I found yoga in 2002 during a period of my life marked by a stressful job and the loss of my father. At the same time, I began doing Ashtanga Yoga and soon found that it was the only time that I felt truly present, able to hear myself, and feel what was going on inside my body. A few years later, I became pregnant with my first son and was excited not only to start the next chapter of my life, but also to commit more time to yoga. Being present in my body helped me become more present in every other aspect of my life.

Brooke has multiple teacher training certifications, including both the 200-hour Shri Yoga Teacher Training with Gina Marciano and the North Shore Yoga Training with Sharyn Galindo. Most recently, I completely my kids YTT, I love the influence of positive movement and breath on these little Yogis and I am so envious that they get this life long gift at such a young age!

Yoga is a part of my daily life, and it has changed my mind and my body. I look forward to each day when I can roll out my mat, unplug my mind and tap into my breath and my body. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such an amazing community of yogis!

Yoga has been a constant in my life over the past twenty years.  Initially drawn to it as means to build strength and gain flexibility, it has gradually become my way to find more balance, inner peace and focus.  Yoga challenges me to listen more, be patient, not take things so seriously or hold on too tightly.  It reminds me to move through each day with a little more awareness, gratitude and lightness.  It is this ever-changing journey that is yoga that keeps me coming to my mat.  As a teacher, I have been inspired by the connection shared with a close-knit community of students and fellow teachers.  I appreciate the unique opportunity to challenge, support, and learn from one another. 

Erika came to yoga eight months pregnant with her third child. As an active runner, she was unsure yoga could provide her all the benefits she found physically and mentally from running.

After a few short months (and a new baby), not only did yoga provide her space for physical challenge, but she understood why so many referred to a yoga mat as a magic carpet ride. She discovered that yoga has the ability to lift her up spiritually, physically, mentally and change her into a better version of herself.

Erika’s classes focus on proper alignment and helping her students find their inner strength as they practice to reap the full benefits of their individual practices. She helps her students discover that every time they practice is a new opportunity to explore theirselves leading to change and growth on and off the mat.

Emily started practicing yoga in 2001 after her third child was born.. ( she now has four) With three children 4 and under, she needed a space to find peace, balance, to breathe and to move. She quickly fell in love with all aspects of yoga from the rhythmic movement to the philosophy to the community. Emily completed her teacher training at North Shore yoga with Sharyn Galindo in 2019. Additionally, she has been teaching Pilates for 12 years and was certified through Balanced Body. She also has taught dance to children for many years. Emily loves teaching all populations. She loves working with people to help them move in a way that best suits them. She strives to help people gain strength, flexibility, mindfulness and a sense of empowerment through movement and breath. She is looking forward to being a part of the Reach community.

Emily has a dedicated yoga practice which integrates breath, movement, and awareness, and she strives to share it with students. Coming to the mat can be a healing experience, a repose to our busy, fast-paced, multi-tasking lives. It’s an opportunity to slow down, get centered and connect with our authentic self. And it should feel good!

Throughout her yoga journey, Emily was inspired and driven to deepen her own practice and understanding of yoga. Emily recently completed her RYT-200 at Shri Yoga Center. She has had the opportunity to explore several different yoga styles and learned from many amazing teachers. Always a student, she plans to continue her yoga training.

Emily believes yoga is for every *body* and can be practiced at any age or level of ability. Expect a slow, strong warm up and an empowering vinyasa flow. You will leave feeling restored but energized, and with knowledge you can take off the mat.

How did you get into practicing yoga? I was a dancer most of my life. When I was in college I started practicing yoga as a way to strengthen my dancing. I fell in love with yoga when I realized how it healed me physically, but most of all, mentally.

What made you want to teach? I was unhappy with my job and was searching for something outside of the corporate world that had a deeper purpose. My personal yoga practice is so powerful for me, and I wanted to guide people to feel the same way about yoga.

What would you consider your yoga style? My love for music really drives my classes. Alignment, breath, and accessibility are things I like to focus on when I teach. I love that yoga is accessible to everyone, and I like to offer options for everybody.

What was one of the funniest or most humbling moments you’ve had while taking or teaching a class? Seeing my students get emotional during a savasana is insanely powerful. I have experienced that during my own practice, and it’s extremely humbling to be able to guide my students to feel an emotional release.

What is your favorite non yoga activity? Playing guitar and singing to my 1-year-old daughter

What’s on your playlist? You will always hear at least one song by Khruangbin on all of my playlists!

Coffee or tea? Coffee, always! My husband and I own Hexe Coffee Co. in the city!

Julie’s best friend encouraged her to take a yoga class when her children were babies, and she was immediately drawn to its healing and strengthening effects. After realizing that her mat was the place where she felt most herself, she decided to enroll in teacher training.

Julie earned her 200 RYT certification in 2007 with Sharyn Galindo at North Shore Yoga and has been teaching yoga to adults, children, and families ever since. Julie strives to create vinyasa flow classes that are truly a moving meditation (infused with a bit of humor from time to time). As a busy parent, yoga instructor, and schoolteacher, she loves that yoga is a fluid and ever-evolving practice that can be tailored to suit any time frame, mood or need. She is a perpetual student herself and is grateful be able to share this amazing practice that has benefited her life so much over the years.

When she is not on her mat, Julie is an aspiring DJ (in her own mind), dog walker, English teacher, chauffeur to two non-stop kids, and wife to her very patient husband.

Marla found her way to yoga after a long career as a school social worker. She soon realized that mind, body and spirit are interconnected and the practice has been instrumental in her own growth, both physically and emotionally. She believes that the lessons we learn on the mat can be applied to ones life.

Marla has been teaching yoga for the past 10 years and integrates both the asana and spiritual lessons into her classes. She enjoys connecting with her students and sharing her love for this practice. In addition, based on her own life experiences, she facilitates our grief and yoga program.

Meghan’s classes are intended to maintain a disciplined focus on breath awareness and alignment, with plenty of room for enthusiasm and fun moving, breathing, and rocking out together.  Drawing on various styles of yoga, meditation, and breathwork, each class and sequence is intended to challenge the focus, strength, balance and stamina of new and seasoned yoga practitioners, and to invite revelation and a little extra inner wisdom.  Meghan’s teaching is always informed by her personal practices, her ongoing learning, and her daily life with four kids and three labradors.

Melissa is deeply rooted in and passionate about the the mind-body connection. A practicing Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the past 20 years, Melissa became a yoga instructor 3.5 years ago and has a 200 hr teaching certification as well as a 300 hr certification in Dana Damara Evolution. She is inspired most by inspiring others to be their absolute best selves and yoga is the greatest vehicle for this.

Melissa offers vigorous, powerful, and soulful vinyasa yoga classes. While you will feel incredibly challenged physically, you will leave with a deeper, more rooted connection to your sense of self and peaceful center.

‘Yoga’ is changing!!! My intent when teaching yoga is to provide an environment where students can create space in their body and mind, find stillness, explore and discover full range joint mobility, and practice being present with ‘what is’. My classes are straight forward, mindful yet powerful, and lighthearted. I leave time for students to let their practice unfold.

I did not come to the mat knowing it would ever be this important to me. I was a tri-athlete and long distance runner, and believe that being physically active my whole life helps to complement and inform my practice and teaching.

I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for over 30 years and my yoga and meditation practice have helped ease the difficulties of living with RA. I am passionate and compassionate in helping those with physical limitations find peace on their mat through their practice.

I received my L1 (2012) and L2 (2014) teaching certificates through Yogaview and am indebted to Tom Quinn, Quinn Kearney, Geri Bleier, Claire Mark and Megan Dunne Krouse. I have studied meditation with Elesa Commerce of The Deep Calm and taken in depth workshops with Jason Crandell, Rod Stryker, and Maty Ezraty. Most recently I am excited about strength, stability, and mobility in all of the joints. I completed a training with Cecily Milne of Yoga Detour in Jan of 2019 and am heading down this awesome path…come and join me!

Pam Miller began her yoga practice 10+ years ago, and from the start, wanted to go deeper. She immediately embraced the physicality of the practice, and soon became hooked on the total yoga philosophy. She quickly immersed herself in the yoga community where she learned the appreciation of a quiet mind, a place to breathe, and a shared experience.

In 2013, Pam deepened her passion by fulfilling her 200-hour teacher training at North Shore Yoga. Pam brings a thoughtful flow to her practice and is happiest when sharing it with others.

I started practicing yoga many years ago because I was looking for a complement to running, and I loved the way yoga allowed me to slow down and practice a more present form of movement. I studied under Savitree Kaur in Kundalini Yoga in the late 90s, and was inspired by her to transition into teaching, and then eventually found my way to Yin and Restorative. I completed my teacher training at Heaven Meets Earth with Lisa Faremouth-Weber, and continued to study and certify in both Yin with Travis Eliot and Restorative with Lauren Eckstrom. I am also a certified Reiki Master Teacher with additional certification in reading Akashic Records. I want my students to feel comfortable in my class, feel free to laugh and not take themselves too seriously–and most importantly–leave the studio feeling more relaxed, refreshed and at peace than when they walked in.

When Stephie stepped onto her mat for the first time in 2003, she had no idea that she would fall in love with the practice of yoga, let alone become a teacher! After years of boot camps, kick boxing, running and lifting weights she could not have guessed that a simple connection to her breath and body could be so transformative. With a passion for teaching (she was a classroom teacher in her previous life), Stephie”s goal is to always empower her students by giving them the tools and positive attitude necessary for achievement. Stephie’s classes are well thought out, playful and challenging with an emphasis on alignment along with the breath/body connection Helping each student reveal the best version of themselves is why she loves teaching and continues being a student. She completed her 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification with Pam Udell and Lourdes Paredes in 20013 through House of Shanti. She has taken meditation courses, many workshops, a continuing-education course with House of Shanti in 2015 for another 30 hours.

Stephanie was a lawyer, marketing director, and marathon runner before she discovered yoga. Her connection to yoga was gradual, yet profound. Stephanie began doing yoga as a complement to running, but over time she found that yoga gave her much more. Her physical practice became a tool for grounding, reflection, and greater understanding of herself and others. Stephanie teaches because, despite her initial resistance, yoga is now essential to her life, and she hopes to share the many benefits of yoga with others (and lets people know it takes time and patience- but the rewards are great).

Stephanie’s classes are often vigorous, yet balanced, with equal focus on strength and stretch. Her sequences include key actions with attention to detail–often leading to a peak pose. Stephanie’s favorite time to teach (and practice) is at sunrise. Although she loves to talk students through arm balances and inversions, time to sit in silence is always offered.

Stephanie volunteers at the Cancer Wellness Center, Kellogg Cancer Center and also Midwest Palliative Care and Hospice. She teaches vinyasa flow classes at local studios, corporate yoga classes as well as private sessions. Stephanie holds level 200 (Moksha Yoga) and 500 (Yogaview) certifications. She continues to learn from her primary teachers at Yogaview.
She is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour “experienced” level, and has completed a 500-hour training program.

“There is no place I feel more calm and at peace than on my yoga mat. I love losing myself in my vinyasa flow to awesome music, I LOVE being upside-down and I love being among my yogi friends. Yoga has brought me a sense of calm, peace and introspection that no other activity or exercise has shown me. I hope to be able to share that with all of my students and this experience is truly a gift!”

Yami, a Glencoe resident originally from Colombia, discovered her love for yoga in 2014 when she took her first yoga class and was captivated by its spiritual aspect and mental health benefits. This experience led her to complete her 200HR yoga teacher training with Forever Om Yoga, a Level One Journey Into Power with Baptiste Yoga, as well as training to become a Sound Meditation and Journaling facilitator. Yami believes that integrating these transformative mindfulness practices into your routine can have a positive impact on your well-being, fostering balance between mind, body, and soul.

Health and wellness have always been passions of Cheri’s. Coming from a competitive sports background followed by years of intense cardio workouts and running marathons, she reluctantly turned to yoga to nurse numerous aches, pains and injuries because she “shouldtry it”. After having a few “ah ha moments” she became hooked realizing her increase in strength, speed, patience and insight, far outreached the benefit of simply getting more flexible. Over the course of “aging” yoga has become an insightful journey to look inside to notice compensations physically and mentally and use that as opportunities to intentionally adjust and heal.

Her goal is to inspire others to pause and question why, trust themselves to seek out their edge without judgment, and explore subtle adjustments to redirect compensation patterns. Her classes are challenging yet accessible, while she offers guidance to mindfully build and feel each pose, while not letting go through dynamic movement and transitions. She loves to have students leave with the rewarding feeling of becoming intune with their bodies and take it into daily life of movement and living all life has to offer.

She holds the 200 hr RYT certified under the guidance of Jenny Kaufman and Sharyn Galindo at NorthshoreYoga as well as 300 hour course with Uplifted. Additionally she is a certified Health Coach through Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Brain Health Licensed Trainer with Amen University and continually seeks out workshops and experts to train under with fascia release and muscle activation, breathwork, energy work, yoga therapy and meditation to expand her knowledge.