Yoga on Main, a community-based health and wellness center, has operated in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia for more than 25 years. It is one of the first yoga centers to develop an Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher Training program in the United States. It also provides yoga classes, educational opportunities, services and products that support a healthy and spiritual lifestyle to integrate, heal and nourish the body, mind and spirit.

 Co-founder, Director of Training and senior teacher at Yoga On Main Shiva Das, (Jim McCabe) says, “It is our goal to operate, serve and prosper as an example of the spiritual principles and practices that we advocate! At our studio, you will discover the joys of yoga and the profound benefits of regular spiritual practice. Come and share community, feel love, let go, have fun, experience the mystical, and deepen your connection with the divine in daily living.”

Yoga on Main offers Inner Fire Yoga, a practice designed to create a positive and balanced effect on all aspects of human nature. In addition, certification training in hatha, kundalini, yin yoga and ayurveda, retreats, continuing yoga education, devotional chanting (kirtans), Vedic studies, breath work, transformational and shamanic workshops, wellness services and more are offered, featuring a variety of acclaimed teachers and renowned special guests.

Shiva Das has studied yoga since 1987 and has been teaching since 1995. His influences include the Integral Yoga tradition of Swami Satchidananda, the Vinyi Yoga tradition of Sri T. Krisnamacharya and his son, T.K.V. Desikachar, as well as work of David Frawley and Eric Shiffman. His primary teacher and guru is the great Indian Saint Mata Amritanadamayi Devi, or "Amma". Her primary directive is to love and serve.

Certified Ayurvedic Doctor, Integral Yoga-Ayurveda Therapist and Acharya (expert teacher) of Yoga/Vedanta, Ayurveda and Vedic Dharma, Ed Zadlo, AD, (Vedacharya Premananda), has had an ayurveda practice for more than 20 years, and offers trainings in ayurveda, meditation and the inner practices of yoga for more than 25 years.

Primary teacher, Mirella Nicholson, E-RYT 500, a devout and nurturing force at Yoga On Main, is a lead instructor in the yoga teacher training program. She began her journey at Yoga On Main by successfully completing both the 200- and 300-hour yoga/ayurveda teacher training programs multiple times. Nicholson is also an ayurveda consultant through the American Institute of Vedic Studies. She says, “My life's work is to share what I have learned with others, in the hope that they will be inspired to use the practice in a very practical way to find a state of health and happiness, mentally, physically and emotionally.”

In addition to 15 regular teachers, Yoga on Main hosts many exceptional teachers from around the world with experience in ayurveda, yoga therapy, ashtanga, kundalini and modified yoga classes. “Our yoga teachers utilize their skills to support our students in creating a safe, healthy and fun yoga experience. We want all students to feel that their needs are being met and that they are supported,” says Shiva Das. “We encourage students of all abilities to come and practice with us, and for any modifications, our teachers will always go above and beyond to ensure that students have what they need to enjoy their class.”

Shiva Das notes, “Our biggest business challenge is keeping up with the changing landscape of technology. It feels as though it was just yesterday we updated our website, and we need to update it again. This is just one of the changes that are planned for 2019. I attribute our success to the fact that we have been grounded in the sound principles of yoga and ayurveda since the beginning. Yoga fads come and go, but Yoga on Main has remained firm in the mission to provide a safe, well-rounded offering to help students achieve a state of well being physically, mentally and spiritually.

Yoga on Main is located at 4363 Main St., in Philadelphia. For more information, call 215-482-7877 or visit YogaOnMain.com.