The Healing Energy Of Plants

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This  crepe myrtle tree was planted when we moved into our 14th street home! It has grown so much & is thriving on our deck, we love watching it grow and change through the seasons.

"Extensive research by NASA has revealed that houseplants can remove up to 87 percent of air toxin in 24 hours."

Most of us know instinctively that being close to greenery makes us feel more peaceful with our surroundings. We love incorporating them into our spaces at Flow and you have probably noticed the flowers that great you at the desk, the plants in our lounges and even our gorgeous crepe myrtle tree.  We think they are lovely to look at and...they are also wonders at freshening up the air & removing indoor toxins which means you are inhaling cleaner air when you take your deep ujjayi breaths!  We love to use plants in addition to our clean air handlers & filters and no voc building materials to create fresh air for your practice.  And there is more! Did you know that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15 percent!), reduce stress levels and boost your mood?  There are even studies that found having indoor plants can reduce the sounds from outdoor noises (like traffic etc) for those of us who are city dwellers.  

Curious about adding more plants into your spaces and don't have the greenest of thumbs?

Here are some great ones that are super easy to care for to consider for your office space & home.

Succulents
Spider Plants
Ferns
Peace Lilies
English Ivy
Bamboo Palm
Gerber Daisy

There are tons of great resources online and some of our local neighbors like Little Leaf,  Home Depot and Whole Foods have awesome and affordable options to choose from.

Finally, if you love DIY projects and want to make your own plant oasis, please join us Sept 22 and create your own living wall hanging with our friends from @rockpaperplant 

Manager Spotlight: Stephanie King!

We have been waiting a long time to feature Stephanie King!  Stephanie has been with Flow for three years, and is our Sunday P St. rock star manager.  Read on to learn more about her!

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

I am inspired by the Flow community and my desire to be able to touch my toes.

What was your first yoga experience like?

I was always intimidated by yoga. Never having been able to touch my toes in gym and realizing at a very young age that balance was always going to elude me - yoga seemed unattainable. After a lot of encouragement from a colleague, I went to a new student workshop at Tranquil Space. They took 3 hours to breakdown the "basic" postures - which to me at the time seemed very advanced. I left feeling empowered and sore - just what my competitive side needed. It took me about another year to start practicing regularly, but I haven't looked back since.

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

I believe that everyone has something to teach me and am taught lessons daily by my dogo, Sacha.

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

After participating in the Spring YTT at Flow, I developed a daily home practice that is mostly made up of me attempting to make shapes while my dog tries his hardest to get me to pay attention to him. My meditation and pranayama practices keep me sane from all of life's stressors. Currently, I am using the Radiance Sutras as a guide.

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

If it isn't obvious already, I am the proud mama of the most amazing puppy/almost-dog in the world. He came into my life at a time that I couldn't have imagined having the energy to care for another soul, but what I have received from him in return has nourished and strengthened me physically, mentally, and emotionally beyond what anything else could have.

Teacher Spotlight: Angela Meyer!

Flowgis!  We are so happy to feature Angela Meyer in our Teacher Spotlight!  Read on to learn more about this unique and inspiring teacher.

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

The variety of teachers with unique life experiences and styles. Each one brings heart, passion and knowledge through different containers. Also, the genuine love and integrity of the ownership/staff is felt throughout the community.

What was your first yoga experience like?

I am an ex-collegiate soccer player. My roommate/running partner raved about yoga and drug me to a Bikram Yoga class, kicking and screaming. I sweat more than I ever had in a 90 minute soccer game and was sore in areas I didn't think could ever be sore. As a lover of intensity, I was hooked.

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

As a forever student, I have so many influential teachers. Early on in my yoga teaching days, Coeli Marsh took me under her wing as my Mr. Miyagi of yoga teaching. She is a Boston based teacher/healer/mentor, and understood my soul.

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

I am a "seasons" kinda gal. Meaning, I do my best to follow my internal compass and not external "shoulds and shouldn'ts." My current "practice" is fierce love. This does not always show up through physical asana, but an everyday intention to stay open, listen to my intuition, be a kind human, face-plant often, get back up, and passionately believe "love" is worth fighting for.

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

I think a lot of the Flow community already knows I train seriously in Martial Arts. For me, yoga is the other side of the same coin.

My other huge passions are working at a place called Joseph's House, an AIDS hospice in Adams Morgan and writing/editing for Elephant Journal. I see Death, Yoga and Martial Arts as a Triangle with breath as the common thread. Writing is a medium to share my humanness and be of benefit to others.

Karma Yogi Spotlight: Sarah Belpedio!

Please meet Sarah Belpedio, our featured Karma Yogi!  Sarah recently came on board in June and has blown us away with her kindness, generosity, and team player spirit.  She has jumped in to help out our fellow staffers on several occasions, and we are so very grateful to have her as part of the team!  Learn more about her below.

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

The first time I stepped foot into P St, I knew Flow was different. I have been to countless studios over the past ten years, but they never felt quite right. The warm, vibrant community of teachers, staff, and Flowgis welcomed me, and I immediately felt at home. The incredible teachers and staff at Flow inspire me each and every day I walk through the doors. It is truly an oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city, and I feel so fortunate to have found this wonderful community.

What was your first yoga experience like?

Yoga was offered as an elective at my school, so I took yoga in 8th grade!

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

Cory! I first met Cory in one of his Asana Tune-ups. I loved that he took the time to help us understand how our anatomy works in the asanas. Since then, I have joined him for Buddha Time and his Fundamentals workshop. You can find me at his Thursday morning class (nearly) every week and any classes he subs! I love how Cory integrates philosophy and the yoga sutras into his classes. He always reminds us that yoga is so much more than a physical practice. I also love Sam's classes. I grew up a dancer and a gymnast, so I love Sam's flow, which at times feels like a dance. No better way to start off the weekend than Sam's Saturday class! I love how every single one of his classes are different, constantly exposing us to new yogic experiences. I also love Mimi's classes! Her ability to adjust you with her words amazes me! Together the three teachers offer different, but complementary styles of yoga. I love it :)

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

My practice has become much more consistent since joining Flow a little over a year ago. I typically practice at Flow 3-6 times per week, depending on my travel plans. My love for Cory's classes has drawn me to ashtanga and inspired me to join the Mysore program, which I plan to start soon. I love practicing in the morning - the best way to start my day!

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

I love to travel, and my job sends me around the world! In my current role, I travel to meet with NGOs across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe to train them on how to make their work more gender-sensitive and inclusive. I also conduct trainings on integrating self-care and wellness into the workplace. I am also very interested in holistic and functional medicine.

Thank you for sharing, Sarah, and for being such a bright light in our community!

Guest Spotlight: Mahalakshmi Mahadevan!

Flow Fam - please meet our beloved guest Mahalakshmi!  Mahalakshmi is a dedicated Flowgi, and we are so honored that she chooses Flow as her yoga home.  Learn more about her below, and say hi if you see her around the studio!

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

I am inspired by the energy, creativity and the warmth and affection shown by all my teachers and my fellow yogis at Flow. Flow brings all the best people in one place!

What was your first yoga experience like?

My first experience at Flow was a Friday community meditation class back in January 2017. The Hare Rama Hare Krishna Maha mantra singing by dear teacher Brittanie DeChino was so moving and uplifting, I couldn’t stop my emotions from silently flowing for the entire duration of the class. And needless to say I couldn’t stop coming to Flow.

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

Every class I’ve taken at Flow has had a salutary influence and I’ve been consistently drawn back to practise with Alicia Moyer, Aqeel Yaseen (Viveka Om), Brittanie DeChino, Caroline Weaver, Chelsea Xeron, Cory Bryant, and Sam Breschi. I’m especially grateful for Dharma Yoga offerings that integrate pranayama and meditation and Kirtan because these devotional offerings build community in ways asana practice alone doesn’t. I’d love to experience more of these at Flow.

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

People may not know that I go by the nickname Machimi (pronounced Match-mee) among family. Or that I have a darling 6 year old daughter who loves to sing and dance but is not so much into yoga. Or that I grew up and went to school and college in Kollam, a small town in Kerala, South India, famous for a spiritual leader of humble origins, Mata Amritanandamayi (in other trivia, it’s also known as the cashew capital of the world). Currently distressing news is coming out of Kerala as it grapples with the worst floods in a century; every little helps rebuild homes and lives destroyed in the deluge. The international community can make donations to the State’s distress relief fund here: https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/

Thank you so much for sharing, Mahalakshmi!