga in Morristown

Arthur Murray Dance Studio has been a leading name in franchise dance since 1912, when the entrepreneur began selling mail-order dance lessons. Expanding his reach, he enlisted teachers to spread his signature dance lessons on first-class steamships and skyrocketed to fame in the '30s after introducing the public to such dances as the Lambeth Walk and the Big Apple. By the 1950s, Arthur and his wife, Kathryn, were hosting their own highly popular TV show on ABC, the Arthur Murray Dance Party, which ran for 12 years. Today, Arthur Murray's team prepares students for rug cutting at special events and weekend nightclub jaunts. Clients who arrive to lessons partnerless will be paired up with other classmates as the instructors assess their current skill level and make recommendations on the most appropriate program. Throughout lessons, instructors teach the foundations of two to four dances from a long list of styles that range from Latin to country-western, helping students to learn basic step patterns, timing, and the ability to lead or follow.

Sweat removes toxins from the body. Fevers burn away unwelcome invaders. Heat allows muscles to extend and contract further. Heat can be healthy, a lesson Bikram Choudhury embraced when he moved his yogic practice into a 105-degree room, 2 degrees hotter than the average temperature inside a yak. The idea caught on, spreading around the world and eventually coming to Bikram Yoga Westfield in the form of Bikram-certified teachers. They lead Choudhury's classic series of 26 asanas and two breathing exercises, a 90-minute session of stretching in which each pose builds upon the benefits of the last. In addition to their signature heated yoga, the staff members also facilitate wellness with massage services, holistic nutritional counseling, and even CrossFit coaching through their sister organization, CrossFit Westfield.

Yoga Desha's founder, Rebecca Bergstrom, is no stranger to struggle, and has long turned to yoga whenever she finds herself in need of physical and spiritual uplifting. Her interest in the mind-body connection began when she was just a teen and fueled her studies in human biology and psychology at Stanford University, as well as her time spent dancing at the Martha Graham School. Her search for spiritual healing took an entirely new direction, however, when she suddenly lost her young husband while expecting their first child. Finding her prenatal yoga practice to play an integral part in healing her emotional ails, she soon decided to become a yoga teacher herself and dedicate her life to helping people from all walks of life heal from their own mental, physical, or spiritual traumas.

She has since earned the 500-hour teaching certification from the Yoga Alliance––the highest possible certification from the program––and compiled a team of instructors that leads classes seven days a week. Classes range from pre- or postnatal yoga and beginner's Vinyasa to more strenuous sessions such as tri-level Vinyasa––a class that invites students to attempt challenging postures such as arm balances and inversions while learning ancient Sanskrit chants.

After Lisa Usherovich had her first baby, she discovered yoga as a way to get back in shape and relieve stress. She eventually founded MiMi Yoga for Everyone, a welcoming studio where prenatal classes help keep expectant women comfortable, as well as post-natal classes that let mothers and babies practice yoga together. A full schedule includes other types of yoga, from a fundamentals class to an iyengar session that uses props to help bodies stretch to new limits and practice new stand-up routines. In all classes, Lisa and her team invite more experienced yogis to set up in the front row so new students can hang behind and follow their lead.

The ochre walls of Bikram Yoga Cedar Knolls bring to mind vast and peaceful deserts while certified instructors lead yoga students through challenging poses in a 100-plus-degree studio. During 90-minute classes, instructors assist students in mastering Bikram’s fixed sequence of 26 challenging postures. These poses, when performed correctly, sculpt lean muscle mass and increase flexibility enough to help students reach that python hiding under the fridge. Due to the extreme temperature of the studio, students are advised to bring a mat and towels and drink plenty of water before class.

Director Theresa Rowland dedicated herself to yoga after being introduced to it by her mother, learning Iyengar yoga from BKS Iyengar himself and pursuing studies in therapeutic recreation and movement therapy. Employing an extensive roster of instructors, Theresa's studio hosts eclectic classes for all levels of students and trains aspiring Iyengar yoga instructors. In addition to meditation and yoga sessions, which promote self-awareness, the studio also offers fitness-oriented workouts, such as Pilates and Zumba. During class, Studio Yoga's childcare services can keep an eye on students' toddlers or needy house plants.