GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE. Give the gift of wellness and relaxation for the holidays or any special occasion. Call 973-746-6707 or email us for more information.

The Yoga and Meditation Center of Montclair, founded in 1976 by Susan Morton, is the oldest school of yoga in northern New Jersey. Highly experienced teachers teach all of the classes in a supportive atmosphere: yoga postures are introduced with patient attention, then refined and deepened over time. Classes include asanas, pranayama (breathing techniques), and guided relaxation. Our approach to yoga is a blending of styles that emphasize strength, flexibility, and balance with a focus on alignment in the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar. Classes are challenging yet non-competitive.

As yoga has become trendy, new students often enter courses where they are made to feel uncomfortable, inadequate, and are pushed into injury, or ignored. When the physical practices of yoga are taught without the context of non-harming upon which the whole of yoga is based, the heart of the teaching is lost. Yoga then becomes just another fitness technique.

Our classes are taught with respect for the uniqueness of each individual. From this perspective all levels of experience or inexperience are welcome. No one is too old, too fat, too inflexible, or too "klutzy" to begin some form of yoga, whether it is beginning yoga, restorative yoga, or chair yoga for the handicapped or frail elderly, and we provide an opportunity for experienced students to explore their practice more deeply. With proper instruction and practice, everyone can make significant progress, developing, strength, flexibility and balance, while avoiding injury.

We do not have drop-in classes because it is not possible to assess a new student and introduce that student to the basics of yoga in a drop-in situation. We have 8-week Beginning Yoga Courses designed to teach the basics of yoga, building experience and understanding in a meaningful progression from week to week. We also have ongoing 8-week Intermediate Level Courses which strengthen individual practices, focusing on refining asana technique and alignment, and opening the student to the deeper aspects of the traditional eight-fold path.

Each individual stays in Beginning or Level I yoga until they are ready to move to Intermediate or Level II. All of this happens in an environment of encouragement and support.

In the same way, meditation courses give each student a chance first to explore basic techniques, then to deepen and individualize their practice as they become experienced meditators.

Other classes including private sessions, are available for those who wish to address special needs such as back pain, arthritis, or physical injuries.