History
WiseWays is a special place that
was designed for, and with, students and clients.
Many find a comfortable home here
for yoga, bodywork, movement and meditation.
- Founded in 1997 WiseWays is one of the oldest yoga studios in Columbus. It is the only studio in the area with an intergrated yoga program. Students immerse themselves in classes of different levels of physical intensity and focus but experience a leading edge bodymind practice called the WiseWays Work.
- Michele Mangione, Ph.D. Somatics, E-RYT 500, IAYT, the founder and teacher-trainer of the WiseWays Work has been in the bodymind field for over thirty years. She began teaching yoga in 1986. Before that she was a Body and Energy Worker and Professional Movement Teacher. For more on Michele's training and experience see her bio.
- The WiseWays Work, evolved over a lifetime of professional training and experience. It is a gently active and therapeutic hatha yoga which includes somatic and other techniques. Literally thousands of people, clients and students, have contributed to the growth of the work through their willingness to explore and share.
- The two main threads of the WiseWays Work are eastern martial, meditational and healing arts, especially yoga, chakra and aura work, zen, tai chi and aikido, and taoism, and western Somatics, including massage, polarity energy balancing, the Pierce's Center of Balance work, Sensory Awareness, the Alexander Technique, Bonnie Bainbrigde Cohen's work, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Feldenkrias, Thomas Hanna's work, Laban's movement work, improvisational dance, and many more. An extensive but practical understanding of western anatomy and physiology contributes to both safety and precision.
- Several contemporary western yoga teachers and their work have also influenced WiseWays Yoga especially Donna Farhi and Paul Grilley. Additional inspirations include the work of Angela Farmer, Judith Lasater, Vanda Scaravelli, Sandra Sabatini, Don Stapleton, and Rachel Schaeffer.
- We consider it a western type of yoga not just because of the western body-movement disciplines in our theory base but also because we eschew the trendyness and exotic glamour that sometimes comes with disciplines lifted from other cultures. For example, we use English names for the postures.
- While many students report that their spiritual connection and understandings are deepened we, on purpose, espouse no spiritual or religious dogma as much yoga does. We allow and acknowledge individuality and diversity--striving to embrace what uplifts universally.
- At WiseWays we do more than just yoga postures and work with the postures differently. Our approach frees the body of tensions and re-educates it from misuse. This develops a functionally strong, supple and able body. Natural breathing is restored, becoming deeper and slower in day to day life. Practicing the principles of the WiseWays Work gives you a body that feels good, a focused mind and a happy heart--most of the time, and over time, more and more.
- WiseWays is for anyone who has any kind of body would benefit from being understood in its unquiness. We are an excellent studio for anyone who has had or has an accident, injury, condition or is just getting started on the road to fitness. We are the ideal place for beginning students.
- WiseWays is also a highly sophisticated bodymind discipline. Grounded in expriencital anatomy, developmental patterns and an practical understanding of the bodymind we are a studio for the experienced student who seeks depth.
- Attendance is easy because the programming is integrated. All the teachers train together and coordinate the class material together. Students can attend different classes with different teachers and it will all make sense. In Columbus this level of integration and ease of attendance is unique to the WiseWays studio.
- The current studio is special also. Not the biggest but created with heart and to high standards.
- Michele Mangione had been teaching this style of yoga
and movement for many years but there was no space
that had a good floor.
The floor needs to be suspended, have spring and give in it. Most places
had concrete floors covered with either wood or carpet, which
is hard on the joints.
- When Ruth Friscoe retired and closed her studio she
passed the studio along to Michele. Ruth Friscoe's Dance
Studio for Girls was right next door to Michele's home. A suspended
wood floor was built into the space and WiseWays Movement Arts and Education was born. This was in 1997.
- After four years we had outgrown our beloved little
studio. An opportunity for space became available at 1520 West First Ave. After much renovation, which included a gymnasium/basketball
court suspended wood floor with radiant tubes of water to
heat it, WiseWays moved in. Larger
and especially designed for our needs this new studio has been
a gift. Many people have donated everything from the floor
and its heating system to speakers to carpet to the studio's
software. Hundreds of people have volunteered time and labor
to make WiseWays possible.
All of the teachers work
more for the heart of it and their own practice than money.
A few special people have contributed in big ways, either
expertise or money for special items such as our fabulous
speaker system or techie support.
- Our newest growth is to offer small class size Professional Trainings, including Yoga Teacher Training, Professional Movement Training and CEU workshops for various professions. Not just for those wishing to teach, the trainings are also a great way to deepen and expand your personal understanding of the bodymind connection, yoga and movement.
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