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| Laura Jane Mellencamp, Director |
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Laura Jane Mellencamp MA, 500 E-RYT, founder and director, has over 20 years of yoga teaching experience. In 1998, she opened Yoga Among Friends. Certified by the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, California, and having studied with B.K.S. Iyengar, K. Pattabhi Jois, Richard Miller, Rod Stryker and Erich Schiffmann, she brought many years of yoga training and experience to eager students.
Laura Jane was a yoga teacher in Los Angeles from 1989-1995 before she heard her calling to "the heartland." She was teaching jam-packed classes at YogaWorks in Santa Monica and the Center for Yoga owned by Ganga White and Tracey Rich. She had many celebrity private clients as well. But the fast pace of L.A. wasn't for her. Rather, Laura Jane said, she "was looking for community and intimacy."
When she decided to leave Los Angeles, Laura Jane knew she wanted to live near a metropolitan area but not in one. So in 1995 she moved to Naperville because she had a friend there. Laura Jane "fell in love with the land of the prairie-a place without earthquakes and little concrete." She met "great people here with big hearts and no ego." She explained, "The area was a place where my first three chakras felt right at home and I could feel grounded."
Her intention at Yoga Among Friends is to create an "open-minded, open-hearted community center which provides students a safe environment to grow." Having a master's degree in psychotherapy and clinical psychology, Laura incorporates her understanding of the mind and behavior into her yoga classes, encouraging students to break free of their rigid patterns and habits to release themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. Currently, Laura is in year 3 of the 4 year yoga therapy program, 1000 hour training under Chase Bossart of the Healing Yoga Foundation and TKV Desikachar in Chenni, India.
Laura’s work continues outside the center. She is recipient of
grants to work with the school psychologists to create a yoga club
for self-esteem building. The club called Zen Zone is open
to students at Downers Grove South High School. She is
also collaborating with Girls-Navigating-Girls, a not-for-profit
organization that works with adolescent girls going through life’s
challenges to teach yoga and offer YAF as a place for community
building. Laura is also a mentor for students working toward 500
hour teaching certification through the Krishnamacharya Healing
and Yoga Foundation, and the Healing Yoga Foundation based in San Francisco, California.
Laura is a practicing yoga therapist and a member of the
International Association of Yoga Therapists.
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Jill Ballak began practicing Yoga over a decade ago, and she was quickly drawn to the grace and meditative quality of Vinyasa Flow. In 2007 she completed the 500 hour teacher training through Yoga Roots taught by Janice Adelman Cadwell and has been teaching since then. Jill also has a masters degree in Clinical Psychology. She feels that teaching is another way to help people find truth and authenticity in their lives. Jill leads a vigorous, powerful class which is for students in good health who seek challenge, discipline and truth. In addition to a well rounded class, breathwork, arm balances and twists are emphasized. Jill believes that yoga meets you where you are, but also gives one the opportunity to push beyond limitations in a loving, mindful way. “You bring to the mat whatever emotions and conflicts you are struggling with. Through steady, mindful practice you can resolve your fears, anxiety and self-doubt and find peace and contentment: your own true nature. Then Yoga (union with oneself and Divine Spirit) is possible.”
See Jill's classes >>
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| Janet Bowen |
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Janet Bowen is a yoga therapist and student of the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation, which has been providing yoga therapy for over thirty years. This year, Janet interned at the center in India, where she participated in sessions for students with back and neck pain, arthritis, anxiety, scoliosis, recovery from heart attack, and more. Janet brings a keen intellect and a warm heart to her teaching. She is a Certified Yoga Teacher with the White Lotus Foundation in California and holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Chicago. See Janet's classes >>
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| Ellen Duff, CYT |
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Ellen Duff feels that the practice of yoga sustains all other healing modalities while moving through life’s journey. She considers herself to be an “organic” yoga teacher – one who uses yoga as a tool to heal. Ellen believes that true healing is systemic in nature – mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and “heartful”. She followed this philosophy and integrated her yoga practice with her own life experiences. From these experiences, she realized that through teaching and practicing yoga from the place of the heart that our challenges could become our greatest teachers. Through the practice of yoga she teaches the importance of letting go of external attachments. Ellen teaches you to be comfortable and safe in your own body, to tap into that “heart space” within, as you continue your soul’s journey. Ellen’s quest is to help raise conscious awareness of people taking responsibility and care of their own selves. She specializes in a number of yoga disciplines to accommodate the needs of her students.
Ellen trained at the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA and has taught at Yoga Among Friends since its inception in 1998. She is also certified as a Relax and Renew Trainer® from Judith Hanson Lasater, specializing in using yoga poses to help us learn to relax and rest deeply. In general, restorative yoga is useful when you feel weak, fatigued, or stressed from your daily activities. It is especially beneficial for the times before, during, and after major life events: death of a loved one, change of job or residence, marriage, divorce, major holidays, and vacations. In addition, you can practice the poses when ill, or recovering from illness or injury. Ellen invites you to explore the many aspects of yoga that empower and give new life to every cell of your body, heart, and spirit!
See Ellen's classes >>
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| Joyce Owens |
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Joyce Eickmeyer Owens, RYT, has many years of teaching experience and has taught at Yoga Among Friends since its inception in 1998. She received her teacher training from White Lotus Foundation. Joyce teaches her own "slow flow" style of yoga in a gentle yet powerful way. As an instructor and musician she brings a harmonious flow of body, mind and spirit to her classes. Joyce says, "When we value our bodies as rare musical instruments, we create our own music." See Joyce's classes >>
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| Nancy "DL" Heraty |
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Nancy Desert Lizard Hearty (DL)'s yoga journey began as a student in 1995 as a way to strengthen her weak back. In 2002, she began to teach what she loved to do for herself. Several years later, she met Gabriel Halpern, and began to explore the world of Iyengar yoga and yoga therapeutics under his mentorship. DL continued to learn more about yoga and its benefits for the spine, and learned to heal her own spineís issues. Upon meeting Iyengar teacher Elise Miller at a workshop in January 2009, she was drawn to her training practicum to become a Yoga for Scoliosis Trainer. Nancy completed the training in January 2010, and soon after assisted Elise in her workshop. DL continues to deepen her yoga studies as an assistant and apprentice to Gabriel at Yoga Circle. In this, added to work with other senior Iyengar teachers, she remains as a lifelong student. She is a generalist, as she teaches to all body types, and she is a specialist, as she teaches for the curves of scoliosis.
DL's spiritual life journey has taken her on a path to share yoga on Jungian inspired Retreats and Vision Quests in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Sedona, Arizona, led by her soulmate Red Bear. She is also an accomplished clay artist, mentored by Mata Ortiz potter Juan Quesada. Her artist journey combined with yoga, brings an opportunity to teach yoga to young aspiring artists at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a teacher, DL brings her soulful creativity, passion and love into her yoga journey, influenced by ancient traditions and the variety of mentors in her life. This wide ranging palette follows her into her teaching. To quote Tom Robbins: "There are only two mantras, YUM and YUCK, mine is YUM." Learn more about DL at her website. See DL's classes >>
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| Marina Lisjonok |
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Marina Lisjonok is a Russian-Latvian, was born and raised in Latvia and moved to the US in 1996. She was first drawn to yoga back in 1994 after carrying for cancer patients as a nurse, witnessing death of people of all ages due to cancer, chemo and radiation treatment side-effects and meeting and studying with Natalia Dubinina, a cancer survivor and renowned yoga teacher in Baltic States. Since then Marina developed a firm belief in self-healing properties and the possibility of complete mastery over one’s body and mind through yogic practices. After her settlement in US, Marina recommitted to the practice in 2002, where she experienced various styles of yoga and the teachings of many spiritual guides and master yoga teachers in US, Nepal, India and Latvia. She completed the Living Yoga Trainee program at Satchidananda’s Ashram in Virginia, Andrey Lappa’s 200-hour Universal Style of Yoga teacher training program and Rolf Gate’s 200-hour and 500-hour Vinyasa Yoga teacher training courses. She continues to study meditation and yoga practice, theory and philosophy with Hersh Khetarpal, the acharya of Yog Sadhan Ashram in West Chicago, IL. Marina began her yoga instructor career in 2006, where she taught asana practice, yoga theory and philosophy, meditation, breathing, relaxation and cleansing techniques at Yog Sadhan Ashram, various health-clubs and yoga studious throughout Chicagoland in addition to brining yoga to friends, family members, co-workers and clients at previous places of employment. In addition to yoga certifications Marina holds an Associate degree in Nursing, Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in Social work. While being inspired by her teachers and students, she continues to study and search for ways to deepen her practice, explore inner world and unveil the Pure Spirit. In her personal practice and while instructing others she emphasizes alignment principals, mindfulness and application of yogic morals and spiritual codes.See Marina's classes >>
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| Julie Pate |
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Julie Pate ihas been teaching exercise since 1989 while pursuing her degree in Physical Education from The University of Illinois at Chicago. Julie took her first yoga class in 1995, and enjoyed the way yoga complimented all the fitness activities she participated in, and grew to love the peaceful, kind person she was after each class. Julie holds certifications in personal training, pre/post natal exercise, Pilates, YogaKids, and is currently pursing her 200 hour Hatha Yoga Certification with Anusara Yoga Certified Instructor Sarah Starnes.
Julie became interested in teaching yoga to children after having her own sons in 2002 and 2004. Julie believes that our bodies are meant to move, and that a love of movement is innate in children. Kids love to "play yoga", it helps them develop a strong body, gain respect and love for themselves, and to discover a place of stillness and peace. Julie looks forward to meeting your YogaKid! See Julie's classes >>
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| Kristin Panek |
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Kristin Panek, 500 E-RYT, began practicing yoga ten years ago, recognizing that after a lifetime of competitive sports, including running and triathlon, her body was tight and rigid. Through consistent yoga and meditation practice, she has developed a deep-centered, mindful peace. In 2007 Kristin completed a 500-hour teacher training in Yoga Roots (taught by Janice Adelman Cadwell).
For more than a decade Kristin has worked with people individually and groups to transform their lives. She brings an amazing ability to hold sacred space in which change is allowed to occur, and to bring it into her yoga classes. She delivers a well-rounded yoga class, including meditation, pranayama and asana practices. Recognizing that yoga is an effective means of surfacing and releasing old emotions and patterns, she supports each student in safely finding their edge and moving beyond it. She also teaches a series of meditation classes at Yoga Among Friends, and loves helping students discover the deep-rooted grounding and joy that comes through consistent practice.
See Kristin's classes >>
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| Donna Prenta |
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Since 2005, Donna Prenta, 200 RYT, Reiki Master, has taught meditation, workshops, and yoga in the Western Suburbs. She is an active yoga instructor for cancer survivors. She has completed Certification in Intuition under the instruction of Dr. Christine Page. She has completed The Healing Imagery Workshop under the instruction of Belleruth Naparstek. She leads the Reiki Circle at YAF and is continuing her Yoga training at the 500 hour level at The Bhavana Institute. Her intention for students: have fun, be curious, and experience a safe environment.
See Donna's classes >>
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| Candy Stevens |
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Candy Stevens, RYT, began practicing yoga consistently ten years ago, and found new joy and open horizons in her life as a yoga instructor. An RYT, having trained with Yoga Fit, Candy is registered with Yoga Alliance. She continues to grow in her practice through ongoing workshops with teachers such as Tias Little and Elesa Commerse, as well as independent study. She has taught with the Yoga Teachers’ Group for many years. Candy strives to make her classes stimulating yet gentle, nurturing an atmosphere free of competition and judgment. She provides numerous asana modifications for her students because she says, “Not only does everybody have their own range of mobility and flexibility, but each individual day is different for every one of us, both in body and in mind as well. We must always honor these truths in our practice, and appreciate our diversity.” It is a privilege to teach, and I am filled with gratitude when students find a blossoming in their practice, not just physically but in confidence, joy and spirit as well. See Candy's classes >>
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| Denise Sutherland |
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Denise Sutherland, CYT, is currently participating in the Healing Yoga Foundation’s 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training for Yoga Therapy. Denise teaches group classes and is available for private yoga sessions.
Denise’s yoga teaching style focuses on traditional Hatha yoga asanas and is appropriate for beginners and experienced yoga practitioners. She combines flowing movement with proper alignment in yoga asanas and at the same time, directs the movement with the breath. In her class, you will receive personalized attention while using the fundamental techniques of yoga for strength, flexibility, stamina, balance and relaxation. See Denise's classes >>
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| J. Michael Taylor |
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J. Michael Taylor
Having played sports all his life the ensuing injuries led Michael to yoga and to study B.K.S.Iyengar’s system of hatha yoga. He has practiced yoga since 1987 and began apprenticing with Gabriel Halpern at the Yoga Circle in 1989. He has study with many senior Iyengar instructors in the US and continues with his studies with Lois Steinberg of Champaign, Illinois and Bob Wittinghill & Todd Howell of the Yoga Circle, Chicago. Yoga gives him the energy to teach photography at College of Dupage and play music, dance, and enjoy life to the fullest. See J. Michael's classes >>
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| Karen Weber |
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Karen Weber has been unveiling the path of self-realization for years. No matter what your reasons are for your practice, her hope is to inspire you to keep going for we are all in this together. To uncover layers of unconsciousness we practice Asana, Bandha, Dristi, Kriya, Mudra, Pranayama, Mantra, Dharana, and Dhyana. These are tools that teach you how to create a habit of relaxation on and off the mat, find balance in all areas of your life, develop strength with an equal amount of surrender, become a witness to each day and grow clarity in mind and body so that they reflect your soul. Although it takes work, sweat, and sometimes tears, it is the path that leads us home, reminds us of what our unique joy is, helps us find it so we can share it with others, and teaches us the tools to navigate our lives karma in authentic relationship with our truth. There is no doubt that universal peace begins with individual work. Most of Karen's training has been through self study but her major teachers are Daren Frisen from Moksha Yoga Center, Dr. David Frawley in Ayurveda and Yoga, and Rod Stryker’s advanced training in his Parayoga Tantra tradition. See Karen's classes >>
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