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| Beata on the right with three of the Mountain Flow teachers: Aneca Mroz, Katie Fisk, and Claire Brady. |
Though both were running wellness-related businesses in Kilcullen,
Beata Zielinska and
Stephen Bunney didn't really know each other,
writes Brian Byrne. Until they both recently happened to be attending the same weekend course in Galway, on the rather specialised subject of oxygen advantage.
They got chatting, sharing a laugh about the fact that of the 30 participants, two were from Kilcullen. Beata was the co-founder of No1 Fitness in 2015, and Stephen had set up his Warrior Wellness Yoga studio in Hillcrest some years ago. "Then he mentioned he was selling the business, taking a break for family and work reasons," Beata told me at yesterday's Open Day launch of her Mountain Flow Yoga. "I had wanted a cosy place for yoga, which I teach at No1 Fitness, but it would always be just a part of that operation."
Looking back on that Galway meeting and her subsequent purchase of Stephen's business, she believes there was an unanticipated alignment of forces. "The fact that the two of us would be at that course — he said that it had been very likely that he wouldn't attend. That he happened to be sitting behind me in the group. That a yoga space of my own was something that I instinctively wanted." But it was also something she hadn't gone looking for, and that she admits she wasn't ready for.
There were financial considerations. Also, the fact was that she was, and will remain, full-time at No1 Fitness. "For several days, I talked about it with my husband, Michael. I won't lie, I was scared. It wasn't something we had planned, but then, after a few days, I woke up with the decision made: I will do this. This is my future."
Beata's interest in yoga stemmed from sports injuries she sustained during her fitness and competitive regimen. Physiotherapy had only resulted in limited improvement, so she explored alternatives about seven years ago. She found Yin Yoga, a slow-paced, passive style that targets deep connective tissues, promotes stillness, calms the mind, supports flexibility, and helps release tension. And for Beata, it worked, to the point that she undertook an instructor's course in Croatia in 2019 and later introduced the discipline to the schedule at No1 Fitness as an option for athletes who use the gym. "I got a huge result there, because the athletes had not taken the time to do yoga. When they did, they could feel both physical and mental changes."
Beata was already known to the community at Warrior Wellness, which has helped in the transition. All but one of the instructors are staying — "the other girl is setting up her own studio in Blessington" — and the programmes established by Stephen Bunney will remain. "It's important to maintain the energy established by Stephen. Of course, there will be my own energy, different as a female, but I'm not going to change anything except external things. It's a lovely team here, and I'll be the coordinator as well as teaching myself."
The current programmes include mixed-level dynamic Vinyasa, restorative yoga, chair yoga, Hatha, mindful Yin, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Vinyasa flow, yoga for strength and stability, and Pilates. Events and workshops are also planned, led by both in-house and guest teachers, and there will be yoga retreats. Techniques covered include mindfulness and breathwork, and there will also be hiking.
The Open Day yesterday afternoon was very well attended, as evidenced by the photos below from Ola Kearney, provided by Mountain Flow Yoga. Further information can be obtained at 087 3631154 or by email at hello@mountainflow.ie.
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