Karma Yogi Spotlight: Daniela Stevens!

Karma Yogi of the Month - Daniela Stevens!  Daniela has been on board for almost 6 months now and we are so glad she has joined us!  Her loving and sweet presence has enriched our team, and we so appreciate her team player spirit and ability to go-with-the-flow ;)  Read more about her below!

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

The sense of community that all Flow staff, teachers, and yogis create. Flow's lovely energy and a safe environment make me feel at home and inspire me to show up for others and for myself!

What was your first yoga experience like?

It was embarrassing! I fell over trying to do a headstand... on my first class! It was so much fun, though :)

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

I took the Yoga Teacher Training last fall. Deb, Cath, and Sam did an awesome job leading the training, and each of them left a lasting impression on me. They have different styles, but in the end, they converge in the practice of yoga for self-realization.

What is something the Flow community may not know about you?

I'm a frustrated musician! I love playing the guitar -as an amateur- and I used to play the violin as a child.

What is your current practice like and how does it fit into your daily routine?

My practice changes as do my needs, body, and schedule, but it is pretty constant. I take Susan's vinyasa flow before my KY shift most Wednesdays, the class is awesome and the timing is so convenient!

Thank you for being a part of our community, Daniela!  We love and appreciate you!

Teacher Spotlight: Susan Kihurani Skinner

Flowgis! Many of you already know our beloved Teacher of the Month, Susan Kihurani Skinner, as her classes are some of the most well-attended! Learn more about her below :)

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

The amazing humans that come to Flow (whether it be to work or to practice) and the strong sense of community. I work a full-time job during the day, which can be really exhausting, and sometimes, in my often frantic hustle to leave my office and navigate the city to get to my class on time, I question whether this crazy dash is worth it. However, without fail, once I make it to Flow, I am instantly reminded of how much I LOVE being a part of this community. Whether it be the wonderful Karma Yogis, Managers, Teachers and other Flow staff, or the amazing students that come to practice, I am always inspired by the people and the amazing, uplifting energy. I always end up leaving my classes on a "yoga high," thanks to these wonderful humans! And am reminded that yes, it is more than worth it :) Much love and appreciation for the Flow community! And thank you Jen Beach and Kathleen A. Kern for making my Mondays extra special :)

What is a typical day like for you and how does practice fit into your daily routine?

I typically wake up around 5:45am and then walk my dog, Ella, before heading morning Mysore (I just started Mysore a few weeks ago and it's been a really challenging, grounding, and humbling experience, but I'm really loving it!). After Mysore, I walk to my full-time job, where I work as the Director of Contracts for a research firm. After work, if I'm not teaching an evening yoga class, then I'll try to catch a spin class, take a run with Ella (but only if the weather is just right, lol), or just hang out with my husband.

What was your first yoga experience like?

When I was in undergrad at GW, I needed to take a 1-credit class, and all my friends were taking this "really cool" step aerobics class (clearly showing how dated I am), but I wasn't able to get into the class. The only class that I could get into that fit in my schedule was a Yoga/Pilates 101. I signed up and have been hooked ever since!

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

Mimi Rieger has had the biggest influence on me. Mimi was the first yoga teacher that inspired me to start practicing regularly. Before I met Mimi, I would practice here and there, but not consistently. After taking one of Mimi's classes, I was instantly hooked and couldn't stop coming back for more. Mimi has shown me the importance of persistence and intention in practice. She has helped me grow in so many ways, both on and off the mat, and is such an amazing, selfless mentor and friend. Joan Wadopian has also had a big influence on me through her thoughtfully sequenced, precise, alignment focused classes, as well as her no-nonsense attitude. Other teachers that have influenced me include Cory Bryant, Sam Breschi, and Angela Meyer.

What is something the Flow community may not know about you?

I am half Kenyan (my father was born in Kenya) and half Pennsylvania Dutch (my mother's family used to be Amish and Mennonite), which might be one of the oddest combinations, but definitely has made life interesting and full of character :)

Come check out why Susan's classes are so popular on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 14th St! Not only is she an awesome teacher, she's a truly wonderful person to be around.

We love you, Susan!

Attitude, Belief, & Determination

Peace be with you friend,
Please trust that deep within the fabric of your being there is a limitless creativity relentlessly expressing itself through you. The wide variety of myths, fables, and stories that wind their way through the human narrative praise and sometimes deify virtues like courage, selflessness, and forgiveness. For many of us those lofty heights seem inaccessible in the daily hustle to bind our sense of satisfaction and security with our actions and their results. The parables teach us to find ourselves in their characters and remember the source of confidence is our life.

It is fairly easy to be discouraged and fall into helplessness by the cruelty and cowardice of systemic dehumanization of the social and political world. The simple dreams and hopes for the human spirit that people like Mother Theresa, Dr. King, or Ghandi urged us to remember still bring light into the dark corners of heavy hearts. Dr. King said, "Love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies." Kindness, respect, and dignity are byproducts of firmly establishing ourselves in the unshakeable power of being alive. Firmly and gratefully holding the precious gift of our life and recognizing the fragility and fleeting spark of intelligence that lives in each of us opens a space for new choices to emerge.

Life contracts in the presence of violence and hatred, but flourishes and rises when it is free to explore and express itself. This planet is a prime place for life to express itself in astonishing and surprising ways, and human beings are only one expression. Real confidence is trusting in the force of life to continue to change, grow, and recycle itself into novel forms. Confidence, then, is not a product of our will, choices, minds, or actions. It is the consequence of allowing the unlimited capacity for life's expression to freely move through us. Our bodies, minds, and relationships are vehicles for life to interact with itself in every form it chooses to utilize. We are helplessly bound to the principles that support life, and must remember that we are not the "do-er."

Getting out of the way, giving up self-perpetuated habits, ideas, and patterns so that life can flow through us is the road to freedom from suffering. There are many ways to travel the road. Pick one. Remember: Attitude, Belief, and Determination, are the elements that make diamonds of us all, like this funky Chicago underground gem from Martin L. Dumas Jr.