East Windsor Yoga Studio Raises Money for the Earth and Japan Earthquake Victims

The in East Windsor is literally bending over backwards to help people make the switch to greener energy and simultaneously help relief efforts in Japan.

The studio, on Route 130, made it a priority to encourage not only yoga enthusiasts but also the general public to tread lightly on the planet for April, Earth Month, and all the other days of the year.

The fundraiser generated proceeds from yoga classes, a plant sale, and will continue to draw donations from homeowners who vow to switch their energy utility company to Viridian, a Northeast-based company that utilizes local, sustainable means for electric power.

The idea of the fundraiser, according to One Yoga & Wellness Center owner Tracey Ulshafer, is to encourage people to make environmentally friendly choices everyday, and in doing so, to be conscious of being true to the only home humans have known — Planet Earth.

“It is our social obligation of [inhabitants] of this planet to take care of our resources,” she said.

On hand April 22 representing Viridian was Faye Nulman, a massage therapist within the wellness center of the studio, who touted the advantages of switching to the green energy company.

“It really is a win-win-win,” she said of Viridian, which uses local wind farms and solar energy fields as means of providing power to its customers.

Even though Ulshafer believes that being green and constantly looking for greener alternatives for energy should be on everyone’s agenda, she said the magic phrase “saving money” spurs them to action.

Viridian, she added, can do just that – and according to the site’s website, customers can save an average of $18 a month compared to the non-green alternative. The company is able to keep costs down by taking a lower profit, which offers what they describe as “the best of both worlds – greener electricity and affordable prices.”

Most people don’t realize they have a choice when it comes to getting more green value for your buck, Nulman added. Viridian is able to do so through the deregulation of the utilities, which encourages consumers to choose.

“I’m just thrilled with the environmental impact, and I haven’t even been paying attention to the cost savings,” said Nulman of switching in July 2010.

Right now, Viridian is on track to exceed the 2020 federal environmental goal of providing 20 percent of the nation’s energy from renewable energy sources, Nulman said.

Currently, the state of New Jersey is only required to provide 6 percent of its energy from sustainable, clean sources.

Ulshafer said that for any new customers who sign up through this link, a portion of the proceeds generated will benefit the Red Cross Japan relief fund.

Signing up is simple, Nulman said, and there is no interruption in your utility service—the coverage is seamless and there are no binding contracts to sign. Simply carve out five minutes of your day, grab your current electric bill, and log onto www.viridian.com/oneyogacenter to sign up.