Lotus Yoga Studio Mission Statement
Lotus Yoga Studio is a Woman Owned, LGBTQ+ Owned Small Business.
Lotus Yoga Studio proudly welcomes all genders, races, ages, abilities, orientations, religions and backgrounds to the yoga studio and truly believe that yoga is for every body. We believe in making yoga accessible for everyone and we stand up for the rights of all people to practice yoga and feel safe in wellness spaces.
At Lotus Yoga Studio we believe that yoga can empower people to embrace their true selves through mindfulness, compassion and connection. In our yoga practice we emphasizing being present, connecting mind with body, individualizing your practice, and building community together.
We strive to embrace the eight limbs of yoga in everything we do valuing honesty, compassion, open-mindedness, integrity and giving back. We also deeply value silliness, joy, travel, new experiences and always learning.
If these align with you we hope you come practice yoga with Lotus.
ABOUT
We believe in the healing power of yoga practice to bring us inner peace and happiness. We believe that everyone should have access to yoga and it’s benefits, while honoring the roots of yoga. Yoga is a healing and empowering practice that shows us the path towards growth and wellbeing as individuals and as a community, or Sangha.
We embrace the eight limbs of yoga in everything we do; valuing honesty, compassion, integrity, and standing up for our beliefs. We value giving back, being of service and sharing knowledge. We also deeply value silliness, fun, creativity and community.
We embody these values by:
Welcoming all genders, religions, races, abilities, orientations, identities and body types
We embrace individuality and encourage self-expression as we teach you how to make yoga work for you
We offer classes for special populations creating safe spaces, and encourage students to share in community
Giving back to the community
Free Yoga Summer Series has been a staple of Lotus Yoga even before it was a brick and mortar business. This summer series offers free yoga classes Sundays in the park all summer long to anyone who wants to try yoga
Breaking down barriers to yoga
Yoga mat and prop donations are collected at Lotus Studios all year round. We then donate those gently used mats and props to communities we teach in and people who can’t afford or don’t have access to yoga equipment (yoga mat, blocks, strap)
Bringing classes to homeless shelters, senior living homes, mental health clinic, etc. so more people can experience the healing practices of yoga
Making eco-friendly studio choices
Use of refillable water bottles and reusable cups to reduce waste
Recycling and repurposing materials -including the large Lotus Yoga Studio sign!
Using eco friendly cleaning choices in the studio
Using & Selling sustainably made Jade Yoga mats, props and merchandise
Inspiring personal growth by emphasizing mindfulness, self-reflection and self-acceptance on and off the mat
Creating opportunities for community connection through Yoga Book Club, Workshops, Community Events, Holiday Parties and other gatherings year round
Finding joy in our yoga practice, our yoga community and our lives.
Lotus Flow Yoga
Lotus Flow is a trauma informed vinyasa flow yoga style inspired by Ashtanga yoga, tailored for the modern yogi, but honoring yoga’s roots. Classes focus on moving with intention and awareness, linking breath to movement in a fluid and dynamic sequence. The emphasis is on creating a safe and supportive environment that honors individual experiences and promotes healing.Each class is designed to cultivate mindfulness, foster body awareness, and encourage self-acceptance. Participants are guided through a series of postures that may vary each session, allowing for both exploration and grounding. The flow incorporates elements of breathwork and meditation, inviting practitioners to connect deeply with themselves while moving through the poses.
Whether you are new to yoga or have years of experience, Lotus Flow provides a nurturing space for personal growth and transformation. The trauma-informed approach ensures that everyone, regardless of their background, can engage in a practice that meets their needs.
Our Story
Lotus Yoga Studio is an expansion of the work Lauren ‘Ren’ Farenga-Kosmidis, MSW,E-RYT500, has been doing for more than 10 years as a yoga teacher, therapist and healer, and it is an extension of her own heart.
Lotus Yoga Studio was founded in 2018 and is here because of the community of wonderful students, family and friends who came together to create a beautiful studio space (now TWO beautiful spaces!) for all of us to share by contributing art, support, skills and lots and lots of love!
Lauren, owner of Lotus Yoga Studios, began practicing yoga at age 14 to help heal from trauma and insomnia following a sexual assault. She continued to turn to yoga throughout her life to cope with grief, trauma and to manage the daily symptoms of Crohn’s disease and Arthritis. Yoga has healed her and brought her happiness and purpose.
Because of her own experience she believes in the power of yoga and meditation and is passionate about sharing it with others. Lauren has always given specific intention to make yoga accessible to everyone, and create safe wellness spaces so all people can enjoy the healing benefits of yoga.
Out of her work as a therapist and yoga teacher, Lauren developed Chakra Flow Yoga, a deep mind body practice that connects you with your True Inner Self. She believes that uniting mind and body is the key to personal growth and change, and has experienced this through her own journey.
Lauren’s intuitive flow style of teaching reflects her enthusiasm for yoga, her deep dedication to the practice, and her connection to her students. In class she invites her students to explore their unique mind-body connection, and encourages students to take these lessons off the mat and into their daily lives, developing a “yoga toolbox” to use when stress arises.
In 2017 Lauren founded the Lotus Community Yoga Project, formerly the Free Yoga Project, to do just that, and since then it has grown into an annual community summer program, reaching more communities each year. In 2018 Lotus Yoga Studio Arlington was born, and 5 years later Lotus Yoga is opening a second location in Somerville, MA, continuing the mission of bringing yoga’s healing benefits to as many people as possible.
When not teaching yoga Ren can be found outside adventuring with her husband Damian and their dog Leo. Lauren also enjoys singing, dancing in her kitchen, writing, creating bad art, meditating, and gluten free baking.