Today, we’d like to introduce you to Steven Cummings. Steven was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Sarah Mondet.
Steven, thank you so much for joining us today. We’d love for you to bring our readers up to speed – can you introduce yourself and share your story?
Greetings, My name is Steve Cummings, born & raised in Virginia and now residing in north Pacific Beach at the Om Garden — a community-style home and outdoor space offering yoga, acro yoga & partner acrobatics along with a variety of other wellness activities. Before settling in San Diego I served as a US Army officer in the 173rd Airborne Brigade living in Vicenza, Italy. After going through Airborne and Ranger School I deployed to Afghanistan for a year, and after completing my term of service I left the military to travel the world for several years.
While still in the Army I began taking yoga classes during my lunch hour with a friend’s wife who led the wellness program on base. These classes began a subtle shift that would change the course of my life. When I entered a chapter of solo traveling around the world, yoga continued to draw me deeper into a new way of living. The winding path guided me towards reawakening a sense of feeling and intuition that had long laid dormant. Through the portal of yoga I found vitality and purpose, as well as the next big passion in my life: acro yoga and partner acrobatics,
When I finally landed in San Diego I had the intent to transition into an entirely different mode of living than what I’d experienced in the military. While I had completed a yoga teacher training in India, I chose to dive into teaching acro and performing partner acrobatics. The community I entered and helped to cultivate grew into an incredible group of interconnected humans who shared a desire for healthy living, authentic trust & communication, and an intention to seek & share joy and connection. My partner Gina and I established the Om Garden in San Diego as our own space to teach and share our practices, and we continue to travel as acro performers & instructors globally.
Please talk to us about your creative work and career. What should we know?
My partner Gina and I teach and perform partner acrobatics. For initiates and people just getting started, we offer L-base acro yoga lessons in classes, workshops, private instruction, and at festivals & other events. We also teach intermediate and advanced level acro with private lessons and at acrobatic festivals in the US and abroad. As performers, we generally employ a style called “acro adagio” which incorporates elements of acrobatics, hand-to-hand skills, and dance. Gina is a former professional ballerina and offers the grace and beauty to accompany Steve’s more stoic positioning. While we work with various talent and entertainment groups in the San Diego area, we also travel internationally as both instructors and performers. To contact us regarding acro lessons, event workshops, performance, or other matters please write to airborneacro@gmail.com. You can also find us on Instagram at @acrothornado and @flyginapie.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Picnic by Nature and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Picnic by Nature.
Sarah is a dear friend of ours who we originally met through yoga and her interest in trying acro yoga. She entered the community as a newcomer to San Diego and blossomed into an integral member endeared to all. Sarah consistently shares her kindness & compassion with others as well as her excellent videography and photography skills to help others reach for growth & success.
It’s been a true pleasure to witness Sarah’s business, Picnic by Nature, sprout from a small side-hustle into a smoothly operating generator of lovely memories and experiences for her clients. Sarah had a vision of something never before done in San Diego and acted on her instincts, creating an incredibly successful small business single-handedly and with great determination.
For my first experience with Picnic by Nature, I wished to surprise my partner Gina with a sunset picnic in a serene park by Mission Bay. Sarah worked with me to plan the experience and keep Gina from finding out, even though they were friends and we had to be quite sneaky. Sarah curated a wondrous scene with a cozy and chic picnic underneath a shady tree hung with candles, complete with romantic music, delicious hors d’ouevres and even s’mores! At my request, Sarah also “crashed” our picnic — camera in hand — and took beautiful sunset photos (acro included) so we could cherish the memories.
I would (and have!) recommend Picnic by Nature to anyone looking for a unique & intimate outdoor experience professionally crafted to create a container for love and a deep appreciation of life’s finer moments. Engagements, celebrations, date nights, and other named events can give a fine reason to seek out her offerings, but one needn’t wait for a special occasion to experience this…special occasion. Nowhere near your average picnic, Sarah brings her passion for excellence right onto the blanket for you to revel in and enjoy.
Gina and I still reminisce on the magic of our first experience with Picnic by Nature, and the warmth we still feel holding that sunset in our hearts. I often think that anyone who can help people enjoy the richness of our beautiful San Diego sunsets, night after night, must have a true love for beauty and wonder herself. That’s Sarah–she wears her heart on her sleeve with Picnic by Nature, and I thank her for it. A seeker of joy who I’m happy to name a friend.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acrothornado/?hl=en
