Meet Stephanie Francis | Yoga studio owner, Yoga teacher, Thai massage practioner, Reiki master, energy healing, space holder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Francis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Within the industry of healing arts, whether that be yoga, Thai massage, energy healing what we hear a lot is.. its “woowoo” stuff. Its really not! its actually all better medicine than most things out there if we are being honest. Yoga is not just stretching. its is not just a “work out’ its medicine. Thai massage is not woowoo or like any other massage out there, especially the work that I offer. Energy work is not witchcraft. We are all energy. Everything is energy and this work is just as important. Knowing how to use all these practices as medicine is the real flex.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Welcome to The Llama! More official Llamaste Yoga & Healing. We are a yoga studio in the Historical Handley district in Fort Worth. The Llama opened in August ‘2021. It had been a long time coming and the timing is always just right. We are more than a yoga studio. We are more than a place to get a “good workout” this is a space to get a “work in”. As the owner, I believe this is the medicine in all of its ways. Mostly, when people think of a yoga or yoga studio it’s thought of as these perfect bodies doing insane postures that most people can’t do. At the llama its so much more than the postures. What is it your body needs? What is the medicine you need? When I teach i am looking at “What are you feeling in your body? Physically? Mentally? Energetically? We love the physical practice and the challenge it can bring. We love when people come in and think they can’t do something, and maybe they can’t..at first. but gosh! the look on their face and the shift that happens when they finally do. When they come in with some kind of physical discomfort and after and hour of practice they actually feel the difference. and even into the next day. Movement is the medicine. Stillness is medicine. Breath is our spirit and life force with in us. It can change everything when we bring into the awareness of conscious breathing. We love every aspect this practice has to offer. We hold regular holotropic breathwork workshops, meditation gatherings, Yoga nidras, Sound baths, yoga teacher trainings, and so many more workshops that promote healing in all its ways. We are passionate about the world of healing arts and truly believe this is the medicine people need. Along with yoga, I am a practioner of Traditional and Vedic Thai Massage, Reiki Master, space holder, shamanic practices, sound healing, and more, The work I offer in my Thai Sessions and 1:1’s are unique to each individual. I use several different modalities within my sessions depending on what the client is needing at the time. I love the work i offer because its not like what is out there. Clients are not just another body on the mat. They are a individual soul going through their own personal journey. Sometimes we need someone to walk with us. I am that somebody. I am here to serve.

Every person that walks through the door at The Llama is a member of the family. Even if they have only been once or hundred times. I want everyone to feel seen, heard, cared for, loved, and honored when they come in to practice or for sessions. We are building a community and its been so exciting to be apart of it. It fills my heart with so much joy that when people come into the Llama, they feel that. I am told regularly what great energy the space has and that it is felt as a space of healing. That is what i want it to be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I wish I had better answers for this, but the truth is I am quite the homebody. So it would be an adventure for us both! One place I know we would go is to King Spa in Dallas. It is a Korean Spa with the best raman you have ever had. A great place to get a good healthy sweat and chill right out in all of their amazing rooms that promote healing and relaxation. I would also take them to check out this new venue called Rayleigh Underground. They have live bands and great food, it is suppose to be a super cool atmosphere and experience. I would also take them to explore the several different hiking areas around DFW, perhaps catch a Rangers game if it were the right season.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people I would thank for me being in the position I am currently in. First off, would be my teacher and friend, Ali Nohinek. She has been my teacher with yoga in many of ways multiple times over, she was the one who opened the door for me to do Thai Massage. She encouraged me everyday to explore myself more. She helped speak this into existence for me. The studio that is now LLamaste was originally her studio, Radiant Sun academy. It was my home. This space has always been my first home. She use to tell me all the time that it will one day be my space. It will one day be my Llama studio. I owe her a debt of gratitude for being one of my biggest cheerleaders over the years as i grew more and more in myself, my work, my teaching and so much more. She saw something in me I struggled to see within myself for a long time. Truly grateful. Also, I would shoutout a huge big Thank you to my husband, Seth. He took on the side of the business i have no desire to do.. the hard stuff. He has always supported and encouraged any venture or training i wanted to do, even when he didn’t understand it himself. I would thank all the teachers at The Llama who believed in the Llama and me as an owner. They were all there with me from the beginning helping any way they could. Supporting and loving the Llama as if it were their own. I would not be able to do this without any of them. How I got so lucky, I will never know, The support of family and the owner of the building I am in was a huge encouragement to me. So many people believed in what I had to offer. Lastly, the students. the clients and every single soul who has walked through the doors in any capacity. Its an honor and blessing to serve and grow a community.

Website: Llamastetx.com

Instagram: Llamaste_yoga_healing

Facebook: Llamaste Yoga and Healing

Yelp: Llamaste Yoga and Healing

Image Credits
Photo Cred: Allison Reimschussel