Today we’d like to introduce you to Loren Boyd.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Loren. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When the pandemic hit, the yoga studio we all taught at for years chose to permanently close their doors. We were shocked and devastated, though an opportunity had arisen as we were told to fly free and go do great things. I realized, after being sad for a few days, that it was time to take action. I felt a flame ignited within, and I knew exactly what to do. I rallied some of us teachers together and created The Studio. We are a vinyasa yoga studio in the heart of Fort Worth. Moving into my tenth year as a yoga teacher this month, about to turn 34, with past studio management experience under my belt from early on in my teaching journey in Seattle, I felt more than ready. This just felt like the next step. And boy, did it feel exciting.
In addition to teaching yoga, for the past five years, I have grown my branding design business, Loren Ashley Design, creating logos and websites for other wellness professionals. These skills came very handily as I whipped up the entire brand for The Studio in two weeks. It was like I entered a vortex. It was all I could think about. I could not get the visions of us all teaching in a new studio out of my mind. And what started developing was absolutely beautiful. I realized what an incredible group of women I had before me, my team. I had suddenly stepped into a new leadership role, and it felt so natural, but scary at the same time… because the unknown is always scary, right? Always guided by my intuition, though, I kept trusting it. This all just felt so right.
At The Studio, we started out doing some live stream classes at the end of May, in combination with a couple of in-person pop-up classes each week at a sweet little location I found to rent right on the edge of the Fairmount/Magnolia neighborhood. We quickly realized as teachers that our hearts were with the in-person classes. We also noticed we had much more interest in them. We stopped live streaming after a few weeks and started focusing on our pop-up classes, and I was on the lookout for a more permanent yoga home for our growing community.
More studios closed as time passed, and our pop-up classes kept growing, and now here we are, three months in, and The Studio has found a new home. I am so thrilled to reveal more details as I am now in the prep phase of this new space, and we are starting classes there Monday, August 24th. I cannot wait to reveal this beautiful, bright, white-walled, plant-filled studio in a cool old brick building right around the corner from where we are currently holding classes. Everything aligned so naturally, I have not met one ounce of resistance through this entire process; that’s how I know it’s what I’m supposed to be doing. Having my own yoga studio was always a dream in the back of my mind, but it just never felt like the right time.
To me, a yoga studio is a family. It’s a living, breathing thing of its own. We develop relationships here. We come together, move together, breathe together, heal together, and there’s tremendous power in that. There’s a transformation in that. There’s accountability in that. We need each other. Human connection is so important. There’s something unique about being pushed and challenged to evolve and grow in ways you never thought possible, physically and mentally. That is the potential a yoga community has. We lift each other up. Being a part of a yoga family is the realization that you don’t have to go through life alone… that there are other people just like you, who feel like you, breathe like you, and who want to thrive, like you.
When I found this practice over ten years ago, it changed my life. And I want that for every single person who walks through our door, whether it’s their first class or thousandth. At The Studio, we are a wellness community built on the core values of communication, honesty, great yoga classes, consistency, empowerment through self-awareness, and an environment of learning. We believe in the power of daily connection, with self and others. Because as teachers, we have seen it transform lives on a regular basis, for years. We hope you’ll join us on your mat soon.
Has it been a smooth road?
Things have felt very natural with this process, mostly smooth. I’d say the biggest challenge was more personal for me, navigating the pandemic while trying to start a business, and a yoga studio business, specifically. I suppose you could say I met a bit of resistance with certain people who didn’t agree with what I’m doing considering the current state of things, but I realized that I could not let that get me down, or slow me down. I realized there are going to be people who don’t like me, don’t like what I’m doing, the way I’m doing it, and I’ve decided that I’m ok with that. I spent a lot of my life trying to please everyone, and I realized it’s time to let that go. And it’s liberating. I passionately believe in what I’m doing, and I have to move forward with that. Some people have fallen away and others have come on board, and I feel more in alignment with the people in my life now than ever before. To me, just another sign that I’m walking in the right direction.
The Studio – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a vinyasa yoga studio. Some yoga studios will offer various styles of yoga, and that’s great, but we like the flow, and we like it a little warm, maybe 90 degrees. That will be my aim for the new space. By focusing on one specific style of yoga, I feel we can really do it well. You know, like a donut shop – they do donuts, they don’t do cakes, cookies, and muffins. They just do really good donuts.
There is something magical about breath and movement connection – not too fast; we never want you to feel rushed. But still strong. Slow, mindful movements are what build true strength, both physical and mental. This is something that sets us apart. As teachers, we have been trained to pay attention to our students. We don’t teach from a script, rambling off recycled cues. We watch our class and speak to it. We are always asking ourselves, “How can I be most helpful today?” Our teachers curate their classes for all levels, so it doesn’t matter if you’re a new or seasoned practitioner. We offer plenty of modifications during class so everyone can work from their own level. We love a good sweat. We love to learn – and teach – about the body, the mind, and the importance of daily connection. We understand that everybody is different, that we are all going through different stuff, and we encourage you to meet yourself where you are each time you roll out your mat. If you’re looking for a great vinyasa class, you’ve found the place.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My favorite things about Fort Worth are the people, the sunshine, and the conscious vibe. And the sky… the sky is so big here. This September will be my sixth year here and this city just keeps growing on me. I’d say the thing I like least is that the overall landscape isn’t too much to look at… but coming from Seattle, you may understand why I feel that way!
Pricing:
- $99 Monthly Unlimited Membership
- Five Class Pass (VALID 60 DAYS) $80
- One Month Unlimited $120
- Drop-In $18
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thestudiofortworth.yoga
- Email: info@thestudiofortworth.yoga
Image Credit:
Amber Shumake
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