OM BABY STUDIO OFFERS ECLECTIC MIX OF YOGA, DANCE,

BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND CREATIVE ARTS IN POINT PLEASANT BEACH

-“Not just for babies,” Om Baby Studio specializes in adult programs such as Capoeira, Tribal Dance and

Cultural Events not found elsewhere in the Monmouth/Ocean County area-

May 22, 2006, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ – Om Baby Studio, located on Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach, provides a creative outlet for adults and children through an array of summer programs. Om Baby's Vinyasa, Kundalini and Prenatal Yoga classes, for adults of all abilities, are abetted by Buddha Baby, Punk Yoga & Dance, Little Yogi and Kids Yoga for children. But as owner and Point Pleasant Beach resident Nicole Netelkos Goetchius points out, Om Baby Studio serves as a local hub for much more than Yoga.

“When I opened Om Baby Studio a year ago,” Goetchius relates, “I envisioned it as a place for new moms to gather with their babies in a warm haven outside the home. I'd recently given birth to my son, Lukas, and I'd been searching for unique classes the two of us could enjoy without having to travel to New York.

“The Point Pleasant area is such a wonderful community to raise children,” Goetchius continues, “but I thought there was a real need for a beautiful, welcoming place for people of all ages to explore their creative side. I'd always dreamed of opening my own studio, and I wanted to help make my community even better for Lukas and other kids.”

A skilled Yoga instructor, dancer and elementary school teacher, Goetchius consciously selects programs for Om Baby Studio that are unique to the Monmouth/Ocean County area and appeal to a broad range of interests. One such program is a Tribal Dance Workshop for Bellydancers and Hafla by the Sea, which will take place at Om Baby Studio on Saturday, May 27. The workshop from 3-5 p.m. is open to dancers of all styles and techniques and will be followed at 7 p.m. by a Hafla of professional dancers and display of Tribal vendors. The entire program is open to the public; pre-registration is required.

On a year-round basis, Om Baby Studio offers Capoeira, a Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, dance, acrobatics and music. This dynamic physical and emotional workout was created by African slaves in Brazil to camouflage the forbidden practice of cultural fighting. A 10-week Sunday session of Capoeira begins on June 17 at Om Baby Studio; the cost is $180 for 10 weeks.

On Saturday, June 3 at 7 p.m., Om Baby Studio will host a Counter Culture Arts Festival and Flea Market of “low-brow” art, music and film. Vendors interested in selling handmade art or collectibles can reserve space for $10 per table. And on Sunday, July 9, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., visitors to Om Baby Studio can learn traditional Hawaiian Dance. Pre-registration is required; the program fee is $35 per person.

The summer months offer a variety of opportunities for children to discover Om Baby Studio; Yoga, dance, Sing & Sign and Free Play classes are scheduled throughout the week. (Om Baby also encourages special-needs children to participate in private Yoga classes taught by a pediatric physical therapist.) On Sunday, June 4, families can enjoy a Children's Matinee of Vintage Cartoons and Crackerjacks at Om Baby Studio from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the cost is $5 per person.

Om Baby Studio also specializes in interactive birthday parties for girls and boys of all ages and interests. Party themes include Adventure Yoga, Art, Circus Fun, Multi-Cultural Dance and Rock Music. A variety of party packages are available at Om Baby Studio, but families are encouraged to book early because dates sell out quickly.

Even though a plethora of activities already takes place at Om Baby Studio, Goetchius emphasizes she's continually looking to expand her business.

“I'd like Om Baby Studio to continue evolving and metamorphosing into a place that meets the needs of the community,” Goetchius enthuses. “I'm proud that, at Om Baby, we try to mix it up – to make Yoga and all our activities digestible for everyone. I'm thrilled when someone walks into Om Baby Studio for the first time and tries something new. That's how we grow as human beings, and I think it's such a powerful message to send to our children.

“Albert Einstein said it is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge,” Goetchius relates. “The fact that I'm able to do this every day at Om Baby Studio, and share the experience with my young son, gives me great joy.”

For a complete list of Om Baby classes, or to register, please visit www.ombabyyoga.com , call 732-899-YOGA (9642) or stop by 726A Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach. Om Baby packages (10 classes, 20 classes, unlimited classes, unlimited family rate) and discounts for high school students are available. New visitors can “drop in” to an Om Baby class for $15. Inquiries from artists, instructors, performers and writers interested in partnering with Om Baby Studio are welcomed.

Nicole Netelkos Goetchius is a certified Vinyasa Yoga instructor through the White Lotus Foundation, Prenatal Yoga teacher through Kripalu, elementary school teacher and founder of Learning through Movement, which explores concepts through dance, art and world culture. In April 2005, Goetchius opened Om Baby Studio on Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach. Om Baby Studio offers a variety of Yoga, dance, music and multi-cultural programs that tap into the creativity of children, adults and families.

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