Karma Yogi Spotlight: Kerricha Cox

Meet Kerricha! A DC transplant via Miami and Jamaica, Kerricha can be found in daytime classes when she isn't behind the desk as a KY. Learn more about her below :)

What is your current practice like and how does it fit into your daily routine?

I usually try to fit a class in my schedule mid-morning and on weekends. At least 2 classes a week. I am very open to the classes I take it's more about the time I am available to fit a class in.

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

I love the energy from the instructors and fellow practitioners. I feel like I am a part of a positive community.

What was your first yoga experience like?

My first yoga experience was in 2008 while living in Miami, at Miami Life Center. It was a great experience, I felt like it was exactly what was missing from my life.

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

Kino McGregor and Tim Fields at their ashtanga studio (Miami Life Center), my foundation for yoga got started.

What is something the Flow community may not know about you?

I was born in Jamaica!

Anything else you'd like to share?

It's been wonderful being a part of the Flow Yoga community.

Ashtanga Mysore: Whether you’re 18 or 88, it may be for you!

Almost daily I get questions about how things work in the Mysore room — where we practice daily the Ashtanga Vinyasa method of yoga.  There are many misperceptions and quite a bit of false information out there in the yoga world about this practice, so I thought I’d try and provide some clarity.

You may have noticed on Flow’s website there is a “Mysore” page where you can submit your application to the program. We don’t reject applications, rather we use this to gather some basic preliminary information about you, your yoga experience and your intended commitment. Most importantly, we use it to schedule your first day of Mysore so we can know when to expect you and make sure we have time and resources just for you.

Yes, it’s a commitment. At Flow we attempt to lessen that a bit by offering a 2-week intro option, but beyond that it’s a 3-month minimum commitment. This is purposeful because we, as a community of practitioners, put a lot of time and energy into cultivating the community through study, practice and teaching. As such there is a deep appreciation for the practice and a recognition that it takes time for that to develop.

On your first day, after a brief discussion about your practice, we’ll get you started with samasthihi and surya namaskara A (sun salutation). We will guide you through it — you don’t need to know anything coming in — this is the ideal way to learn Ashtanga. After five or so of those we may then move you on to surya B. And then likely wrap up with the last three seated postures and rest (śavasana). Your first few weeks will be more about you learning the sequence of postures and the basic forms and less about the nitty gritty of alignment. Our aim will be to keep you safe and support you in this process of settling into the rhythm and routine of a daily Ashtanga practice. We’ll add new postures purposefully and slowly so as not to overwhelm you. It’s a gradual, cooperative, partnership-based process that varies from person to person. We work from the traditional Ashtanga Primary Series using props, modifications of the postures to tailor the practice to you. The more regular you are with your attendance, the stronger your relationships (to the community, the teachers, the practice and yourself) will grow.

The Ashtanga method is based on three principles:

1. posture - the physical embodiment;

2. breath - the means of accessing your energetic body and deepening concentration; and

3. drishti (looking place) - a means of lessening the distractions of the world around you and honing your attention inward.

We use this as a foundation for working with you to develop your practice. This allows for the progression within the series (or sequences) of postures that we implement as a framework for the movement practice. This is a process that unfolds differently for everyone and is offered without expectation other than to show up. Our time together is so valuable and serves to help us build, together, on this foundation.

As teachers we draw from a toolkit of techniques to provide guidance, including verbal, demonstration and touch-based assistance. The relationship between student and teacher is built gradually and based largely on communication.  Students are encouraged communicate with us to let us know what is and isn’t working for you. . One of our intentions as teachers is to provide unspoken support through simply being present and aware of what is going on with you from day to day. This particular aspect of the Mysore student-teacher relationship isn’t often spoken about, but in my experience — from both sides — it is incredibly valuable and meaningful. There will be days when you will not receive any direct attention from the teacher, but you (and the teacher) will leave feeling the benefit of the connection made that day. Again, this is purposeful, so that you have the opportunity to move and breathe and settle deeper into your experience without interference — yet another incredibly valuable aspect of practice amongst the devoted energy of the community.

I hope this is a helpful bit of information for those that may be interested in exploring the Mysore practice. As the title suggests, through patience, persistence and communication, this practice can be established for anyone that is willing to commit!

Manager Spotlight: Carmen Harris

Meet Carmen! She is a dynamite manager at Flow, creating a wonderful sense of community on every shift. Learn more about her below :)

What is your current practice like and how does it fit into your daily routine?

Most recently, I started going to evening Mysore which is something my first dc-based yoga teacher, Kalah Hill, suggested to me. It’s not something I ever thought I would try but it’s been fun and a challenge. I very much appreciate Cory’s approach to Mysore - it’s a very accessible way to practice for any student which works well for me.

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

I was initially drawn to flow because of the different class offerings, particularly there were a lot of options for practicing Ashtanga at Flow. I stayed at Flow because I really liked the teachers and of course, the people. I remember Amber was the first person that ever called me by name at Flow and now I work with Amber on Thursday evenings to make other folks feel as welcomed and known at Flow as she made me feel. It’s a full circle of community.

What was your first yoga experience like?

My first yoga experience was in 2001 in Texas while I was an intern at Johnson Space Center. I was coming off of tough junior year of college and I decided to take a beginners yoga class at a local studio. It was great. We had a typed up curriculum and everything. I was very fortunate that my teacher was a black woman so there was someone I could identify with in my class. I remember she taught us how to breathe. We spent a lot of time on breathing which is what always stayed with me.

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

In terms of yoga, Kalah Hill was and still is pretty influential in my yoga journey. As divine nature would have it our paths crossed at just the right time. She taught me how to be aware of my body and breath as well as the beauty of mutual benefit of a student-teacher relationship. It’s really important to build the trust and I think she learned as much from me as I did from her. My “losses” have taught me a lot over the last few years since I’ve been here. I’ve learned that I’m pretty resilient and nothing is ever really a loss. I appreciate my family and friends as teachers and reflections of who I am as a woman.

What is something the Flow community may not know about you?

I have a twin sister that also lives in DC and we were born on our dad’s birthday - 2/2. My sister is fraternal so you don’t have to worry about seeing double :)

Anything else you would like to share?

“God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.” -The Black Church

Guest Spotlight: Mahalakshmi Mahadevan!

Flow Fam - please meet our beloved guest Mahalakshmi!  Mahalakshmi is a dedicated Flowgi, and we are so honored that she chooses Flow as her yoga home.  Learn more about her below, and say hi if you see her around the studio!

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

I am inspired by the energy, creativity and the warmth and affection shown by all my teachers and my fellow yogis at Flow. Flow brings all the best people in one place!

What was your first yoga experience like?

My first experience at Flow was a Friday community meditation class back in January 2017. The Hare Rama Hare Krishna Maha mantra singing by dear teacher Brittanie DeChino was so moving and uplifting, I couldn’t stop my emotions from silently flowing for the entire duration of the class. And needless to say I couldn’t stop coming to Flow.

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

Every class I’ve taken at Flow has had a salutary influence and I’ve been consistently drawn back to practise with Alicia Moyer, Aqeel Yaseen (Viveka Om), Brittanie DeChino, Caroline Weaver, Chelsea Xeron, Cory Bryant, and Sam Breschi. I’m especially grateful for Dharma Yoga offerings that integrate pranayama and meditation and Kirtan because these devotional offerings build community in ways asana practice alone doesn’t. I’d love to experience more of these at Flow.

What is something the Flow community may not know about you?

People may not know that I go by the nickname Machimi (pronounced Match-mee) among family. Or that I have a darling 6 year old daughter who loves to sing and dance but is not so much into yoga. Or that I grew up and went to school and college in Kollam, a small town in Kerala, South India, famous for a spiritual leader of humble origins, Mata Amritanandamayi (in other trivia, it’s also known as the cashew capital of the world). Currently distressing news is coming out of Kerala as it grapples with the worst floods in a century; every little helps rebuild homes and lives destroyed in the deluge. The international community can make donations to the State’s distress relief fund here: https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/

Thank you so much for sharing, Mahalakshmi!

Guest Spotlight: Asaki Bradford

Flow fam! We're so excited to feature our guest of the month, Asaki Bradford. Asaki has been coming to Flow for over three years. Diligent in her practice, learn more about this Flowgi who you can find in our daytime classes.  Please say hi if you see her around the studio! 

What inspires you to practice at Flow? 

I love the community, fellow students, and teachers! I love that classes are full of working folks, students, retirees- a huge cross-section of our city. I love the ability to form relationships that endure over years and I find it especially meaningful to have several teachers who offer consistently intelligent practices which challenge the mind as much as the body. 

What is your current practice like and how does it fit into your daily routine? 

My goal is to practice in the studio 2-3 times a week, I usually only manage twice a week for the 12:30 pm classes. As emotionally and physically helpful as the practice is, it is a true challenge organizing my day to afford not only the practice- but the commute. I pass 3 studios en route to Flow, and have visited a couple, but they don't feel like home- and so I work to organize my day to afford the important respite. While I always imagine the languid days of summer will make my practice easier to fit it- it is actually infinitely easier for me when my daughter is in school!

What was your first yoga experience like? 

My first experience was in college- some 25 years ago. I restarted 3 years ago. In truth, I wanted to love the experience as much as I did in college- and didn't. I took a level 1 class and found that challenging. It was really the negative self-talk that almost made me stop, thinking I should be able to do now what I could so easily do then. Debra supported me though, she always reminded me of the incremental progress I was making and over several (like 6!) months my body began to feel more accessible and my mind quieted. 

Who are some of your most influential teachers? 

Alicia Moyer guides me in tapping into my inner strength. Her practice feels both spiritually centered and physically exacting. Sam Breschi builds a practice that leaves me feeling like I've lovingly embraced every bit & fiber of my body. It's like I've been completely wrung out- but in the most loving, wonderful way. And, I have found that Aqeel Yaseen reminds me to laugh and enjoy the effort. Each offers a pretty different experience which I appreciate immensely. 

Anything else you would like to share? 

I feel like such a work in progress, and I am so thankful to have the time and ability to work on myself. I know I have become a better spouse, mom, and daughter in large measure because I have chosen to focus on love, and I practice patience every day. My yoga practice has provided a guide to quieting myself to allow love and patience to supplant other anxieties that used to lurk inside. I really feel very fortunate.