Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawnee Langworthy.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Like many people, I came to yoga after an injury, breaking my back in 2000. The physical practice gave me the tools to stay strong & mobile, while keeping pain & discomfort at bay. Experiencing the yoga buzz, left me with no doubt that there is a strong mind/body connection. I’ve come to see yoga as such a helpful road map for life: the physical practice, the mental engagement, the Yamas & Niyamas, yoga principles that help me to be a better human. After our local yoga studio closed post- COVID I was always looking for a downtown space that would be a good yoga studio. I was on jury duty for a month when the space opened up on Main Street & I jumped at the chance. I opened River Flow Yoga 6 weeks after seeing the for rent sign.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any business comes with its own challenges. The first thing I did when I was considering opening a yoga studio was talk to my husband. I have had a lot of hare brained schemes in the past that he was skeptical of, but this was something he wholeheartedly encouraged. The second thing I did was contact my former yoga colleagues from our previous local studio. All the teachers were on board and brought such encouragement and enthusiasm to the planning. They really helped shape the heart of the studio. When we opened the doors it was a lovely homecoming for many of the yogis we knew from before and many new connections as well. As a business we have had slow and steady growth & continue to grow.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love that the ‘practice’ of yoga has endless opportunities to learn and grow. Most people come to yoga for the physical aspect, but there is a whole set of guidelines for life within the practice. There is a curiosity about living and being present in it all that I find endlessly fascinating. I trained in many styles of yoga, barre & Pilates and love to integrate ALL movement, for ALL bodies into our studio. As long as people are breathing with mindful movement, they are doing yoga. I am so proud of how all our teachers create such a welcoming home for Northfield with their unique styles and offerings. I feel so lucky to have been able to curate such a talented list of teachers who bring their all to the space.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I could not have made this yoga home without the talented teachers who embraced the studio. They each connect with Northfield in a different way and those connections ripple out through this community and into neighboring towns. We all want it to be obvious when people walk in the door that they are welcome. ‘Sangha’, community, provides support for each person who walks in the door and offers a space for shared practice, reflection and encouragement.
Pricing:
- $5-$20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://riverflowyoga.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverflowyogamn?igsh=c2NxOWJmeTZhODFl&utm_source=qr
