Owner and instructor Jonas Amberger founded Zev Yoga in 2006. He’s been practicing Yoga since 1993 and became an instructor in 1997. Jonas has been teaching the ancient traditions of Ashtanga yoga to Seacoast residents for over 10 years. Ashtanga Yoga is a method that involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind.
Jonas also received a degree in Ayurvedic medicine at Sanskrit University in India and lived there for four months. Ayurveda is a holistic system of healing which evolved among the Brahmin sages of ancient India about 3000 to 5000 years ago. It focuses on establishing and maintaining balance of the life energies within us, rather than focusing on individual symptoms. Jonas was able to learn with a hands on approach at the hospital he studied at in India. He currently gives free consultations in Ayurvedic medicine to his clients. This form of healing has the same holistic approach that Jonas takes with his classes and life in general.

The big part of the growing process for Jonas as an instructor has been practicing on a daily basis. Jonas practices 6 days a week and finds that the more you’re on the mat the more experience and knowledge you gain. Much like biodynamic farming, Jonas pays very close attention to the lunar calendar. He doesn’t practice on full moons or new moons and has found that being in tune with nature and part of the lunar schedule you pay attention to the rhythms of nature. Being aware gives him the ability to realize he is a human being and needs to harmonize with the natural world. Recently Jonas teamed up with Water Revitalization to install a Grander Water System. This system is right in tune with Jonas’s philosophy of showing the relationships within nature and people. The system is used to create a better harmony and structure to water and yoga is used to do the same in his students.

“The thing I feel the most is watching the shift in peoples facial muscles from tense to soft and relaxed and that shows the power of yoga to relax one’s self. A grounding takes place, they come back to themselves, get away from the stimulation and they gain perspective on the way they’re living their life in the world”. Say’s Amberger

This facility has been open for only a year and Jonas has seen a lot of maturity. Hardly any waste is produced because the business doesn’t sell anything. He encourages all of his students to purchase environmentally friendly Eco-mats for practicing yoga. Jonas lives an aware lifestyle with his philosophy and he uses the space to bring people together and build community. It’s an understanding that we live together and co-habitat together. “The core foundation of the community is when Portsmouth residents come in on a regular basis to breathe and move together. We are nature and as we care for ourselves we care for nature, creating accountability as we take accountability for our lives we will see how to be more in harmony with our environment”. Adds Amberger. Another aspect of Jonas’s community involvement is through making his space available for a pong night, salsa dancing and he has different local musicians play instruments every week in one of the yoga sessions.

Green Dreams: Jonas is looking into transitioning all of his lighting to more energy efficient as the dimmable light technology evolves. He is also looking into offering locally produced environmentally friendly yoga mats when they become available. His encouragement of biking and walking to the studio will grow as he starts to offer incentives to his students and instructors.