Lotus Flow Yoga Studio, whose September start was delayed, opened Monday, Nov. 26. The store held its rescheduled grand-opening party Saturday, Jan. 26.
Packages are selling at www.lotusflowyoga.com.
At a hearing Tuesday, Oct. 23, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved her appeal.
Lauren Farenga, owner of Lotus Flow Studio.
UPDATED, Jan. 21: The face of Capitol Square is changing.
Olivio's closes, but Town Tavern opens. The heart of Drum Connection stops beating, as does Bistro Duet, but others arrive.
Thrive and Muse's Window have opened. Adventure Pub is opening soon.
Add to those welcome additions another -- Lotus Flow Studio, where Artwear used to be.
Meet its owner, Lauren Farenga. At 32, the Medford native brings a warm enthusiasm to her desire to shape her first studio.
In an interview Aug. 16, she calls what she is creating "not just a place to work out but a community," seeking to "make yoga available to everyone."
All passes purchased before Aug. 31, 2018 will get three Bring-a-Friend Free passes and will also have the option to choose one of the following:1) Extend your membership by two months
2) Gain access to weekly online classes for two months
*Does not inlcude Two Week Unlimited passes*
Please email
She would like the studio to host workshops on meditation, yoga and wellness. In January, she plans to offer 200-hour yoga-teacher training. "I would love to host local music, a yoga book club and be a meeting space for other community groups."
Before those hopes turn real, the new business must open. That had been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 10 p.m., with free yoga from 5 to 6. An open-house party follows, with food from local restaurants, music and henna art. The public is invited to 185 Mass. Ave. when a new opening date is reported.
The space between the Greek Bakery and Clay Dreams where Artwear's clothing once hung is undergoing some changes, but not much.
After removing unwanted items, she found little need for renovation. She called her location "pretty perfect ... It already looked like a yoga studio."
A new sign went up in Caitol Square on Aug. 18.
The 1,000 square feet of sunny space has wood floors and dressing rooms, with a small lounge area downstairs.
Helping her with the effort -- which includes repainting -- are many friends, family, students and volunteers.
When yoga students arrive starting in September, they will see what a friend and local artist Keira Zagaeski has created -- a very large mural of a lotus and mandala. "Really beautiful," she said.
Farenga, who moved to Arlington last December, has been teaching yoga for seven years. That includes locations in Arlington (Black Crow Yoga), Medford (The Corner Studio) and Boston as well as private yoga and yoga therapy lessons.
She explained how her own vision has evolved: "Opening my own studio is the next evolution of my yoga business, my studio classes and workshops, especially chakra flow. Were selling out all over town, and I needed a central location to run my training program, yoga therapy and classes from."
She is a licensed clinical social worker, in Massachusetts, and earned a master's in social work in 2015 from the University of Southern California. She is also a trained and experienced registered yoga teacher. Of 400 hours, half were earned in 2007 at O2 Yoga in Boston and the half in 2014 at Jenny Yoga.
Apart from certification, she said she has been practicing "most of my life." That goes back to her midteen years.
Farenga found 14 a difficult time for her -- as she suffered depression following an assault and struggled with insomnia. To help her sleep, her godmother gave her a book about yoga written by Rodney Yee. That helped put her on a path to yoga.
She calls yoga "the longest relationship in her life."
To find out more about Lotus Flow Studio, go to its website >>
There you will learn about preopening memberships, from two weeks to annual.
Open for classes daily after a new opening date is reported. Call 781-697-2450.
July 25, 2018: Adventure Pub coming: Hang out, dine, play games
June 26, 2018: Drum Connection closes
June 13, 2018: A new window opens up at Capitol Square
May 16, 2018: SMOOTHIE: E. Arlington's Thrive aims to plant healthy fare
This news report was published Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, and updated Jan. 21.
