About Us
© 2010 Wiseways. All Rights Reserved.
WiseWays is a special place designed for, and by, students and clients. Many find a comforting home here for yoga, movement, meditation and mentoring. Founded in 1997 WiseWays is one of the oldest yoga studios in Columbus. It is the only studio in the area with an integrated 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.
The WiseWays Work, evolved over a lifetime of professional training and experience. Michele Mangione practice yoga as a teenager. She was studying dance as a healing art in her twenties when she was in an automobile accident that smashed most of face/skull and broke four vertebrae. After the initial recovery she needed to find a way for her broken body to move with pleasure again. She continued her studies and training with a new enthusiasm and purpose. She became a body worker and professional movement teacher. Michele learned from her clients and students what was most useful and helpful to them. These years were the roots of what was to become the WiseWays Work, which includes the popular WiseWays Yoga.
WiseWays Yoga
WiseWays Yoga a gently active and therapeutic hatha yoga which includes somatic, integrative movement and other techniques. The two main threads of the WiseWays Work are eastern martial, meditational and healing arts (yoga, chakra and aura work, zen, Tai Chi, Aikido and Taoism) and western Somatics (massage, polarity energy balancing, the Pierce's Center of Balance work, Rolfing/Structural Integration, improvisational dance, Sensory Awareness, the Alexander Technique, BodyMindCentering, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Feldenkrias, Thomas Hanna's Somatics, Laban's movement work, Barbara Mettler's creative dance, Bonnie Gilliam's teacher training, John Jerome's fascia stretching, Milton Trager's work, Gabrielle Roth's Five Rhythms, 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, Sheva Rea.
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 trendiness and exotic glamour that sometimes comes with things lifted from other cultures. For example, we use English names for the postures.
Spiritual--or Not?
While many students report that their spiritual connection and understandings are deepened, we, on purpose, espouse no spiritual or religious dogma. We allow and acknowledge individuality and diversity--striving to embrace what uplifts universally.
More Than Just Yoga Postures
At WiseWays we do more than just yoga postures and approach the postures differently. Our way 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.
For Real People with Real Bodies
WiseWays is for anyone who has any kind of body would benefit from being understood in its uniqueness. 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.
Intelligent Practice
WiseWays is also a highly sophisticated bodymind discipline. Grounded in experiential anatomy, developmental patterns and a practical understanding of the bodymind we are a studio for the experienced student who seeks depth.
Attendance
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.
Best Instructors
Trained in the WiseWays trainings by Michele Mangione all the teachers work together to support the students and clients, and each other. Each is honored for who they are and where they are in their journey as a teacher. Professional growth is ongoing. This teacher's community is the best there is. Caring, knowledgeable, dedicated and fun!
WiseWays is a heart based business. Revenue covers rent and other monthly expenses, plus the great teaching aids, props, aromatherapy, etc. that make the sessions extraordinary. No one works here for the money. All the instructors teach here to support their own practice and because they love sharing the WiseWays Work. Each gets a token of pay, including the owner/director.
The Studio
The current studio is special. 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 WiseWays had outgrown their 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 the needs of the students 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 the fabulous speaker system or techie support.
Deep Roots--Beautiful Blooms
WiseWays has grown to offer small class size Professional Trainings, including Yoga Alliance Registered 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.
Our latest growth has been the Ageless Ways offerings. For those who are not getting any younger--wise movement and healing arts ways to agelessness.
HISTORY and PHILOSOPHY
“I came to WiseWays as a semi-experienced yoga participant with many challenges due to my build and a lot of constant exercise in my life. I immediately found comfort in the WiseWays philosophy that every person’s body moves and bends in different ways. This has taught me appreciation for my own body. I feel that the WiseWays studio creates an atmosphere that is calming, clean, spiritual, and open minded. I never leave a class in the same state that I felt when I entered. Over the years, I have been able to let go of all my stress, anxiety, insecurities and constant mind-racing… My self-esteem and comfort with myself have increased since I have been connected with WiseWays.”
Kellee, MPH
1520 W First Ave Columbus OH 43212
phone: 614-488-3041 URL: http://www.wiseways.net
MICHELE MANGIONE
Ph.D., Somatics, E-RYT 500
WiseWays Director
Body/Energy Worker,
Movement and Meditation Mentor
Michele Mangione, is a gentle, empowering facilitator who uses ancient and newer wise ways to evoke the natural strength, wisdom and joy within us all. She loves movement play and healing work.
Michele’s more than 30 years’ experience in the bodymind field includes a B.A. in Dance, an M.A. in Psychology with a focus on movement and bodywork, and a Ph.D. in Somatic Studies* from The Ohio State University. Additionally, she is a Professional Movement Teacher with the Pierce’s Center of Balance, is certified in massage and polarity energy balancing in California and has a background in counseling.
She has been practicing yoga since she was a teenager during the 1970s, teaching yoga since 1986 and training yoga teachers since 1998. She has obtained the highest Yoga Alliance** ranking: E-RYT 500†. Ultimately, she developed Yoga for Real People with Real Bodies, WiseWays integrative, therapeutic style of yoga.
Her primary teachers are Alexandra and Roger Pierce; she also has studied with and/or been inspired by many other notable yoga, movement and bodywork teachers as detailed in the WiseWays history.
In addition to her degrees and certifications, Michele is a member of the Yoga Alliance (YA), the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), the Sensory Awareness Foundation, the Somatics Society, and the International Somatics Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA).
* Somatics is the study of ancient and modern bodymind arts and sciences.
** Yoga Alliance is the national registry of yoga teachers and schools that sets the professional standards for the field. Anyone who is seeking yoga teacher training should ensure that the school or program she or he is considering has been registered with Yoga Alliance.
† Registered Yoga Teacher at the Experienced 500-hour level.
