There were really two things that inspired Yoga Bohemia. I grew up vacationing on LBI, and in my late twenties I came down for a family vacation and wanted to practice yoga, but there really wasn't anywhere to go. I remember thinking, if I want this while I'm here, other people probably do too. Vacation actually felt like the perfect time for yoga: you're away from the hustle of everyday life and finally have the time and space to get on your mat. I saw a real gap in the market and an opportunity to fill it.

At the same time, I was teaching at a studio in Princeton and dreamed of eventually leading yoga retreats around the world. I realized that a studio in a vacation destination could connect me with people far beyond one geographic community. They could discover Yoga Bohemia while visiting LBI, stay connected with us, and eventually travel with us.

And it worked! We opened the doors to Yoga Bohemia in North Beach Haven on June 28, 2014, to a packed first class. It was beyond my wildest expectations. Less than a year later, we launched our first international retreat. Since then, we've welcomed tens of thousands of students on LBI and taken hundreds more around the world on yoga and wellness adventures. What started as an idea to fill a need on the island became exactly the kind of bigger, far-reaching community I had dreamed of creating.

The LBI community continues to shape Yoga Bohemia in almost every way. We now have four studios across an 18-mile island, which is pretty unheard of in the yoga industry, but if you know LBI, it makes perfect sense. We're a very neighborhood-based community, so we've grown to meet people where they are.

The island itself has shaped what we offer, too. We're beach people. How could we not take advantage of this incredible environment? Beach yoga and SUP yoga became natural extensions of what we do. And as our community's interests have evolved, so have we. We've added Pilates, sculpt, aerial yoga, and heated classes, expanding the ways people can experience movement and wellness with us. That eventually grew beyond the studio walls with massage and body treatments and even a Bohemian-inspired boutique.

But being part of LBI also means showing up for the community beyond our studios. We collaborate with local clubs and organizations like LBI Athletics Club, Sea Change, and David's Dream & Believe, providing free classes and special offerings. We've introduced donation-based chair yoga both in our studios and at a local church to make the practice more accessible, and recently created a free cancer-focused class where people navigating cancer can move, breathe, connect with others going through a similar experience, and know they're not alone.

Perhaps the biggest change has been who we serve. In the beginning, our classes were heavily driven by vacationers. Today, we see more and more regulars throughout the summer and a growing year-round community in the off-season. We listen closely to what our students and our larger community need, and we evolve with them. In many ways, the Yoga Bohemia of today hasn't been built by me at all. It's been built by the community we serve.

More than anything, I hope people leave feeling empowered, in their bodies, in their minds, and in their ability to take that feeling with them beyond the mat.

Yoga can be incredibly transformative, but I don't think it has to be intimidating or overly serious to be meaningful. I want people to leave feeling stronger, more grounded, more comfortable in their own bodies, and maybe a little more capable than they thought they were when they walked in.

But just as important is community. We've never wanted Yoga Bohemia to feel like a pretentious or trendy studio where you have to look a certain way, practice a certain way, or already feel like you "belong" in the yoga world. We're a family in a lot of ways, and we try to treat the people who walk through our doors as such. I want this to be a place where people feel seen, welcomed, and accepted exactly as they are.

Some of the most meaningful relationships I've watched develop at Yoga Bohemia started simply because two people kept putting their mats down next to each other. They become friends, travel together, support one another through difficult seasons of life, and celebrate the good ones together.

Ultimately, I hope people leave class feeling better than when they arrived. Stronger in themselves, more connected to others, and knowing they're part of something. To me, that feeling of belonging is just as much yoga as anything we do on the mat.

The name Yoga Bohemia came from what the word bohemian represented to me: a life a little less ordinary. A life rooted in curiosity, creativity, freedom, and connection, with a sense of wonder for the world, other people, and different cultures.

Travel was always part of the bigger vision, but not simply for the sake of collecting destinations. It was about the journey. The people you meet, the cultures you experience, the things you learn, and the ways those experiences change you. It's choosing experiences over things and being willing to step outside the expected path to create a life that feels meaningful to you.

That philosophy translates beautifully to yoga because yoga is a journey, too. There's no finish line and no final destination. You continue to explore, learn, and evolve.

That's really what Yoga Bohemia has always represented to me: moving through life a little differently. Consciously, kindly, curiously, and with a spirit of adventure. Whether that journey takes you onto your mat, across the world, or simply deeper into your own community, it's about being present enough to experience it along the way.

It really depends on who you are. There's no one "beginner" body or starting point.

For someone who is active or athletic but new to yoga, I usually recommend Refine & Flow. It's an all-levels vinyasa-based class that checks all the boxes, flexibility, mobility, strength, and balance, but moves slowly enough that you have time to actually learn the postures and understand what you're doing.

For someone with mobility limitations, difficulty getting up and down from the floor, or who simply wants a gentler introduction, Gentle Yoga or Chair Yoga can be a wonderful place to start.

I've also found that as we age, what we want from movement doesn't necessarily change, but what feels good in our bodies sometimes does. Fast-moving classes and some of the more "flippy-flying" advanced yoga postures may no longer be appealing, but that doesn't mean people don't still want to work hard. Our Sculpt classes have really filled that space. They move more slowly and intentionally, using light weights and props to build strength while still incorporating mobility and flexibility. You can get a great workout without feeling like you have to throw your body around to do it.

We also regularly field calls and emails from people who are brand new to yoga, or simply aren't sure what practice is right for them. We love those conversations! Give us a call or drop us an email, tell us a little about yourself and what you're looking for, and we'll help you find the right class.

For people who are nervous about jumping straight into a group setting, another option is to start with a few private sessions. It's definitely not required, but some people feel more comfortable learning the basics one-on-one before transitioning into public classes.

That said, I love getting people into group classes because the community is such a powerful part of the experience. You don't need to be flexible, strong, or know anything about yoga before you walk through the door. That's why you come. Our job is to meet you where you are, help you find the practice that works for the body you have today, and hopefully introduce you to a community you'll want to keep coming back to.