Alyssa Mancini, joined by First Selectman Jeff Capeci, family, friends, and members of the local community, celebrated the ribbon cutting of her business, Herbs Love + Yoga, in Sandy Hook Center, on Friday, February 9.

Herbs Love + Yoga is Mancini’s passion project, combining her love of yoga, herbal medicine, and holistic practices to empower others and relieve their stress and tension. She had actually opened her business last year in July, but waited until she fully adjusted to the new location before going through with a ribbon cutting.

Mancini originally taught high school biology and chemistry for over 13 years in New York City, according to her website. She attributes yoga and herbal medicine as “guiding lights” on her teaching journey that improved her well-being and helped her push through the stress of her job. This fostered a passion to help others through yoga and herbal medicine, and it was this passion that led Mancini to complete yoga teacher training in 2013 and pursue an herbalism apprenticeship three years later. With her new Sandy Hook location, Mancini hopes to help others improve their quality of life however she can.

Herbs Love + Yoga offers yoga classes ranging from gentle “Mommy and Me” sessions for mothers with babies six months or younger to Hatha yoga sessions suited for all levels. Private and small group yoga classes are also available.

The business also offers herbal workshops where people can learn the therapeutic benefits and applications of certain plants under the guidance of their expert herbalist. Attendees can also create their own personalized home remedy to take home.

Beyond its classes and workshops, Herbs Love + Yoga sells its own custom-blended teas, cosmetics, and dietary supplements at its storefront, and hosts a wide variety of special community health and wellness events throughout the year.

Herbs Love + Yoga even offers its own certification courses, such as a 200-hour herbalist training certification program. This program is an in-person experience designed for both beginners and those with some herbal knowledge to journey into the world of herbal medicine. Students can become a certified herbalist through activities such as hands-on medicine making, in-person plant walks, herbal monographs, and more.

To learn more, visit herbsloveandyoga.com, e-mail info@herbsloveandyoga.com, call 917-267-8203, or visit the location at 111 Church Hill Road, Suite 1.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.