Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Rodriguez & Daniela Lara Monteagudo.
Hi Stephanie & Daniela, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Stephanie Rodriguez and Daniela Lara Monteagudo didn’t just build a yoga community — they built a home for people searching for connection, healing, and belonging. What began as a chance partnership during yoga teacher training slowly unfolded into something much deeper: a sisterhood rooted in faith, purpose, and the belief that people deserve spaces where they can feel seen.
The two first met during yoga teacher training, where students were asked to pair up and teach a class together. Although they hadn’t spent much time together before, fate seemed to intervene the day partners were chosen.
Without any hesitation,Stephanie turned to her right and asked Dani, ‘Do you want to be my partner?’” Daniela said, “yes, I would love to.”
That simple moment became the foundation for what would eventually become *Birds of Paradise*, a growing yoga community in Kendall built on healing, growth, love, and human connection.
As they prepared to teach their first class together, their bond deepened. What started as a shared passion for yoga quickly became a shared vision. Daniela remembers feeling a calling throughout training — a quiet but persistent sense that there was a need for a yoga community in Kendall, Florida.
“The week before we graduated, I asked Steph if she wanted to partner with me to start the yoga community,” Daniela says. “And she said yes.”
From there, the dream slowly came to life. In January, the two sat down for their first official meeting, brainstorming everything from park locations to branding and marketing ideas. But one thing still felt missing: the name.
Then one day, Stephanie called Daniela with an idea.
“What about Birds of Paradise?”
The name immediately clicked. In yoga, Birds of Paradise is a pose symbolizing balance, freedom, strength, and spiritual awakening. The tropical flower itself represents joy, beauty, and confidence — all emotions they hoped people would feel when they stepped into their community.
“Birds of Paradise is not only a yoga pose or flower,” Daniela says. “It became the center of our purpose and meaning behind our brand and mission.”
On Saturday, February 7th, the pair taught together for their first class at Sugarwood Park — a place that would soon become sacred to their growing community. Every Saturday since, people have continued showing up, not just for yoga, but for connection.
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?
Their journey, however, hasn’t been without challenges. Like many entrepreneurs balancing passion projects with everyday life, Stephanie and Daniela have had to juggle work, personal responsibilities, continued education, and the emotional labor of building something meaningful from the ground up.
“Managing personal life, work life, continuing education, and making the time to also grow a community has been challenging,” Daniela shares. “But so rewarding in every sense.”
Stephanie believes the struggles are part of the beauty of the journey itself.
“No, it hasn’t been a smooth road,” she says. “And honestly, it never will be — and that’s the beauty of life. We’ve learned that part of the journey is letting go of control and allowing life to unfold the way it needs to.”
Faith has become one of the pillars that keeps them grounded through uncertainty.
“Whether that faith is in God, the universe, or even ourselves,” Stephanie explains, “it’s important to trust that things will fall into place the way they’re meant to.”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
“Recreation is important for the soul,” says Stephanie, a Recreation and Inclusion Specialist dedicated to creating meaningful programs for children, adults, and veterans with disabilities. Through inclusive recreation, Stephanie strives to build spaces where individuals of all abilities feel supported, empowered, and connected to their community. Her passion lies in using recreation as a tool for healing, growth, and joy.
Daniela Lara is a creative entrepreneur and founder of her own branding company. Passionate about transforming ideas into reality, Daniela thrives in the creative process — from developing concepts from scratch to watching them come to life. Her work is driven by creativity, storytelling, and a deep passion for helping brands create authentic and lasting impressions.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
That same sense of grounding and connection can be traced back to the memories that shaped them long before Birds of Paradise existed.
For Stephanie, some of her most cherished childhood moments were spent at the beach with her family and her great-grandmother, Mima — a woman she describes as deeply nurturing and elegant.
“She always made sure everyone around her felt loved, safe, and taken care of,” Stephanie says. “That feeling she created is something I still chase every day.”
Her connection to nature continues to inspire the atmosphere she hopes to cultivate through Birds of Paradise.
“I truly believe nature has the power to heal us,” she says. “Whether it’s the ocean, the trees, or simply being outside and grounded in the present moment.”
For Daniela, her childhood was filled with movement, music, and the warmth of family.
“Dancing and having great moments and memories with my family,” she says, smiling. “I am very family oriented and being around the people I love has always been important to me.”
She credits her mom and dad for shaping the woman she is today.
“I would be no one without the love, support, and values my family has taught me over the years.”
Together, those experiences — nurturing, movement, faith, family, and connection — now live at the heart of Birds of Paradise.
What Stephanie Rodriguez and Daniela Lara Monteagudo are creating is more than a yoga class. It’s a space where connection, love, and grounding feel possible — where strangers become community, and where people are reminded that they do not have to navigate life alone.
In many ways, Birds of Paradise reflects the women behind it: grounded yet free, gentle yet strong, and rooted in the belief that love, connection, and faith have the power to change lives. Sometimes, the most meaningful journeys begin with one simple yes.
For more information about the yoga and wellness community, follow Birds of Paradise on Instagram @birdsofparadisemiami.
Pricing:
- Free community yoga classes
Contact Info:
- Instagram: birdsofparadisemiami
