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Free yoga, cooking demo at N.J. wellness event

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, October 22nd 2025 at 10:13 GMT by NJ.com
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Free Yoga & Cooking Demo at New Jersey Wellness Event Brings Community Together

On Saturday, October 12th, the bustling borough of Montclair hosted a vibrant wellness event that combined the calming practice of yoga with the energizing art of healthy cooking. The New Jersey Wellness Council, in partnership with the Montclair Community Center and the local culinary institute, offered attendees a complimentary 90‑minute session featuring a live yoga class followed by an interactive cooking demonstration. The event, open to all ages and fitness levels, drew a crowd of over 300 participants who left with new stretches, fresh recipes, and a renewed sense of community.

Event Highlights

The day kicked off at 10:30 a.m. with a gentle yet invigorating yoga session led by award‑winning instructor Maya Patel. Patel, who has performed at major health conferences across the country, guided participants through a series of sun salutations, balancing poses, and mindful breathing exercises. Her approach emphasized accessibility, ensuring that beginners could follow along while seasoned practitioners could deepen their practice. The class was held outdoors in the community center’s garden, where the soft hum of leaves and a nearby fountain added a natural soundtrack to the movement.

Following the yoga session, the atmosphere shifted to the kitchen, where chef Luis Gomez from the Montclair Culinary Institute demonstrated how to prepare a batch of nutrient‑dense quinoa salads and plant‑based protein smoothies. Gomez’s demonstration was interactive; he encouraged attendees to taste the ingredients as he combined them, discussing the health benefits of each component—protein, fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Participants were given a take‑home recipe card that included nutritional information and tips for customizing the dishes to fit dietary preferences such as gluten‑free, vegan, or low‑carb.

Community Partnerships and Resources

The event was made possible through a collaboration between the New Jersey Wellness Council, the Montclair Community Center, and the Culinary Institute of New Jersey. In addition to the yoga and cooking demos, the event offered a booth where local health professionals provided information on nutrition, mental health, and fitness resources. The community center also displayed brochures for free fitness classes, after‑school wellness programs, and a scholarship fund for students interested in culinary careers.

Attendees could register for future events, sign up for the community center’s newsletter, or request personal wellness consultations at the registration desk. For those who couldn’t attend, the council’s website posted a full video of the yoga session and a recorded version of the cooking demonstration, making the content accessible to the broader New Jersey audience.

Personal Stories and Impact

Among the event’s participants was 68‑year‑old resident Harold Thompson, who shared that the yoga session helped him manage chronic back pain. “The instructor’s gentle guidance and the serene setting helped me loosen my muscles and breathe better,” Thompson said. He also expressed excitement about learning how to cook a new, heart‑healthy dish that he could serve to his family.

Another attendee, 16‑year‑old high school student Maya Singh, praised the event for its “cool blend of movement and food.” Singh, who is part of her school’s debate team, noted that the mindfulness aspect of yoga helped her concentrate during stressful exams, while the cooking demo gave her a new set of skills to share with her friends.

Looking Ahead

The New Jersey Wellness Council plans to make the free yoga and cooking demo an annual event. Future sessions will expand to include workshops on sleep hygiene, mental resilience, and financial wellness. The council also intends to partner with more local businesses and nonprofits to broaden the scope of wellness resources offered to residents.

The success of the October event underscores the power of community‑driven initiatives to promote holistic health. By blending physical activity, nutritional education, and social interaction, the Montclair wellness event created a lasting impact that extends well beyond the 90 minutes of yoga and cooking. Residents who attended, as well as those who accessed the recordings online, now have practical tools and inspiration to incorporate mindful movement and healthy eating into their daily lives.

For more information about upcoming events, visit the New Jersey Wellness Council’s official website at https://www.njwellness.org/events. The community center’s page also lists free fitness classes and health resources at https://montclaircommunitycenter.org/wellness.