The Miami Lakes community is invited to the family-friendly grand opening event for 305Yoga & Outreach, now located at 6175 N.W. 153 Street, Suite 329, on Saturday, May 10, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Snacks and beverages will be available along with a group meditation session, a raffle and the opportunity to meet the new yoga gurus in Miami Lakes.
Terri Cooper, founder and owner of 305Yoga & Outreach has been teaching yoga since 2003, initially as a volunteer, before opening her first studio on Biscayne Bay in 2006.
The style of yoga taught at 305Yoga is called Vinyasa Yoga, which is a flowing style that synchronizes movement with breath. Classes are offered for beginners, intermediate and advanced students all of which combine breathing exercises with poses. Private classes are also available on-site and off-site.
The Miami Lakes location is currently offering 12-15 classes per week and will continue to add more as membership grows. New students receive a discounted package for 6 weeks of yoga at only $65 dollars.
“I love yoga so much and believe in the positive effects it offers to individuals, families and communities,” said Cooper.
Apart from offering classes, Cooper has branched out to create a non-profit organization and also offers 305University which is a 200 hour certification course on the instruction of yoga. Courses for the fall will be given at the Miami Lakes location.
“305U is the education arm of our network. 305U's mission is to provide exceptional quality yoga trainings and certifications that produce professional, highly-trained yoga teachers. We have graduated hundreds of students, many going on to teach yoga full and part time,” said Cooper.
Since Cooper's time as a volunteer yoga instructor sometimes included some of Miami's marginalized communities, she found herself compelled to become involved in community outreach while teaching yoga, which led to Yoga Gangsters.
Yoga Gangsters is an organization whose mission is “to empower youth by addressing the symptoms of trauma and poverty such as limited education, addiction, violence, incarceration, physical and mental disabilities, teen pregnancy, HIV, and more using the practice of yoga.” Cooper and her instructors teach self-awareness, self-respect, and self-control through yoga.
Yoga Gangsters first began as a labor of love in Cooper's living room in 2003 until 2008 when she began training others to work alongside her. In 2011 Yoga Gangsters became an official non-profit.
On founding the non-profit Cooper said, “I myself had a challenging childhood and early adolescence full of trauma that led me to depression, anger and self-destruction. Yoga really saved my life by providing a healthy way for me to heal from my past and recognize potential in my future. I knew as soon as I found the practice that I wanted to share it with other people who were suffering as I had been.”
Based in South Florida, Yoga Gangsters has been serving Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties for more than 10 years working in inner city schools, detention centers, rehab facilities, and within the foster care system. After offering training sessions across the country for instructors Yoga Gangsters has spanned across 10 states including large cities like Las Vegas, Philadelphia, New York, and Phoenix.
Cooper recently returned from her annual 10-day retreat to India with a handful of 305Yoga students for sightseeing, to learn yoga philosophy and meditation, and practice yoga along the Ganges River. This annual retreat, along with many other workshops, special guests, fundraisers, and community gatherings are frequently offered through the yoga center.
Enrollment is open now for the following workshops at the Miami Lakes location:
-Inversions for Everyone on Saturday, May 24;
-Yoga Gangsters Certification from Friday, May 2 to Sunday, May 4;
-14 Week Chakra Course from Thursday, August 21 to Thursday, November 13;
-305University Yoga Teacher Training, Thursday, August 7 to Tuesday, November 18.
For more information on Yoga Gangsters, 305University, classes, and pricing visit www.305yoga.com or call 305-917-5886.