Meet Rosa Lopez Santana | Level 3 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rosa Lopez Santana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rosa Lopez, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After 3 accidental falls left me with back pain, I searched to understand why I had back pain. I went to various medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists. I got temporary relief. When I discovered Iyengar Yoga, the back pain disappeared. And so did the tension in my neck, PMS, and constipation.

I was a stay at home mother, and decided I should open a yoga studio. I could take my girls to school, teach a couple of classes, pick them up, do homework and make dinner, then go back and teach an evening class. I figured, everyone has back pain. And they can heal it as I did, naturally. So I opened an Iyengar Yoga studio, and it grew by word of mouth. After a while I realized I needed more teachers, and our staff grew to 11 teachers.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Yogarosa is an internationally known studio because of the wonderful community we have. We have made friends from around the world who came to visit or teach at our sacred space. It was a place where everyone felt welcome. One would hear all languages being spoken here at many times. Spanish, English, French, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian. Your yearly Holiday Potluck was always a huge success, and students looked forward to it. WE created community by hosting events like a clothing swap. Those who had too many clothes would clean out their closets, and those who needed clothes in our community would walk out with brand new wardrobes. We not only wanted to save the environment, but the leftover clothing would be donated to the local homeless shelter.

The biggest challenge was brought on by the pandemic, and we were forced to close our physical space. We switched to online classes within a week, and taught our students to use zoom. They shone to their grandkids when they were able to stay in contact during the lockdowns.

Our biggest challenge has been the loss of some of our students due to covid, or cancer, and not being able to gather as we used to. As the leader of our community, I now see what an impact we had. It was a special place where everyone felt they belonged. Unfortunately we have been unable to gather in person since. We still get calls and emails every day asking us when we will be able to re-open.

Since I got Covid in May 2020, and have been dealing with Long Covid effects, my energy is limited, so I just teach some online classes and do in person privates. Many students and our teachers may not know that for years I didn’t take a salary to keep things running. I am not working less and getting paid more, although I do miss the community.

I am planning workshops at local studios for 2024, and am looking for fabulous spaces for retreats. Stay Tuned.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our area has lots of secret non touristy things to do. First, we would spend some time on the beach. The beaches in northern Hollywood and Haulover (South of the nude beach!) are amazing, and not as dirty or noisy as Hallandale,

One of my favorite restaurants is Lettuce and Tomato in North Miami near the monastery. It’s a family owned gastropub with really fresh and local ingredients and a fabulously creative menu. Must share the Apricot and Manchego Fennel salad. It’s to die for. And that’s just a start. Sharing various choices is the best.

In Wynwood, there have the best tacos at Taco Stand. The nopales tacos are outrageous even if you’re not vegetarian. (I’m not.) Then we can walk to Cielito Artisanal Pops. I will have two of them, since I can’t decide between the Dulce de Leche with brownie chunks or the Pavlova, with strawberries, Dulce de Leech, and Merengue. (see the pattern?)

Then we head to Fiorito, an Argentinian Steakhouse which imports their meat from Paraguay. This is where I stopped being a vegetarian after 25 years. True Story.

A visit to the New Word Symphony is a must visit, especially if there’s a show. The Perez Museum is a great place to visit, and anywhere in Miami is good people watching.

To take a break from the crazies, and to burn some calories, Kayaking at West Lake Park will remind us of our divinity.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Bobbi Goldin, the owner of the Yoga Institute of Miami and Marti Parker Krauss, both were influential women who were both studio owners at the time, and guided me to open a business.

I was also inspired by the book, Creative Visualization, by Shakti Gawain. The colors and logo of my studio are based on the pink-bubble technique, which is a visualizations technique she teaches to manifest your dreams. Pink represents love, and my logo is a pink bubble.

Website: www.yogarosa.com

Instagram: @yogarosa

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yogarosa/

Twitter: @yogarosa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosalsantana1/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yogarosa-hallandale-beach?osq=yogarosa

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Yogarosa

Image Credits
the studio pictures (black background) are taken by Alfredo Gugig.