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Welcome to
Plasha Yoga! I am now a member of the Yoga
Alliance’s House of Delegates. The House of Delegates is a group of
representatives from the U.S. states and territories that is selected by
the president of Yoga Alliance to represent each state caucus. The House
of Delegates will meet at this year’s annual Leadership Conference to
discuss issues facing the Yoga Community and make recommendations to the
Board of Directors of Yoga Alliance. Some issues being discussed include
more Yoga Standards, Distance Learning, Continuing Education Requirements,
Compliance with the Standards, and State Regulation of teacher trainings.
I am excited about this new Dharma to support and serve teachers in PA.
Yoga Alliance (YA) is the national education and
support organization for Yoga in the United States. They have created
minimum standards of training for Yoga teachers. They recently added a
standard of a minimum of 85 hours of training to be registered as a
prenatal yoga teacher (RPYT). Some certifications/trainings are only 20
hours. I attended a 130 hour certification/training in 1998 and have
taught several hundred hours of prenatal yoga. I am the only
teacher in the area who is registered as a prenatal yoga teacher with
YA. Plasha
Yoga is offering classes at 4508 Zuck Road in the Yoga Yurt
Studio. The Winter and
Spring schedules and directions are on the Classes page. Free intro
classes on Dec. 28 at 10am and 5:30pm and Dec. 29 at 7pm. Contact me at rhadeya@plashayoga.com to
register. Yoga began 5,000 years ago due to a deep relationship with nature and the five elements. In fact, Ayurveda and Yoga is an endless manifestation of different combinations of these elements. Most of the major Yoga Ashrams worldwide are in nature. We are so delighted we can provide an alternative for people to practice yoga in a natural private setting instead of a public place in a corporate, institutional, fitness or urban setting. In addition, it has always been my aspiration to not only provide the technical alignment details of the posture but to also include the many Classical Yoga and Ayurveda practices that nurture the energetic, mental-emotional, intuitive and spiritual bodies as well offering an alternative to the yoga version of a physical workout you can find most anywhere now.
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First class for new students to Yoga is
free. The My main intention is to help you develop a safe practice that will reduce mental and physical tension while having FUN! – Michael Plasha E-RYT 500. Are you Ready to Go
Deeper? |
| The new site of Plasha Yoga & Meditation Studio! | ||
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What is Yoga? Although yoga is usually portrayed as the newest fitness trend, when scholars state that yoga is an ancient practice that developed over 5,000 years ago, they're not referring to the twists, bends and inversions, and other postures that most Westerners and even some yoga teachers think of as the realm of yoga. Actually, yoga began as a philosophy and a spiritual practice rather than a physical discipline. The essence of yoga has always been meditation and the union of all layers of life - physical, emotional and spiritual. It is a way to go beyond the ego's habitual identification with the mind and body and directly experience our true spiritual Self. Postures or asanas can actually keep us stuck in ego identity or they can provide a method for experiencing full mind-body-spirit integration and awareness of the flow of life energy or prana in the body. They can also serve to establish the experience of pure consciousness or "witnessing" in the body. How that plays out depends on the intention of the teacher and the student. |
| One of the
misconceptions about yoga is that you have to be flexible or in shape to
benefit. I have taught the more advanced practices of
mental and spiritual yoga (Raja and Jnana Yoga) and the devotional
practices of Bhakti Yoga to students in wheelchairs for years. If
you can breathe, you can benefit from Yoga. It is not just about the
physical body - another myth. I aspire to adapt yoga to the
individual instead of forcing the student to achieve a posture based on
another person's body. Yoga is about accepting your body the way it
is right now and moving within your range of motion whatever that is
instead of harming yourself trying to live up to illusion based
social images of perfection. As long as you move to the range of
your motion, you will receive the benefits of the practice. Yoga will meet
you more than half way with the right
teacher. | |
The Approach... For over fourteen years, Plasha Yoga remains the most respected and popular yoga studio in Erie, winner of the Erie Choice Award -2007, 2008 and 2009-for Best Yoga Studio. Safe and thorough alignment, precise verbal cueing, nurturing non-competitive atmosphere, creative sequencing of over 150 postures, compassionate assists and sophisticated breathing, relaxation and meditation practices are shared in a light and playful way to support your individual practice. That's Plasha Yoga! Erie's yoga studio is dedicated solely to classical yoga and meditation and provides a unique sanctuary in the Erie area. Every place has a vibration based on the primary mental intentions of its occupants whether it is a mall, a church, a hospital, a company or a fitness center. This vibration can be felt as a level of contraction or expansion. The practice of yoga and meditation are most supported in a place where the expanded vibrational energy field of yoga and meditation have been cultivated for years. You are then more likely to spontaneously move into a calm meditative state because of this energy. Try to meditate at the mall or a fitness center. See if it is easy or difficult. Plasha Yoga Studio is not in a secular, corporate or fitness setting, but in a natural setting. The Yurt and Bliss Cabin were created only for spiritual growth practices. The Yurt is designed to draw cosmic prana into it through the sky dome. Students tell me they feel the difference! |
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The Firsts... The studio is also fully equipped with yoga props to support you in your practice. I was the first to use props in Erie from blocks to bolsters to sandbags. Other firsts I am proud of include : Yoga teacher certification and yoga studio (Bodywise in 1998). National presenter for teachers. In addition, I was the first to offer Restorative Yoga, Chair Yoga, Flow Yoga, Ayurveda and Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Yoga for Heart Disease and Cancer, Yoga for Healthy Backs, Yoga in a Hospital Based Rehabilitation Center, Partner Yoga, Yoga for Golf and Tennis, Yoga for Athletes, Thai Yoga Massage, Yoga retreats at Peek 'n Peak and in Negril, Jamaica, Yoga on the Beach, Yoga in many community settings including the Erie Arts Festival, GE, Wegman's, Lord Corp. and many schools and churches. I am recognized as a pioneer in establishing yoga in mainstream Erie within the context of professional qualifications second to none. |
 Enjoy Yoga at Liberty Park. |
The Philosophy and Methodology... I would like to thank you from the fullness of my heart for choosing Plasha Yoga three year's in a row as Erie’s Choice for Best Yoga Studio! I am honored that you considered me and apparently appreciate my aspirations to integrate the classical yoga of Ayurveda, Bhakti, Jnana, Raja, Tantric and Karma Yoga with the internationally respected Hatha schools of Integral, Iyengar, Kripalu, Viniyoga and Ashtanga. I try to choose from any of these yoga's-in any given class-by intuiting what might be most helpful to you whether it is a long holding (Yin Yoga) of a posture or a flow of many postures (Vinasya-Yang Yoga). In addition, I include the mindfulness based stress reduction practices that come from my study of meditation at the Rochester Zen Center in the 70's, the Zen Mountain Monastery in the 80's and the Bhavana Society in the 90's. These practices popularized by Jon Kabbat-Zinn, PhD, have been shown to be effective in reducing suffering related to chronic pain and disease. |
| Over forty years of study(over 300 books), many trainings and practice have gone into this integrative and holistic approach. If you are curious about the extent of my background, please go to www.plashayoga.com/about.html for specific details. To some degree this is a popularity contest-who can get out the most votes-but I hope it also reflects the quality and authenticity of my approach. Peaceful mind…loving heart…healthy and fit body…soaring spirit…positive vibrations…that’s Plasha Yoga! Thanks for joining me on this fascinating journey. The teachers affiliated with Plasha Yoga have at least the minimum 200 hours of training recommended by the Yoga Alliance for teaching beginners and the ones I select on a regular basis have shown a continuing interest in the study of classical yoga and have more tham 500 hours of training. Without a solid foundation in classical yoga, a teacher will be a posture or exercise teacher and not a yoga teacher. Many of you already know this and that is why you have supported Plasha Yoga. Despite many more yoga classes in Erie now, my enrollment continues to increase. You feel the difference. | |
Discover what thousands of students already know.
Start a safe new practice or take your practice to the next level with the
most trained and experienced yoga teacher available in
Erie! For more information
on my background and the positive effect yoga has on health, please go to
the About and Resource pages.
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My sincere wish is to serve and support you in starting a new practice or renewing one with the highest level of training and experience available. I also encourage you to contemplate your main intention for practicing and continuing; and discover which teachers serve your needs best. I have to offer:
"FEEL THE DIFFERENCE EXPERIENCE
MAKES" | ||
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The Winter and
Spring schedules are now posted!
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| Testimonials...for more please go to my blog or the class page. | ||
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"You teach mindfulness very well," said the Venerable Henepola Gunaratana, the founder of the Bhavana Society and the author of Mindfulness in Plain English after a hatha yoga class Michael taught for a group of Theravadan Buddhist Monks. |
"During the past ten years of my yoga practice, I have attended hundreds of classes at many studios in Southern California and Seattle, Washington. Michael's approach to yoga is among the very best I have experienced. The Erie community is fortunate to have a yoga studio that offers his in-depth awareness and knowledge of a holistic yoga practice. Michael's knowledge and ability to teach encompasses the full spectrum of classical yoga integrating mind, body and spirit." - Ian | "I met Michael in 2000 at a training and once I experienced his teaching I have been promoting him ever since in DC. I don't know of any other teachers in DC who can provide the deep teachings of classical yoga in a hatha class. I have recently moved to San Francisco and am teaching every day at several studios and I have already taken classes with several teachers and there is no one with Michael's abilities." - Jill, trained by Shiva Rea and David Swenson and certified by Jivamukti |
| I recently moved to Portland, Oregon after living in Erie most of my life. I tried several yoga classes in the Pearl District and also several at the athletic club I have joined. None of the classes and none of the teachers, even come close to what I have experienced at your studio. You've created a place of peace and beauty that is remarkable anywhere, and it's in Erie, PA. I remember with much appreciation the way in which you led us to breathe, to move, to meditate. Thank you for what you gave me. Blessings." - Sandra |
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| "I thought the class was very well narrated...you gave complete (but not boring) explanations for every posture and transition. The accurate and unpretentious use of proper Raja terminology was tempered with humble humor, careful suggestions for adjustment, attention to safety, and an impressive knowledge of the anatomy of the nervous and circulation systems. All of these factors made me really trust your understanding and dedication to teaching. Of the many classes in Boston and New York City I've sampled, I can honestly say your class was one of the best! I was so impressed that I mentioned you in class at my current studio in Soho. Thank you, again, for your wonderful insight!" - Gretchen Knapp, a "drop-in" student at Liberty Park in 2009. | ||
 Discussing the spiritual and philosophical roots of yoga with the Flow Yoga center teacher trainees in Oct. 2009. |
"Thank you for an inspiring
weekend. Not only did you open my eyes to multiple paradigms that have
shifted my view of teaching and experiencing asanas, these paradigms and
the foundation of history that you walked us through, will undoubtedly
shape and enrich this journey. Since you left, I've organized a Thursday
night "philosophy happy hour" with my fellow teacher training participants
to keep these conversations going and have received a huge response
(obviously others were also very juiced up by the weekend). I honestly
believe that the pieces you introduced us to and the ways you suggested we
integrate them into our practice will greatly enhance the classes I will
guide in the future. Thank you." |
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| "Yoga in the Yurt tonight was very uplifting! It is a
'yogic space'...thanks for offering the class and I was glad there was
room for my friend and me. It was sooooo nice to take a class for a
change...and experience excellent teaching! Thanks, Michael." -Jean Fera, RYT 500 said, after taking the first Hatha Yoga class offered in the Yurt on Oct. 27, 2009. | ||
| Blogs - Go to my blog page for articles about Current News, Testimonials, What is Classical Yoga?, What is Advanced Yoga?, How to Find a Great Yoga Teacher?, The Benefits of Yoga, What is Yoga Therapy? and More! | ||
| "Everything begins in the mind. If you want to see clearly, you need clear vision." Swami Satchidananda | "The Yogi regards the physical body as an instrument for his journey toward perfection." Swami Vishnu Devananda |
| NEWCOMERS
AND YOGA CONSUMER ALERT! Are you new to yoga? Why not try a Free introductory class. See the Classes page for more information. Basic is for new beginners and is a very thorough course with people at the same level. All classes at Plasha Yoga are course classes instead of open classes so you are with students at your level and are being instructed at an appropriate level for you which is much safer. Did you know that 13,000 Americans were treated in an emergency room or a doctor's office for yoga-related injuries in the last three years according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission(Oct. 2007)! The main reasons cited are minimally trained teachers who might lead a class after a weekend course, hands-on adjustments, "hybrid" styles like power flow yoga and open classes in a fitness setting or yoga studio. Several injuries have been reported to me from yoga classes in the Erie area from adjustments given by teachers with only 200 hours of training or less. Most senior teachers agree adjustments should only be given by teachers with at least 500 hours of training and 5 years of experience teaching. And they should ask permission before touching you and you can say NO. Go to the class page for descriptions of all my classes. And see what students say about Plasha Yoga on the Blog page. Click on testimonials. For information about benefits and contraindications, please go to the resource page. Course classes can be pro-rated. Private lessons, Yoga parties and single event private yoga classes can be arranged! |
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If you are new to yoga, it is also important to contemplate what your primary intention is to take yoga. Is it stress managment, wellness, fitness or spirituality? Maybe all of them! You want to match your interests with the most effective yoga schools and approaches to meet your specific needs. Then find a local teacher who is most qualified to represent a style or styles that you also connect with on an emotional level. Enjoy the adventure! |
| What Does RYT and CYT Really
Mean? The Yoga Alliance started in 1999 to create a minimum standard of training hours for teachers. RYT 200 is a teacher who completed training from a Yoga Alliance registered school at the 200 hour level. This level is recommended for teachers to teach beginner level yoga. RYT 500 from a registered school is recommended for teaching intermediate and advanced levels and specialty classes with specific training in them like yoga for heart disease and cancer and yoga for pregnancy. E-RYT 500 (experienced yoga teacher with at least 500 hours of training and over 5,000 hours of documented teaching experience) is their highest level registry mark and recommended for all of the above plus being a yoga teacher trainer and yoga therapist. I have now taught over 9,000 classes with over 12,000 hours of teaching experience. Not all yoga teachers follow these guidelines thus creating the climate for injuries. CYT means certified yoga teacher and there are no established guidelines for this. For example, one school offers a Level One certification after only 18 hours of training and teaching 8 classes. These teachers might start teaching right away and teach intermediate level postures saying they are certified. Of course, every teacher has to start somehow but the question to ask is if they are teaching a level that is appropriate related to their skills, knowledge and experience. It is important that yoga students ask teachers what their "certification" really means. Some Prenatal Yoga teacher trainings are only for two days with 12 hours of training. The one I attended in 1998 from Integral Yoga, which is internationally recognized as one of the best prenatal yoga trainings, was 10 days and 130 hours. Again, be assertive and ask what their certification involved. |
 Bird houses beautify the property | |
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Please go to my About page to learn specific
details about my trainings. When a teacher says, they are infuenced by
Iyengar or Viniyoga or any school, find out exactly what does that mean.
Did they read a book or a magazine article, did they take one weekend
workshop or many. Did they take a training with a senior teacher in that
school? I studied and practiced classical yoga for over 25 years before taking my first of many teacher trainings. Teaching yoga is an art and not something one learns after a few years of practice and going to several weekend trainings. The teachings must be lived deeply for years before they can be a worthy vehicle for teaching the student in a safe way to meet their personal needs. | |
| As of Aug. 2009, the Erie Yoga Teachers Network included 37 yoga teachers. Eleven are registered with the Yoga Alliance. Eight are RYT 200. Three are RYT 500. I am the only one who is E-RYT 500. Some in the network are not certified or their certification does not meet the minimum 200 hours. There are several other teachers in Erie who are not in the network so there are at least 40 yoga teachers in the Erie area now! When I was the first to be certified at the 200 hour level-Nov. 96 - there were two other teachers in the area. Despite the efforts of the Yoga Alliance, anyone can still teach yoga regardless of their qualifications. Of course, a self-taught teacher might be good without any formal training or certifications but the standards at least provide some reference for students to go by but ultimately it is your experience that will guide you and finding the right teacher to best meet your needs. There are some teachers in Erie who are excellent for beginners. If you can't come to my classes, I can recommend them to you. |
The posture becomes perfect, when the effort of acheiving it vanishes." Yogabhashya | |
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| INTEGRAL
YOGA Did you know that Integral Yoga has been a leader in the field of adapting yoga for the individual for over 30 years? Their approach to yoga has influenced the work of Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Mehmet Oz(Oprah's favorite holistic doctor) and Dr. Michael Lerner among others in reversing heart disease and treating cancer. If you can breathe, you can do yoga! I'll show you how. Integral Yoga is one of nine internationally recognized styles of hatha yoga. Others include Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kripalu, Viniyoga , Kundalini, Bikram, Sivananda and Jivamukti(the ones in bold I have training in and the rest I have experienced many times). Always check to see where any yoga teacher has been trained and certified! Go to my blog on How to Find A Great Yoga Teacher to learn more. Compare my background with other teachers and see then feel the difference superior training and experience makes! To learn more about Integral Yoga, please go to www.yogaville.org . |
Ayurveda and
Yoga I am now one of only 24 teachers in the world certified by the American Institute of Vedic Studies to teach Ayurveda in classes and in private consultations. The consult can take 60-90 minutes with a thorough intake to determine the state of your current dosha (stress body type) mix, guna (stress mind type) and kleshas or causes of spiritual suffering. Yoga can actually disturb the mind and body and prevent removal of the kleshas if you are doing the "wrong" yoga for you. After the intake, I will recommend the appropriate practices for you to do throughout the day. The fee is $100 per hour. Call 864-1114 to arrange an appointment or to answer any questions. You can take a simple dosha questionnaire at www.doshaquiz.chopra.com to give you some insight, however, the intake will be much more detailed. For more information on Ayurveda go to www.vedanet.com and www.everydayayurveda.org. I am offering Ayurveda and Yoga teacher trainings and workshops nationally. |
| Mantra Yoga and Chanting Mantra Yoga is the oldest type of yoga(2,000 BC). Mantras are sacred sound vibrations that purify the mind and return it to its natural state, which is calmness or stillness. They are like postures for the mind; some are calming like forward bends and some are energizing like backward bends. In the classical yoga tradition mantras are always in the Sanskrit language in which the vibration of the Sanskrit word gives the meaning of the word. A simple example is Om Shanti which means infinite peace. When pronounced correctly it sounds peaceful and you feel the peace in a deeper way than saying peace. Sanskrit is the technical language of Ayurveda and Yoga. Mantra is the main tool of psychological healing in Ayurveda. We can go much deeper into our practices when we integrate mantra into them. We can harmonize mind, prana (vital energy), body and spirit with mantra. Some Sanskrit words have very specific meanings and others have several similar meanings like synonyms. Knowing the sanskrit names of the asanas is a simple way to honor the classical tradition of yoga but Mantra Yoga is a powerful yoga by itself. To exclude Sanskrit and Mantra from Hatha Yoga or any Yoga is to disconnect Yoga from its classical roots and to limit its power to transform. The use of sacred sound for healing purposes is known the world over, from medicine songs to chanted mantra, from calls-to-prayer to Gregorian chant to Protestant hymn. In many cultures, sound is recognized as a primary means of access to the divine, with soothing even salvific properties. Everyone wants a sound mind and body. What could create that better than sacred sound vibrations? Scientifically, sound is vibration at a particular frequency, and it is able to produce changes in an organism. Some vibrations can be harmful while others are beneficial. Sound can be concentrated to such degress of intensity that it is used to break up kidney stones! Mantras are not only sound alone but the revealed content of sound. Mantras can be mentally repeated, written, whispered or chanted. Chanting is a universal practice common to many religions and cultures. The yogic form of chanting is very simple to do but is a very powerful way to calm the mind, open the heart and energize the body creating a oneness with others. At Plasha Yoga we introduce simple universal peace and spiritual chants that can support anyone's religion or spiritual practice. They help to transform the physical practice of Hatha into a spiritual meditation in motion. To simply put it, to chant is to be enchanted! | |
| The benefits of mantra and
chanting include: reduces anxiety, fear, depression and low self-esteem;
promotes a positive attitude; clears and balances the channels of prana or
vital energy in the system; stabilizes positive emotions and releases
negative emotions; improves the respiratory system and strengthens the
diaphragm; supports a healthy heart and throat; prepares the mind for
meditation; and helps us to access our inner wisdom beyond the mind.
Mantra can even help us to break up deep seated mental and emotional
patterns and conditioning, as from childhood, or various traumas we have
had in life. A wonderful book about chanting is Chanting: Discovering
Spirit in Sound by Robert Gass. If you
have primarily experienced yoga as asana like in a fitness setting,
you will be amazed at the many benefits that come from the non-asana
practices of classical yoga. So what can you expect in a typical
Beyond Beginners 90 minute class? We start with a brief meditation,
followed by a bit of chanting. Next we focus on asana integrated with
mantra and pranayama for 45-60 minutes followed by 15 minutes of deep
relaxation. We close with 10-15 minutes of pranayama integrated with
mantra, a bit of chanting and a final meditation. At Plasha Yoga, you get
the Full Yogi! “Chanting is a significant and mysterious practice. It is the highest nectar, a tonic that fully nourishes our inner being. Chanting opens the heart and makes love flow within us. It releases such intoxicating inner bliss and enthusiastic splendor, that simply through the nectar it generates, we can enter the abode of the Self.” — Swami Muktananda |
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| YOGA CAMP FOR KIDS AND YOGA FOR
BABIES Check out the Workshops page for more details. | ||
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  Tizita in stage two of Upavista Konasana |
  Z in stage three - full release | |
  Zi-Zi at 6 months in Bhujangasana | ||
| PRE-NATAL YOGA Are you pregnant? A new Yoga for Pregnancy Series is available. Learn gentle postures, breathing and relaxation techniques to support having a natural pregnancy, labor and delivery. I was certified in prenatal, labor and post-partum yoga from the Integral Yoga Institute in 1998 (130 hours of training) and there are over 300 babies from these classes! Their program is internationally recognized as one of the best. For details go to the workshops page. | ||
| LIFE COACHING Are you feeling stuck in your life? Do you have a job that pays the bills but is not your passion? Are you not living up to your creative potential? If so, go to the Life-Coaching page and find out about a free sample session with Allison Parr-Plasha, Certified Professional Life Coach. Also check out Allison's website atwww.allisonparr-plasha.com. |
YOGA AT HOME "I can't remember any tapes that try to do what you're doing, which is why I appreciated your work so much. We've forgotten that once centuries ago, Hatha Yoga was designed as a "ladder" for Raja Yoga. Michael Plasha has done a wonderful thing in his tapes (now CD's)by bringing these two ancient schools together. Plasha has mastered his material (Hatha and Raja Yoga)." Richard Rosen, Yoga Journal and Yoga World reviewer and Deputy Director Yoga Research and Education Center and author of The Yoga of Breath and Pranayama:Beyond the Fundamentals. | |
| WORKSHOPS Check out the workshops page for ongoing programs including Partner Yoga and Thai Yoga Massage for Couples, Family Yoga, Ayurveda and Yoga for Your Body Type, Yoga for Pregnancy and Advanced Meditation. Attendees of the meditation program will learn several ecumenical techniques and ways to overcome mental and physical obstacles. Read more… |
Are You Ready to Go Deeper? | Thai Yoga Massage Now
Available! I have completed the first level of training in Thai Yoga Massage from the Lotus Palm School and I am now available for appointments. It is influenced by Tui Na Chinese massage, Ayurvedic Indian massage and Shiatsu Japanese massage and blends these techniques with yoga assisted postures... Click here to find out more. |
| BEST YOGA
STUDIO 2007/2008/2009– Erie’s Choice Awards
Questions? E mail me at rhadeya@plashayoga.com or call 864-1114.
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Plasha Yoga and Life Coaching
Center, 4508 Zuck Road Erie, PA 16506
Erie
PA's first and foremost Yoga & Meditation Studio - Honoring the tradition of
classical yoga with the highest level of training and experience available
locally.
Feel the Difference Experience Makes!
