Making 'Centered Beings' in Lorton

How can we function in this world of stress? Lorton's "Centered Being" yoga studio in the Shoppes of Lorton Valley aims to reduce your tension level by a few notches and help you achieve balance. 

"We're all trying to make sense of our stress," said Centered Being owner Suzie Carmack to Patch. "And I have found that this work, this mind-body yoga work, has been profoundly helpful for me in negotiating my way through life."

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The studio opened in November, and business is good. "I am more surprised than anyone at how well we're already doing," said Carmack to Patch in a recent interview. "To be able to make payroll with 12 part-time instructors and pay rent in the first two months is incredible."  

Carmack, who lives in Lorton with her three children, began her mobile yoga business from her home in 2008, and combines yoga, Pilates and mindfulness techniques in her lessons. She has Master's degrees in theatre, health and kinesiology and is working to get her PhD in health communication from George Mason University next year. 

"I always wanted to have a space were I could have other teachers and could be open all of the time," said Carmack. "The time is never perfect to do something like this, but I felt I had to take a chance… My goal is to be of service to people without the expectation of compensation or reward. That's Karma."