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 and believe that everyone should have access to yoga and it’s benefits. Yoga is a healing and empowering practice that shows us the path towards personal growth 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 in the park weekly all summer long to anyone who wants to try yoga and
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 and people who can’t afford the necessary yoga equipment
Bringing classes to homeless shelters, senior living homes, inmates 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 cleaners in the studio
Using and selling sustainably and locally made 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, Holiday Parties and other gatherings year round
Finding joy in our yoga practice and yoga community
Our Story
Lotus Yoga Studio is an expansion of the work 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 is here because of the community of wonderful students, family and friends who came together to create a beautiful studio space for all of us to share by contributing art, support, skills and lots and lots of love!
Ren Farenga-Kosmidis, 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 symptoms of Crohn’s disease and Arthritis. Yoga has healed her and brought her happiness and purpose. Ren teaches because she believes in the power of yoga and is passionate about sharing it with others. Ren has now been teaching yoga for eight years and continues her mission to make yoga accessible to everyone so all people can enjoy the healing benefits of yoga. In 2017 Ren 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.
Ren is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in MA and worked in mental health for 10 years prior to opening Lotus Yoga Studio. Through her work as a social worker and yoga teacher, Ren had developed Chakra Flow Yoga. She believes that uniting mind and body is the key to personal growth and change, and has experienced this through her own journey. Ren invites her students to explore their unique mind-body connection in each of her classes, and encourages students to take yoga lessons into their daily lives, developing a “yoga toolbox” to use when stress arises. Ren’s intuitive flow style of teaching reflects her enthusiasm for yoga, her deep dedication to the practice, and her connection to her students.
When not teaching yoga Ren can be found outside adventuring with her husband Damian and their dog Leo. Ren also enjoys singing, dancing in her kitchen, writing, creating bad art, meditating, and gluten free baking.
Her motto is simple: Do Yoga. Be Happy.