A very tailored Shana Stein walks into the conference room of her North Dallas law firm — but not before an officemate tells her to put on more lipstick. 

“I’ve been getting away with not wearing makeup for nine years,” Stein snickered. 

The 5-feet-2 inch-spitfire is admittedly a tomboy — casual, no fuss. Her new dress, purse and vintage shoe ensemble is not her typical style, though she can appreciate a polished look.

 

 

When she’s not attending to clients, heading to court or even chairing a murder trial, Stein can be found mimicking a scorpion because she’s not only a criminal defense attorney; she’s also a yoga instructor. The “scorpion” is one yoga pose among many Stein knows how to contort herself into.

“I have a ton of energy,” she said. “I’m a multi-tasking machine.”
Stein began practicing yoga seriously during her first semester at the University of Miami School of Law after a history of a yo-yo workout routine. 

“At five three, every three pounds is like a size,” she said. “You can flux a dress size in one week if you don’t watch it!”
Now she not only owns her own firm in her early 30s, this year she joined Gaia Flow Yoga in Addison as an instructor. 

Gaia Flow Yoga founder and owner Chrystal Rae Almeida said that what Stein offers to the practice that is unique is her experience in the world of law.

“I think the beauty of what she brings is knowing the stresses and complexities of the world,” she said. “I really enjoy her whole confidence in that and how she understands people’s struggles.”

Gaia Flow is known in the yoga world as being a challenging studio, and although Stein is a new teacher, Almeida said she is a “natural born yogi” who has the talents of an instructor who has been teaching for 10 years. She also said she works well with the masculine and feminine “Shiva Shakti” or “opposing forces.”

“What can be more opposite of yoga than law?” Almeida said with a laugh.

Judge Jeffrey Rosenfield can attest to Stein’s discipline.

“She’s aggressive, confident, diligent and caring,” he said. “She’s a bulldog in a sense when it comes to law. When she grabs something she is not going to let go and roll over.”

One thing she really doesn’t let go of is her quest to attain everything in moderation. She sees the art of Zen as something to be obtained amongst the world as opposed to on the top of a mountain, so to speak. To this end, Stein chooses to be a vegetarian for health reasons, but jokingly said if she ever craved a steak, she would eat it. 

Stein also believes in giving back. She will take part in YogaFest 2009, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and will be instructing 24 consecutive hours of yoga classes beginning Nov. 21 at Gaia Flow Yoga to raise money for Team in Training. Stein is fundraising to walk the White Rock Marathon. 

In addition, she teaches classes for Dirt Cheap Yoga, a State of Texas nonprofit with a mission that yoga is for everyone. 

“My parents always told me, you always find time for the things that are important to you,” Stein said. “I have just been surprised at how all of this has overwhelmingly changed my life perspective. I have a whole different level of compassion for the fellow man.”

Jenice Johnson is the photographer for neighborsgo. She can be reached at jsjohnson@neighborsgo.com. 

MORE INFO

Shana Stein’s classes at Gaia Flow Yoga are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Fridays and from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Trinity River Audubon Center for Dirt Cheap Yoga. Visit Stein’s Web site at getyogafied.com.