Please Note: All of our teachers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Lauren “Ren” Farenga-Kosmidis | owner.E-ryt500. msw
Lauren teaches yoga in a way that makes yoga accessible to everyone in the room, and creates a safe and welcoming environment where students feel comfortable to make the practice their own.
Lauren has turned to yoga throughout her life to cope with grief, trauma and to manage symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Yoga has healed her and brought her happiness and purpose. Through her work as a social worker and yoga teacher, Lauren developed Chakra Flow Yoga which she teaches weekly at the studio.
Lauren has been practicing yoga since age 14 and has over 11+ years of experience as a yoga teacher, Yoga Teacher Training leader and meditation guide. Lauren is the Owner of Lotus Yoga Studio, Founder of Lotus Community Yoga Project, Re-Yoga Program and a Clinical Social Worker who worked in mental health for over 10 years prior to opening the studio.
When not on her mat Lauren enjoys hiking, singing, dancing and spending time with her husband, friends and family.
Follow @renfarenga and @LotusYogaArlington
Giuliana De marchi | E-RYT500
Giuliana first came to the mat for the physical benefits but returns day after day for her heart, her spirit, and her mind. Although she spent most of her life reading books and avoiding exercise prior to yoga it quickly became an anchor through the many transitions and challenges life presents offering a place free of judgement to explore the truth, discern clarity, and discover self. Sharing in this Giuliana works with her students to improve flexibility of body and mind both on and off the mat. From playful flows to Yoga Nidra Giuliana’s classes allow students to show up where they are and take what they need. These practices cultivate increased awareness, strength, and resilience that can be accessed by all while honoring different levels and journeys.
When not doing yoga Giuliana can be found practicing martial arts, bicycling around spy pond, or adventuring.
Follow @explorasauraus
Sarah Ander Shultz | RYT500
Sarah has been practicing for over 25 years, beginning in a cozy basement of the foreign languages building in college. Not sure what she was after when she started, Sarah knew whatever it was, it sure brought her to a new mental place - one of clarity, focus and challenge while being simultaneously calming.
Sarah has completed trained with Daniel Prlansky and Liz Owen of Yoga of Energy Flow, advanced studies with Theresa Murphy and Cindy Butler, and at the Triple Gem School of Thai Massage. She teaches yoga to inspire others to breathe deeply, to bend with grace and humor, to witness with gratitude the world as it is, and to help guide her students to a place of centering.
Sarah is happiest when she is scuba diving with her camera, skiing and attacking her boys with hugs.
Follow @SarahAnderShultz
Leah Broder | RYT200
Leah’s yoga journey began in 2002 when she was a student at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, studying to be a landscape architect. What began as a quest for physical release and spiritual focus has grown deeper over the past two decades, through an exploration of various styles of yoga at studios in Massachusetts, California, and as far afield as the United Arab Emirates. She has practiced Hatha, Anusara, and Kripalu yoga, always returning to Vinyasa flow as the form that most resonates with her. Leah was one of the first students to attend classes at Lotus Yoga Studio when it opened in Arlington in 2018, and has been a dedicated Lotus yogini ever since.
Leah began her teacher training with Lauren Farenga in January of 2020, and completed her 200 hour RYT certification during the Covid-19 pandemic. Living through the early days of the stay-at-home order while cultivating a yoga “tool kit” of physical practice, meditation, mindfulness, and breath work, has been invaluable to her well-being. Leah’s classes are light-hearted yet challenging, encouraging a sense of playfulness while building strength, flexibility, self-acceptance, and compassion.
Follow @leahbyoga
Marina Vieira | RYT200
Marina has turned to yoga for both physical and emotional healing throughout her life. Movement and meditation have brought her peace and happiness; keeping her centered and grounded. After witnessing how powerful yoga can be in all aspects of life, she made it her mission to share this passion with others. This is what lead her to complete a 200 hour RYT training at Lotus Yoga, studying under Lauren Farenga.
Marina wants to inspire students to reconnect with and be present with the body- accepting it without judgement. She uses her empathic ability and intuition to bring a unique class to students in hopes that it will touch a part of them that needs love and compassion. She holds an intention to guide her students to find space for healing, strength, or whatever they may need at that moment; while simultaneously exploring fluid movement and physical expression.
Marina’s classes are always accessible and welcoming. You will leave the mat feeling centered and empowered to take on life off the mat.
Follow @love_and_light_mv
Olivia Spector, RYT200
Olivia first found yoga as an athlete, and at the beginning, simply looked forward to the opportunity to stretch achy muscles. After eventually making her way to a vinyasa class, she felt the wonderful impacts of linking breath with movement to calm the mind. She fell in love with the encouragement to let go rather than push to the limit, and all the anxiety relief that came from breath work.
Today she brings creativity to each flow, and encourages students to explore what they need physically & spiritually on their mat. She welcomes everyone to take each class to their own level, and to look at each moving meditation as a fresh start for their day.
Olivia has completed her RYT 200 with Lauren Farenga at Lotus Yoga Studio, and is also currently studying Reiki under Jeanette Coleman
@flow_with_liv
Cat Martignetti, RYT200
Cat’s yoga journey started through her long-time love and passion for health and fitness. Yoga became an important part of Cat’s life when she realized how at-peace it made her feel mentally and emotionally and how that spilled into more aspects of her life. This newfound passion drove her to a yoga teacher training in 2018 and the rest is history. Cat studied at the Yandara Yoga Institute in Todos Santos, Mexico which was a 16-day all-immersive style training where she fell deeper in love with yoga and developed her teaching skills. Cat’s favorite style of yoga to teach is vinyasa flow where she can bring creativity, passion, and physical challenges to each practice alongside a fun playlist, similar to a dance. She also has experience teaching many other styles of yoga including Slow Flow, Restorative, as well as Chair Yoga for seniors.
When not teaching, Cat enjoys spending time with her family and dog, working at her family’s local brewery, and can be found at the beach and walking barefoot around outdoors all summer long. She loves cooking healthy food and balancing that out with plenty of ice cream.
Follow @catmartignettiyoga