Helen Ting, a certified yoga teacher and hairdresser, has opened Yamuna Yoga Studio and organic hair salon in Shrub Oak. The studio takes its title from the spiritual name that Ting acquired at the Sivananda ashram.

“I’m a Sivananda trained teacher and I’ve also been in organic hairdressing for about 25 years,” says Ting. “I truly believe in healthy living and choosing the right kind of exercise and diet. We should also be very aware of the products that we use on our bodies.”

Ting says that the teaching at Yamuna Yoga Studio is based on several concepts: proper exercise through yoga practice; proper breathing to calm, steady and clear the mind; proper relaxation to release stress and provide rest; and proper diet, positive thinking and meditation. “Regular practice teaches us how to master the powerful force of the mind and improve our state of being by changing our thought patterns and our destinies,” says Ting.

Yamuna Yoga Studio holds classes every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday classes run from 4 to 5:30 p.m., followed by an hour of meditation, chanting and inspirational readings. Gentle yoga classes are held on the third Thursday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Drop-in rates are $12 and new students can take their first yoga class for free.

Yamuna Yoga Studio is located at 1220 North Ridge Rd. in Shrub Oak. For more information call 914.528.8770.