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"Inspiring You to Lead a Healthier, More Fulfilling Life"
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| teacher bios |
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Jackie DeGaetano,
Director |
Jackie has been a devoted student of Yoga, healing and meditation for over 15 years and decided to share her love of Yoga by becoming a teacher. She received her teaching certification from Moksha Yoga in Chicago and has been specializing in yoga for healing. She has been blessed with opportunities to practice and study with many great senior teachers such as Seane Corn, Tias Little, Saul David Raye, Shiva Rea, Ravi Singh, and Rod Stryker. She currently teaches yoga in a variety of styles and areas including women’s’ issues such as weight loss, prenatal, infertility, and is a certified Thai Yoga Therapist. She is a certified HypnoBirthing® Practioner and Childbirth Educator (HBCE). Jackie and her family have lived in Elmhurst for 25 years. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to offer Yoga teachings to the Elmhurst community at Yoga Shala. Check the schedule for Jackie's classes. |
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| Cathy Adams |
Cathy has been a student of yoga for over 10 years and she received her teacher certification after studying with Stephanie Starnes and Anusara Teacher Sarah Starnes at Elmhurst Yoga Shala. Cathy studies energy work, aromatherapy, holistic wellness, meditation and visualization and she incorporates many of these principles into her yoga classes. She believes that yoga helps to balance self improvement with self acceptance – this leads to more openness, contentment and gratitude for daily life. Cathy is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a PCI Certified Parent Coach®, and a Certified Elementary School Teacher. She is Adjunct Faculty in the Sociology Department at Dominican University where she teaches Sociology of the Family. She is a writer for Chicago Parent Magazine and last year she published her first book titled The Self-Aware Parent: 19 Lessons for Growing with Your Children. Cathy lives in Elmhurst with her husband Todd and their three daughters. Learn more about Cathy at www.cathycassaniadams.com Check the schedule for Cathy's classes. |
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| Sandy Bachman |
Sandy Bachman is an intuitive healer, and she knows that all healing begins in the heart. “Getting to the Heart of the Matter” is more than just a saying to her – it is truth. In the last several years, Sandy has expanded her knowledge and experience of right living to include becoming an Ayurveda Practitioner as well as a Pancha Karma Specialist. She has been teaching Hatha Yoga for over 5 years and received her Teacher of Hatha Yoga certification through the Temple of Kriya Yoga under the tutelage of Kim Schwartz. She enjoys assisting people in finding their way on this magical carpet ride we call Life. Check the schedule for Sandy's classes. |
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Gosia Glinko
to read more about Gosia in our feature teacher article... |
Gosia has always been dedicated to fitness, health and wellness. She discovered Yoga in 2001 and in 2004 became certified yoga teacher through Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago. Her teaching is inspired by Daren Friesen, Shiva Rea and Anna Forrest. Gosia’s energizing and challenging classes offer opportunities for personal growth, development of self awareness, founding balance between strength and surrender and leaving students with feeling of clear mind and inner peace. In her classes Gosia incorporates breath-synchronized movement, pranayama, bandhas, kriyas, meditation and deep relaxation. Check the schedule for Gosia's classes.
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| Pavla Haluskova |
Since Pavla was a child, she was fascinated in finding out what would bring calmness and openness to her heart and mind, and to be able to find all those answers on the oh so many questions of what life has to offer. Later when she was introduced to yoga, she did not know how much her physical practice would change her life. She researched many styles, and then stepped in to the grace and extended her heart in Sarah Richelle Starnes’ class. It was an awakening and suddenly everything made so much more sense. Her passion began. She received her Hatha yoga certification at Soderworld Wellness Center and continuously immerses herself to study with many amazing and inspiring teachers. John Friend (founder of Anusara) and many of his master and certified teachers like Sienna Sherman, Noah Maze, Douglas Brooks, Ross Rayburn, Desiree Rumbaugh, Todd Norian, Darren Rhodes, Martin Kirk, Geri Bleir. Presently she is working towards the Anusara-inspired level.
Through the application of essential oils, the energetic power of Reiki, the biomechanics and philosophy of Hatha yoga, Pavla possesses the ability to transform lives. She also enhances her life’s quality by consuming a diet of primarily raw foods and detox, and is available to educate and assist one on their own raw food path. Her passion for establishing balance is present in anything she puts her talent into, especially when it involves uplifting the lives of others. Check the schedule for Pavla's classes.
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Kathy Mucha
to read more about Kathy in our feature a teacher article... |
Knowing that every body is unique; Kathy asks that you tune in to and explore YOURself, allowing her to guide you thru your yoga experience. Emphasis is on Your comfort and stability. Guidelines such as proper bone and muscle alignment are offered for you to practice safely while you are reminded to watch your breath. You are given the opportunity to stretch and strengthen Yourself as much or as little as You feel is appropriate. Classes finish with Savasana, a guided relaxation. You are offered support in reconnecting to Your innate inner wisdom. Kathy is a Certified Teacher of Hatha Yoga through The Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago as of May 2001. Her primary teacher is Kim Schwartz. This year-long program includes theory and practice of asana and teaching asana, yoga philosophy, anatomy, and theory and practice of pranayama and meditation. She hesitates to put a particular label on her style of Hatha Yoga, but encourages students to err on the side of caution in approaching physical challenges. To keep her teaching methods fresh, she regularly participates in classes, workshops, and teacher-training retreats, as well maintaining a daily practice. Recently, she is heavily influenced by Paul Grilley’s anatomical revelations about the great variety of bone structure within the human population. She's been a yoga student since 1986 and teaching yoga since 1999. Great teachers, friends and a loving family guide her through her life and yoga journey. Check out her new website at breatheyouryoga.com or email Kathy@BreatheYourYoga.com Check the schedule for Kathy's classes. |
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| Ericka Pomatto |
Ericka has been in the Fitness Industry since 1990. She holds both her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Exercise Physiology. She is certified with American Council of Exercise (ACE) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for both Group Exercise and Personal Training. She also holds a certification from Jonathan Urla of Yogilates in Advanced Pilates Mat Certification. Ericka has been practicing yoga since the late 1990’s and is an inspired teacher of Vinyasa Flow Yoga and Power Yoga. She received her yoga training from the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA. Ericka’s teaching style is truly a fusion of her trainings in Yoga, fitness and Pilates with a strong emphasis on proper alignment.
Check the schedule for Ericka's classes. |
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Carol Sprafka
to read more about Carol in our Feature a Teacher article... |
Carol completed her yoga teacher training with Ana Forrest in August of 2005, and implements the Forrest goal of “mending the Hoop of the People.” As a person who has always been interested in health, healing, and fitness, she came to yoga after teaching dance aerobics for over 25 years. Learning she had breast cancer, she sought a more healing activity to help her in her recovery. After several years of doing other kinds of yoga, she found in Forrest yoga the physical challenge that she enjoys along with the healing influences it encourages. In teaching the Forrest style of yoga, she strives to pass on her love of Forrest by improving the overall health of her students; teaching them to expand the depth of their breathing, and ultimately taking their breath into every part of their bodies. She assists yogis in dynamically shifting their own yoga practice with invigorating sequences, bringing both challenge and a sense of satisfaction in every pose. She practices this powerful tool for healing, restoring, and building strength and beauty everyday and is excited to tailor the practice to each and every student, regardless of what level yoga they practice. Carol is also a middle school teacher/librarian, currently teaching with Valley View School District in Romeoville. Check the schedule for Carol’s classes. |
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Sarah Richelle Starnes
to read more about Sarah in our Feature a teacher article... |
Sarah Richelle Starnes began practicing Hatha Yoga when she was 12, and has been teaching yoga since 1999. She is a Certified Anusara Yoga® Teacher. Sarah has been leading Hatha Yoga Teacher Trainings in Illinois since 2004. Her deep, passionate connection to Anusara yoga drives her to diligently study and train with her teacher, John Friend and other amazing teachers multiple times a year. Sarah is also a certified Reiki Adept Master Teacher and Nomena Healer through the Mystical Sciences Institute in Evanston, IL. She has taught yoga in the city and suburbs of Chicago, as well as in Kauai, Indonesia and Italy. Sarah's teaching explores the energetic subtleties of a yoga practice, interwoven with optimal, anatomical alignment principles. The celebratory nature of her teaching style reflects her love for the practice and helps her students learn how to find the courage within to be themselves, while expanding their hearts to reveal the divine joy that is their deepest nature. Sarah brings a fun, blissful and compassionate energy to her classes, providing a safe, and empowering environment for students of all ages and levels of experience. She has extensive experience teaching pre/postnatal yoga, and has worked with many children and adults with special needs. Sarah’s passions include Anusara yoga, essential oils, kirtan mantra and music, partner/acro yoga, Thai massage and other bodywork, tap dancing, hiking with her Love Frankie and their chihuahuas in the woody bush, rock climbing, horseback riding, writing songs and poetry, painting and exploring anything new to create, or learn and grow from. Find out more about Sarah on her website:
www.sarahloveslife.com Check the schedule for Sarah’s classes.
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Susan Tauster
to read more about susan in our feature a teacher article... |
Susan Tauster has practiced and taught Hatha and Kundalini Yoga and meditation for over 20 years. She received her Kundalini instructor training through the 3HO Foundation (based in Espanola, NM). As the former publisher of Vegetarian Times magazine, she understands the connection between a balanced diet and fitness regimen that includes yoga practice. She has instructed both adults and children, and is conversant in vegetarian diets and natural products/remedies. |
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Ellie
Taylor
to read more about Ellie in our feature teacher article... |
Ellie fell in love with yoga the very first time she stepped onto a mat. She appreciates that every time you come to the mat, it is an opportunity to learn something new, providing rest and quiet for the mind while connecting with your body. She loves that you can leave a practice feeling strong, yet soft. Centered, yet expansive. Energized, yet calm. Ellie completed a 200 hour hatha yoga teacher training program, a 108-hour Anusara Immersion, and received her certification as an Anusara-Inspired™ Yoga Instructor. Teaching since 2007, Ellie is known for her enthusiasm and the down-to-earth way in which she helps students make their practice their own. She is extremely grateful to be able to share the sweetness of yoga with others. Check the schedule for Ellie's classes.
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Linda Troutman
to read more about Linda in our feature a teacher article... |
Linda Troutman, CYT, RYT 500 - Linda has practiced Hatha yoga for over 20 years and she has taught for over 10 years. She is a certified yoga teacher at the 200 hour level with Moksha Yoga and at the 500 hour level with Prairie Yoga. She works with students age 2 through 90. She incorporates her personal experience from dance, martial arts and Pilates into her teaching. Her style is an eclectic mix of yoga based on the alignment principles of yoga with a blend of Viniyoga and vinyasa. Linda’s passion is therapeutic yoga. She loves to enable each student to practice yoga to their own ability. Linda spends many hours studying and apprenticing with master teachers to fine tune her ability to teach therapeutic yoga.
Linda is also a certified Yogakids® teacher. She has taught children for over 10 years. She considers herself very fortunate to have studied under Marsha Wenig, author of the book, Yogakids®, Educating the Whole Child Through Yoga. Linda says that she has many L&L (living and learning) moments, and she believes that each student teaches her something. Linda has taught children at several local Montessori schools, public schools, park district programs, enrichment programs, and Girl Scout troops. Linda also has experience working with children with special needs in group and therapeutic settings.
Check both the schedule page and the kids classes page for Linda's classes.
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This page was last updated on 05/01/09.
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