Kim has always been a creative individual who enjoys the challenges of living an active lifestyle. She earned a BFA in Theater and has worked professionally as an actor since childhood. She describes herself as a very active person, both physically and spiritually. Her personal philosophy is that joy is an option and happiness is a choice.

Through childhood abandonment, trauma, scoliosis, adolescent shame and stress, guilt, addictions, failed relationships and a truckload of fear, Kim has found through the practice of yoga and gratitude, the tools she needed to transform her life. Her body began to realign itself, her mind learned to sit still and she discovered that beauty is indeed truth and acceptance of oneself is indeed freedom. With encouragement from her early clients, Kim created Inner Gaze Yoga to share these tools with others.

http://www.innergazeyoga.com/

Paul has been teaching yoga for over twenty years in Los Angeles and Chicago. He infuses the wisdom of yoga, Ayurveda and Thai Medicine into his work, and takes joy in meeting people where they are on the path to improved health and happiness. Paul works with diverse populations including seniors, those with disabilities, and people with Parkinson’s and M.S., and has lead 200-hour yoga teacher trainings. He holds numerous yoga and Thai Massage certifications as well as an M.A. in Psychology from the University Of Santa Monica.

Kim is a non-profit volunteer, mother, wife, and Yoga Teacher with Continuing Education in Children’s Yoga & Trauma Informed Somatic Wellness. Kim has found a passion for mind-body connection and movement after growing up tap-dancing, performing in ballet, playing soccer, and years of cheerleading.

For over 10 years, Yoga has become a crucial part of Kim’s healing journey as she navigates her own traumas, stressors, and physical ailments. Her passion is helping others on their unique journeys feel present, safe, and strong while connecting with their breath and body.

Kim offers modifications for every body and believes yoga IS for every body. “This practice connects us to ourselves, our communities, and to the Divine with deep embodiment and flowing with Intention. All are welcome to experience movement as medicine, collectively heal, and impact the world.”

Madison’s yoga journey began in Kerala, India studying Classical Yoga in 2016.

Her classes unite mind, body, and spirit as a means to become more aware of how we move through life on and off the mat.

Madison brings focus to the importance of alignment and understanding the mechanics of the body, while weaving in reminders to play and move intuitively.

Madison shares the idea that as individuals come together to practice the art of awareness through meditation and movement, we ignite a collective remembrance of what it means to take good care of ourselves and how important it is to have the support of community in our daily lives.

“Regardless of the style of yoga I am teaching, my intention is to create a safe space for my students to move inward with curiosity, patience, and gratitude for life.”

While living and traveling in India and Nepal in 1990, Courtney was fascinated to experienc yoga in its birthplace. She has been a lifelong student and teacher of many different styles of yoga since that time.

Courtney has taught students from all walks of life and of all different ages and abilities throughout the years. From preschoolers to teenagers to mid-lifers to ninety-year-old students, Courtney believes that yoga is for everybody and every-type-of-body. It is a functional toolbox of practices that can bring strength, balance, and respite to the mind, body, and spirit.

As a practicing astrologer and educator, Courtney looks to the daily planetary alignments to inspire her classes. As students arrive to class, she checks in with them to see what requests they may have. She then personalizes the class focus to fit both the day’s energy and students’ needs. Asana (Shapes), Pranayama (Breathwork), Mantra (Chants/Focus), Mudra (Hand gestures), and Meditation are all included in Courtney’s classes.

When Courtney is not teaching yoga, she enjoys travelling the world, live music, studying astrology, and spending time with her hubby and 4 (adult) children. Her personal life mission is to “spread love and self-acceptance one person at a time.” (Courtney can be found at chartyourheart.com)

E'a is a new empty nester fervently following her dreams and passions...EVEN MORE, she feels blessed in that the life she leads is one built from her passions, gifts and hobbies.

"Everything I do to enjoy living I do for a living."

E'a recently converted a 31ft school bus into a mobile Cultural Arts & Wellness Center....a space of healing & love for physical, mental & spiritual wellness literally to meet you where you are at.

At 35 and at the height of her professional career, Dena felt like the stressors of professional and personal life had her in a tailspin. She was barely keeping it together. After stumbling into a yoga studio one Saturday afternoon in search of solace, she found a space where her body and mind could slow down and be present. That was her introduction to yoga and the beginning of a life-long journey of self-discovery.

After 15+ years of practicing and studying yoga, Dena is excited to still be learning. Dena received her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training from Bloom Yoga Studio. Her life experiences and particularly the experience of a changing body have been her greatest teachers influencing and informing her practice and teaching.

In Dena’s class you can expect a warm, welcoming, and mindful place where every student is empowered to use yoga poses and breath techniques to cultivate self-awareness, practice self- acceptance, and learn self-love.

In 2004, Laurie tried a yoga class at her gym and was hooked. She soon discovered that the stretching and breathing, along with the feeling of community in the class, helped her cope with the high stress of her career as a special education teacher for Chicago Public Schools. Laurie began to incorporate yoga and mindfulness breaks with her students throughout the day and also started an after-school yoga program for children at her school.

After retiring from CPS in 2021, Laurie completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. She also completed her 20-hour Gentle and Restorative Yoga Certification at Bloom in 2022. Laurie’s classes are a combination of a gentle warm up leading to more active poses. She loves the spiritual side of yoga, but blends that with playfulness and humor.

Laurie is a competitive powerlifter holding 2 Illinois State Records. She finds yoga is the perfect complement to powerlifting. It not only helps with physical mobility, but also calms and centers her mind, preparing her for the mental toughness that the sport requires. Laurie is a passionate nature lover and finds that outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking can be a form of moving meditation.

Kat began practicing yoga while she was in high school to balance the physical demands of rowing and the emotional growing pains of adolescence. While the physical poses of yoga hooked Kat initially, the emotional practices kept her coming back for the past ten years. Kat continued to practice while she was in college and when she graduated from college in 2020, she returned home to Charlottesville. During the pandemic, Kat took her first teacher training at Hot Yoga Charlottesville and is currently working towards her Advanced Teacher Training under the guidance of Jason Crandell. She moved to Evanston in 2022 to work towards a career in Clinical Psychology. Kat loves to teach yoga because it gives people the opportunity to strengthen and stretch their physical bodies, while also empowering their breath, mind, and spirit.

Abigail creates a safe and loving space for her students to discover how yoga works for their individual needs. Her combination of sound meditation with yoga experience creates a unique class and combines playful movement and rejuvenating relaxation.

In 2018 Abigail discovered gong and sound meditation while in Belize. Incorporating sound in her daily yoga practice has been helping her cope with stress. This has been especially helpful during COVID since she has been in the healthcare industry since 2004. Abigail has been practicing yoga since 2010 and continues to be a dedicated student who is always learning. She completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training as well as 20hr Gentle and Restorative Yoga Teacher Training with Bloom Yoga Studio in 2022.

Soon after graduation, Abigail Co-Founded North Branch Community Yoga. She and a fellow teacher wanted to create a space for accessible, donation based/optional yoga for the community; feature other local yoga teachers; and give yoga teachers the chance to raise money for a cause of their choice.

When Abigail is not at the hospital or teaching you will find her on the next flight to anywhere! Her thirst for adventure has taken her everywhere from the waters of the Galapagos Islands to the Bhutanese Nunneries. Yoga retreats have been Abigail’s gateway to not only the world but another way to connect with individuals outside of her community as well as dive into different cultures.