Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Dehlavi.
Cynthia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
This morning as I was getting ready for work, I had the following internal dialogue: Hmmm… If you could do anything, what do you really feel like doing today? I quickly thought. I really just want to make something (visualizing myself moving potted plants around in a garden) and teach a fitness class. Whoa, I am kind of already doing that! How cool!
I am half Persian, half Dutch; born and raised in Houston. Growing up, I watched Food Network in the morning instead of cartoons and took over the kitchen to make something for the family most weekends. I was convinced I wanted to be a chef and have my own cooking show. There was a phase where making houses on the SIMS with my unlimited cash passcode was my favorite activity. During the summers, I became part fish by living in the swimming pool at my grandmother’s house. The first-ever fitness class I took was with my mom when I was 12. The yoga instructor walked in the room, ripped off his snap pants and taught us a flow. We laughed. Later in high school, I became obsessed with a 5 am cycle class that I’d take before homeroom and this yoga class in the evenings. I was always painting, crafting and building things. I traveled a lot!
For college, I studied architecture at the University of Houston. I would wake up really early and drive to UH with my best friend and carpool buddy at the time, Dylan, to teach fitness classes. Then work away in studio and go to classes all day and night. For Graduate School, I studied Landscape Architecture at Harvard. This was one of my favorite times in life. I felt that I had found my tribe of creative minded, ambitious, out of the box thinkers who came from all over the world to pursue a passion. We would work and play hard, share experiences and learn from each other.
There is an amazing architecture firm in the Netherlands called OMA (Office of Metropolitan Architecture) that I had the opportunity to work at in Rotterdam. I researched two elements of architecture (Floor and Ramp) for a book and Venice Biennale exhibition. An incredible experience was teaching three design/build studios through a program called URBANFRAME at MIT. I was part of a very dynamic teaching team that would take students from determining an area of lack, designing a solution, to making it in a short 4-6 week period. These summers were vigorous and so much fun. I returned to my alma mater, University of Houston, for a couple of years to teach design studios and research courses.
For the last six years, I have been really focused on practice. I have been working on large commercial outdoor projects with an amazing firm in Houston called OJB Landscape Architecture. Teaching group fitness classes will probably be my forever side hustle. I have been teaching classes since undergrad. It is the passion I cannot quite because it energizes me more than 3 cups of coffee could. These days I teach indoor cycle and yoga at a few spots around Houston.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Absolutely, there have been challenges! Challenges have a habit of becoming struggles when I am not taking care of myself. A good night of sleep, a healthy diet, movement, spending time with my community, meditation, a walk outside and long hug can easily turn a struggle back into a manageable challenge. I think my biggest advice to other women and men would be to take care of your body, mind and spirit. Create clear boundaries for yourself that support an ecosystem for you to thrive in and that feels really good to you.
When life gets really rocky (the terrible out of your control stuff), I try to let myself just feel whatever comes up. Journaling is a really powerful tool that allows me to separate from my thoughts in order to find more clarity. Movement is another great way to change my physical state which in turn changes my mental state. I probably go on a talkie walkie every week with a great friend. We will just make a loop around memorial or buffalo bayou park and talk to each other about life.
What should we know about Landscape Architecture and Fitness? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My favorite types of projects are high-touch, hospitality-focused outdoor spaces. I believe a beautifully designed space can transform your mental and physical state. For instance, have you ever walked through the Rothko Chapel at the Menil? The energy shift in that space is insanely powerful. Or, have you ever traveled to the beach or the mountains for a holiday to restore and recover? The environment supports your physical state! In the case of retreating to nature, it’s called biophilic response and it’s humans innate need to be close to nature. Have you ever walked through a really posh lobby in Miami and felt like a million bucks? Once again, change in state thanks to the power of design. This is what motivates my passion, improving people’s lives through great design.
As a landscape architect, I have had the privilege to work on some amazing outdoor spaces over the last few years. These include institutional landscapes at TCU and Rice University, several mixed-use developments in Houston, master planning exercises, infrastructural work, a couple of public parks and roof gardens. I worked with a team to research and design a strategy to transform big box stores into interactive farm space. There were a couple of weeks that I played with intricate tile and brick patterns for a mixed-use courtyard. I have nerded-out over plant species, soil types and starting mini-ecosystems. Lots of cool stuff!
As a fitness instructor, I just want to help people to feel great. At BeYoga, I teach a carefully curated flow that leads up to peak pose. For indoor cycling at HRC, I create a workout experience with changing resistance, speeds, duration and rhythms. Both classes are fun, challenging and have great playlists.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
I listen to a lot of podcasts and audiobooks! I am currently listening to Gabby Bernstein’s book Super Attractor. I highly recommend it if you want to live a positive vibration life and feel good. The Goop podcast and The Skinny Confidential are two of my other favorite podcasts at the moment. At night, I am currently reading Stillness is Key by Ryan Holiday. I would recommend all of those. I went to Tony Robbins weekend seminar, Unleash the Power Within, a few years ago. I learned so much at this event and if anyone has the opportunity, I’d recommend trying that out!
Contact Info:
- Website: cynthiadehlavi.com
- Email: cynthiadehlavi@gmail.com
- Instagram: @lifeofcyns
Image Credit:
Glam Shot – Menil Contemporaries Event; American Flag Image – My Dad; “Screw It” – Pete Molick; Candid Networking – Menil Contemporaries Event; Yoga Pose – Billy http://www.b-morq.com
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