Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Johnson.
Hi Alexandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
FlowFit’s first iteration was born out of the chaos of the pandemic. At the beginning of 2020, I had been teaching 20+ yoga classes per week at studios all around the Twin Cities. When Covid hit, all of that came to a screeching halt for me. After a few weeks of waiting for our lives to return to normal, and realizing that they were not going to, the demand for online yoga became very apparent, very quickly.
Backing up a bit, the stress of the pandemic hit me hard and very physically. I wasn’t sleeping, my body was rebelling against me and I reached a new level of anxiety that I hadn’t known was possible. My health was suffering and I didn’t know what to do about it. I had never had any intention of creating my own online platform (or honestly even teaching virtually) but it turned out a big project was what I needed to make me feel like I was doing something to help people in a small way, while we were facing catastrophe. My brain needed a focus and a task to reduce the overwhelming amount of cortisol in my body. Over the first 6 months of lockdown I created what is now our online virtual portal and we began building a community together, from our own homes and socially distanced spaces. As a bonus, me health also began to slowly improve.
Fast forward to summer of 2021. The virtual platform is doing well, but now people are getting the itch to move together in person again. After looking at a number of spaces, I fell in love with what is now our first brick and mortar home. It is pretty crazy reflecting on this experience now. I never thought I would own a studio or a business, but at this point I can’t imagine not having FlowFit or this incredible community!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has in fact, not been the smoothest of roads! At one point I had a business partner and we have since amicably split and gone our own ways. It is certainly what is the best for both of us but as you can imagine, that journey was a tough one. Probably the biggest difficulty I have had to face as a business owner and a friend, but we are long through that now and both doing very well!
There are also the problems that seem like they will ruin a business, but inevitably don’t (like our door not fitting on it’s hinges the day before opening, or our HVAC system going out in mid-January and the studio only being 56 degrees for almost an entire month..) and you learn along the way that you will make it through anything. Though I wasn’t happy about those things happening at the time, they have made me much stronger and more resilient, and truly taught me that you will perceiver through the greatest of challenges. I know there will be plenty more unexpected difficulties, but FlowFit is strong and our community even stronger.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
FlowFit is a yoga, mobility and fitness studio designed to serve all of your needs from strengthening to recovery. We offer a full schedule of in-person classes everyday and still maintain our virtual platform of 100s of recorded classes. We are known for our ability to serve all levels of practitioner whether you are brand new or experienced, and our heavy emphasis on mobility. Mobility was an overlooked form of fitness before the pandemic and now that self care and wellness is so front of mind for most of us, it has been one of our most popular disciplines! We have mobility specific classes but also try to weave aspects of mobility into several of our other class formats.
Outside of the physical practice, FlowFit sets itself apart by the community. Unlike most other yoga studios, we let people talk and meet one another in the studio before and after class (no ‘shhh’ signs on the wall here!) and we allow them to engage and ask questions in class. This really breaks down the barriers of yoga being “intimidating” and people have the chance to make really deep friendships. It’s beautiful to see.
Lastly, we teach people HOW to use their bodies. Instead of telling them what to do, we teach them how to engage and how to move properly. This leads to an incredibly deep understanding of their bodies and in turn allows them to build strength and flexibility well beyond what they thought possible. If you truly want to feel limitless, come practice at FlowFit!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I have a degree in Chemistry! Though it’s been about a decade since I worked in the industry now, I thought I was going to be a lab worker my whole life. I am even the co-author on two scientific publications.
Pricing:
- New Student First Class Free
- $29 For Two Unlimited Weeks
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.flowfityogaandfitness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowfit_yoga_fitness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flowfityogaandfitness/
