Franklin welcomes its newest business

FRANKLIN — Peace, enlightenment, awareness, reawakening, life and love.

These six principals are the foundation of PEARLL Yoga for the Soul, Main Street Franklin’s newest business.

Discovering yoga in 2002 after a horseback riding accident, PEARLL owner Keri Marino soon discovered the healing properties of the ancient art. Also a long-time victim of domestic violence, Marino soon found that yoga transcended physical healing and fostered inner strength and peace.

“I had no idea what yoga was really about at that point in time,” Marino said. "For the first time since the abuse, I was able to not simply 'survive,' but to truly live and love all that life has to offer."

Her goal with the studio is to "empower students to discover their real selves and in so doing, realize peace."

To help promote that inner strength and peace for victims of domestic violence, Marino will be donating 75 percent of PEARLL’s profits to Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Intervention Services (DASI), an organization which she serves as board president. The other 25 percent of the business proceeds will go to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for her amazing generosity,” said DASI Executive Director Jamie Bernard.

Marino also hopes her studio’s presence on Main Street will help to reawaken the once proud area of the borough, a sentiment well echoed by Franklin’s governing body — many of whom were present at the grand opening celebration on Oct. 18.

“We’re thrilled that this will be an improvement on Main Street,” Mayor Paul Crowley said at the event.

A Franklin resident herself, Marino said, “there was never a question in my mind as to where this studio would be.”

She hopes PEARLL’s “activity and positive energy will help to revitalize Main Street.”

Comments from passersby have been overwhelmingly positive throughout the month they’ve been setting up the space, she added.

For more information about the 91 Main Street studio including a full class schedule, visit www.pearllyoga.com or call 973-271-0015. PEARLL Yoga for the Soul can also be found by searching PEARLL on Facebook. Classes are $17 each, or can be purchased in sets of five or ten for an additional discount.