The Alternative Press

STANHOPE, NJ - “What I want to remind all of us, is to live in the moment,” said yoga instructor, author and public speaker David Romanelli during the Yoga, Wine and Chocolate experience at RDA Fitness in Stanhope on September 6.

The session, one of many stops on his yoga tour, ran two hours and brought out approximately 45 yoga enthusiasts.

While teaching flowing Vinyasa Yoga, Romanelli shared life stories and experiences, his views on technolog,y and how we go about living our lives, all with a wit and charm that immediately endeared him to his students.

He believes that,“Yoga is playing the instrument that is your body”, and that all should try and take “moments” throughout their day; moments to be still and just enjoy being, to really take time to celebrate life. 

 “It’s not about the cards you’ve drawn, but how you play them that’s important," said Romanelli.

 All levels of experience were welcome in the class where popular yoga positions such as, Warrior I and II, Dolphin Pose, Triangle Pos,e and Downward Dog were used. Melissa Spero of Parsippany, an experienced yoga student who has practiced it on and off for years, and who had previously taken classes of Romanelli’s, said she had come to the class for the fun and instructor-student interaction she knew would take place.

 “I think he’s neat,” explained Spero. “He likes to tell stories of his travels and he’s funny. I like that he takes basic moves and positions and holds them out for longer periods. He’s not so intense that you can’t follow.”

When asked why she enjoys yoga so much Spero responded, “I feel better, more centered.”

One of Romanelli’s repeated mantras was “Keep Livin’ in the Moment”, and one can tell that this is not a flippant remark he makes to entice people to buy his book ("TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE: Yeah Dave’s Guide to Victory over Buzzing Gadgets, Busy Schedules, and Bad Relationships"), or to buy into his beliefs, but that he truly believes in it. He talks about “Momenteers", people who come from a place of feeling, who are not offended by every little thing, and who are all about reminding each other to not let life slip through their fingers. These ideals that momenteers hold are what Romanelli challenges his students to use throughout their everyday lives.

By making fairly obvious decisions, such as putting away your cellphone for longer than five minutes, he says that people can take a moment to themselves to experience the world around them and live in the moment.

After the yoga session, attendees were invited to stay for wine and chocolate. The four sample pieces of chocolate each patron received were from a company called Vosges Haut-Chocolat (www.vosgeschocolate.com), owned by a friend of Romanelli’s. The distinctly different chocolate pieces covered a variety of tastes including blood orange, curry, chipotle, sea salt and beer; the Blood Orange Caramel Bar and the Smoke and Stout Caramel Bar were particular standouts, and well-liked by the group.

For more information on David Romanelli or to find tour dates for the Yoga, Wine and Chocolate experience, please visit his website a:t www.yeahdave.com.

For information on RDA Fitness, including the new Fall Schedule, which includes, Spin, Pilates and Kickboxing, among other classes, please visit their website at www.rdafitness.com. RDA Fitness is located at 90 Rt. 206, #230 in Stanhope.