WESTLAKE, Ohio - Looking for growth? Try yoga. Try houseplants. Flows & Grows in Crocker Park will offer both starting August 28. The yoga studio offers classes, workshops, meditation and sound healing. The studio is complemented by a carefully curated collection of houseplants that promote physical and mental well-being. All are for sale.

Yogi Emily Kloss created Flows & Grows, 228 Market St, Westlake, as a sanctuary for growth. Kloss had been practicing yoga for years when the pandemic started. When she lost her job, she dedicated herself to her yoga practice and reinvention.

“I had time and space to stop with a life that’s always on the rat wheel,” she says. She asked herself, “What am I really doing here? Let’s make life more purposeful.”

So, she became a yoga teacher.

The combination of yoga and plants was a natural. “They’re my two favorite things in the world. It was easy,” she says. “I started in college and got a jade plant. I still have it. It is one of my prized possessions.

“I started enjoying the patterns of growth. As I deepened my yoga practice, I noticed that they’re similar in growth patterns. And, when you’re taking care of a plant, it can put you in a meditative state similar to the practice of yoga.”

At home that led to 150 plants. And more are arriving for the store, which will offer a selection of indoor tropical plants, succulents, and cacti. With an emphasis on sustainability, Kloss will source plants from local nurseries and promote eco-friendly practices.

Shoppers get advice with their plants. For houseplant novices with pets or small children, she recommends non-toxic plants like hoyas, calatheas and spider plants. She especially likes spider plants because they grow plantlets. These can be potted and shared with friends.

The plant-challenged may want to consider snake plants, ZZ plants or pothos.

“Snakes and ZZs want water once a month and you can keep them in just about any light,” she says. “Pothos take a ton of neglect. They’re trailing and create interest.”

Braver souls may step into rare plants like the trendy monstera Thai constellation which require more care and is prone to root rot.

“They have more health issues, but they’re very popular because they’re Instagramable,” says Kloss. “I recommend them for people who are really into plants as a hobby.”

The shop will offer “care cards” for each plant and diagnose plant health problems.

Flows & Grows will offer a range of yoga packages, including drop-in classes, monthly passes, and packages tailored to individual needs. The studio will also host workshops and events focused on all aspects of growth, wellness, and sustainable living, inviting renowned instructors and speakers to share their expertise with the community.

For more information about Flows & Grows, including class schedules, pricing, and events, visit flowsandgrows.com or contact Emily Kloss at info.flowsandgrows@gmail.com. The plant shop will be open 1 to 5 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday.