Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra (Alex) Dull.
Hi Alexandra (Alex), please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all begins with movement. From a young age, I loved to dancing, twirling, playing. When you’re a kid, you don’t realize the impact of the extracurricular activities you participate in. All through school, I essentially had a side-full-time-dance job. I practiced at the dance studio for several hours a week and competed & performed on the weekends. That devotion to my dance & moment practice still plays out in my life almost twenty years later. A bold move for my first career job as a Recreation Therapist brought me from my home in Virginia to California. Most people don’t know about the work of a Recreation Therapist – I spent time brining joy, activities, and a sense of purpose to folks in hospitals, addiction recovery centers, hospice care, and Veterans Homes. This move deepened my desire to get to know my community and get back to a movement practice. I had heard of Yoga and knew there was something beyond just the movement. Something philosophical and spiritual in nature. I found a studio and once again, became completely devoted to the movement practice. I went to any class and workshop I could just to dive deeper, learn more. Naturally, I felt called to do a Yoga Teacher Training. I went to Costa Rica for an immersive Yoga Teacher Training in 2016. A job as a Recreation Therapist brought me to Baltimore following my training. I feel deeply in love with this city. I bounced all over town living in so many different neighborhoods. I landed out in Middle River after meeting my partner. What a gem Middle River is! Living out here, I realized there were limited wellness-focused spaces. I connected with Amanda Smith of Amanda Kelsea Spa and we collaborated to bring Middle River Yoga to our community. In 2024, I completed Massage School at Potomac Massage Training Institute. I am a full-time, self-employed Massage Therapist, Yoga teacher & Studio Owner, and retreat host. My purpose is to offer peaceful practices for a chaotic world. But here we are! I am so grateful to Baltimore for shining her light bright enough for me to get curious and move here. And here I will stay!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh yes of course, there are so many obstacles! Being a body-based practitioner, I think & feel with my body. So my mind trips a bit with crunching numbers and tackling administrative to-do lists. I am very skilled as a bodyworker and it comes very naturally. On the other hand, I have to work really hard to keep myself organized so I can run my businesses. I have a never-ending to-do list so I could always be working. It is important for me to hold boundaries and take days off for joy! And days off from seeing clients for administrative tasks otherwise the lists never end. Middle River Yoga studio is an example of “build it and they will come”. We started in a completely empty basement in 2023. We didn’t have any props, proper flooring, or temperature control. I kept track of attendance in a notebook. Two years later and we have the most beautiful space with mirrors, a fireplace, all of the props you could need, a stunning website and even an app! I keep building, and they keep coming. An antidote to the challenges and obstacles is to not feel like you’re doing it alone. I am surrounded by other business owners, entrepreneurs, and wellness experts. We meet often to troubleshoot, explore, and keep the dreams alive!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I run two heart-centered, body-based businesses.
Middle River Yoga studio is based in Middle River and offers a wide variety of classes suitable for all levels and bodies.
Flowing with Alex is a massage practice located in Middle River & Towson. I specialize in nervous system focused massage, Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, and myofascial release. I am for all sessions to feel safe, grounded, and productive.
My two businesses greatly impact each other and keep the connections and network running strong!
Any big plans?
I love this question because it puts me in a dreaming mindset. I am thrilled to continue to foster the growth of Middle River Yoga. I envision more diverse offerings, more community members knowing about what we’re up to, outdoor summer classes and neighborhood trash pick ups and potlucks – more avenues for connection. I know that Middle River Yoga is a space where folks feel safe and comfortable and it’s an honor to nurture that. I dream of more retreats to magical destinations. Massage Therapy schools are not meeting the mark these days and I yearn to be a better educator for movement-practices and mind-body connection so maybe a training or Massage School is on the horizon. All I know is that where I am now wasn’t what I envisioned for myself. I always knew that my work needed to be purposeful and I wanted with freedom in my days, not grinding the 9-5. I will continue to hold that vision for myself and be surprised by what comes! And I wish this freedom and joyful & purposeful work for all of us.
Pricing:
- 60 minute massage $120
- 90 minute massage $165
- 120 minute massage $240
- Middle River Yoga unlimited monthly $115
- Middle River Yoga – new students 30 days for $30
Contact Info:
- Website: www.flowingwithalex.com / www.middleriveryoga.com
- Instagram: @flowingwithalex @middleriveryogamd
- Youtube: middleriveryogamd
