Gena Rockwell, local musician, yoga teacher and massage therapist will perform on the harmonium at a half-hour concert kicking off an Open House at the Harmony Healing Arts Center, Sunday, July 26. The concert, in the form of a traditional Indian kirtan (chanting traditional hymns and mantras), will be from 2 to 2:30. The Open House extends to 4 pm, during which time visitors may meet with Gena and other Harmony teachers to discuss ongoing classes in yoga and tai chi as well as the upcoming five-month yoga teacher-training program that begins at the studio Sept. 12.

Gena will demonstrate the intricacies and sound of the harmonium, a version of a reed organ that is played while sitting on the floor. Originally from Europe, the hand-pumped harmonium was an Indian adaptation during the 19th Century. The instrument imparts a powerful vibration and incisive tone and is particularly suited to chanting. Gena will perform several simple call-and-response chants. Participation is optional; moreover, it’s an opportunity to enjoy the tranquil space of Harmony and partake of the refreshments and camaraderie.

“We’re happy for the opportunity to welcome everyone to Harmony, whether it’s for the concert or to learn more about what we do, including our upcoming teacher-training program,” says Judy Jenner, co-owner of the studio, which has been holding yoga classes and numerous free, community events since 2003.

The teacher-training program is a natural adjunct to Harmony’s mission. The program will not only help practicing yogis learn the complete system of this age-old healing modality but also enable them to become a nationally certified yoga teacher.

There are many different kinds of yoga, and Harmony believes that students and teachers should follow whatever path suits them. Different backgrounds, body types, ages, energy levels: all this and more demand an individual approach.

Those “many paths” of yoga are reflected by the varying yoga backgrounds of the three lead trainers in the Harmony training program. Terry Lindsay is an advanced-level Kripalu Yoga Teacher and a certified Yin Yoga Teacher. He has been practicing yoga for 14 years and teaching yoga since 2009. Gena Rockwell, a certified Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist and a licensed Massage Therapist, completed her advanced teacher-training with yoga master Sri Dharma Mittra at the Dharma Yoga Center in New York City. Judy Jenner began practicing yoga in 1972, mostly in the Sivananda and Iyengar styles, and began teaching yoga in 1992. She studied extensively at the Satchidananda Ashram (Yogaville). Her advanced yoga education at Yogaville, Kripalu, and the Himalayean Institute has been augmented by studies in India.

Harmony’s seven other yoga teachers-Diana Brubaker, Lucy Jenkins, Melanie Climis, Peggy Meckling, Jenna Newsome, Jessica Glendinning, and Holly Williford-all come from different schools of yoga as well. Students in the training program will have the opportunity to learn from teachers certified in an array of yoga traditions, including Ashtanga, Dharma, Integral, Iyengar, Kripalu, Kundalini, Nam, Restorative and Yin.

“We are a ‘classical’ studio by reputation and in practice,” Lindsay says. “The fact that we may approach the physical exercises differently allows a student to discover what resonates most with them. Beyond that, all Harmony teachers convey mindful and meditative principles to instill a sense of peace and make the practice safe and easeful. And that’s something important to convey to prospective teachers and students who want to deepen their practice.”

The “In Harmony” teacher-training program has been certified by the Yoga Alliance, the national clearinghouse for maintaining stringent curriculum standards for yoga schools and teachers.

Complete details about all Harmony programs are available on the Web, harmonyhealingarts.org or by email, harmonyhealingarts@gmail.com and telephone, 304-582-0179.