Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Ferrante.
Hi Lauren, 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 backstories with our readers.
Let me begin by saying that my own yoga practice quite literally saved my life. In 2009, while living in Vermont, I experienced a profound loss causing me deep trauma and unfathomable grief. My mat became a place of refuge for me to process my heavy emotions, shift energy, and recalibrate my nervous system….a place where I could heal. The darkness of that time in my life led me to the light that I am able to experience now in ways I never would have known existed.
When I decided to relocate to Islamorada in 2012, I also knew that I had to share this practice with others so that they too could have a safe and healthy container to process and heal heavy emotions, move them out of their body, and create space for joy. As someone that is awe inspired by being in the divine presence of nature, I couldn’t imagine teaching anywhere but outside, surrounded by the beauty this island is. From this inspiration, Island Flow Yoga was born.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This question makes me laugh.
Life is full of challenges and road bumps, all part of the wild adventure of being human.
What has been an easy about my path is the undoubted knowing that this is what I am meant to be doing.
The challenges have been the relatively small and transient population in Islamorada, finding the right niche to build a successful business here, Hurricane Irma and Covid both shutting things down for long periods of time. For all of these challenges I am grateful as they have given me opportunity to get more creative, to dig deeper into my gifts and evolve my life and business in new and even more exciting ways.
My experiences and wisdom have helped me see that all of my challenges have provided me with opportunity to learn more about myself and to expand who I am. The contrast between difficulty and ease, darkness and light, suffering and peace, fear and love, is part of the sweetness of the human condition. Everything is always changing and our “work” is to in-joy the journey and the discovery along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
I am an Experienced 500 hr Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher with over a decade of teaching experience, a certified Transformational Life Coach, a Registered Yoga School, and a leader of Yoga Retreats/Cultural Experiences.
My offerings include:
~Group classes in stunning seaside locations in Islamorada
~International Yoga Retreats/Cultural Experiences (2023 I will be hosting in Greece and Tuscany!!)
~Transformational Life Coaching Sessions (remotely from anywhere in the world)
~I work with private clients offering customized yoga sessions
~One on one & small group mentorships to train/certify aspiring yoga teachers
~Yoga for destination weddings, corporate retreats, celebrations, and other special events
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Be afraid and do it anyway. There will never be the perfect time or the perfect road… life is too short to play small or settle for anything less than what you want to wake up every day doing. Follow the things that give you goosebumps.
I am here if you need support through yoga, coaching, mentorship or attending one of my epic retreats!
Contact Info:
- Website: islandflow.yoga
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandflowyoga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurennferrante
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34346-d10391877-Reviews-Island_Flow_Yoga-Islamorada_Florida_Keys_Florida.html
