Finding Healing Through Mindful Yoga with Kylie Grogan

When you step into Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove, you’ll quickly notice that it’s more than a yoga studio—it’s a community built on care and connection. And when you meet Kylie Grogan, who leads our Mindful Flow yoga class on Mondays at 9:30 AM, you’ll immediately feel her gentle and nurturing presence.

What many don’t know is that Kylie’s path to yoga began with a challenge few could imagine—living with severe fibromyalgia from a young age.

“I’m not sure I ever knew what it felt like to feel ‘normal,’” Kylie reflects. “Traditional approaches didn’t provide the relief I needed, so I started looking for natural ways to support my body and mind. That’s when I found yoga. It gave me a way to move gently, breathe deeply, and truly listen to my body—and over time, it helped me begin to feel like myself again.”

More Than Just Movement

For Kylie, yoga became more than exercise—it became a tool for healing and inner peace.

“I realized yoga was 99% inward. The postures are just preparation for stillness—to breathe more deeply and to find silence within. When that clicked for me, I felt my nervous system calm in a way I had never experienced before. That’s when I understood yoga wasn’t about “working out” at all—it was about healing, breathing, and discovering peace in my mind and body, even in the midst of pain.”

This shift changed everything. Yoga gave her a way to soothe her nervous system, manage chronic pain, and reconnect with her body.

Lessons from Chronic Pain

Her healing journey taught her powerful lessons: to slow down, honor her limits, and accept that healing is not always a straight line.

“Rest was just as valuable as movement,” Kylie explains. “I had to let go of frustration with my body and learn to care for it in a new way. Whenever I feel discomfort—whether mental or physical—I return to my practice. Even something as simple as breathwork or a gentle pose gives me a sense of relief and a feeling of control. Yoga reminded me that my body wasn’t broken; it was simply asking for a different kind of care, for me to truly listen. That realization gave me hope and the confidence to keep moving forward.”

These insights now shape her gentle yoga classes in Downers Grove. Kylie creates a compassionate space where students are encouraged to use props, move at their own pace, and remember that yoga isn’t about achieving the “perfect pose”—it’s about presence and self-kindness.

“Healing comes from gentleness, not pushing.”

What to Expect in Mindful Flow

Kylie’s Mindful Flow yoga class is designed as a moving meditation—gentle, therapeutic practices that calm the mind while building awareness and balance. With her background in exercise science, yoga therapy, and holistic wellness, she blends movement and breath with deep stillness to support stress relief, relaxation, and overall well-being.

“Students can expect a gentle, inclusive space where every body and every experience level is supported,”she says. “My goal is to create a safe, supportive space where students feel cared for and at ease.”

Each class weaves together breathwork, core awareness, mindful movement, and intentional stillness. Props and modifications are always available, making it accessible whether you’re new to yoga, working with chronic pain, or simply looking to feel more grounded.

Living with chronic pain has taught Kylie patience, presence, and the importance of listening inward. Her classes stand out because they are accessible, nurturing, and designed to help students reconnect with themselves on a deeper level, whether they’re seeking stress relief, pain management, or simply a calmer mind. Her goal is to create a space where students feel safe to slow down, listen, and find practices that support their nervous system and invite peace in body, mind, and spirit.

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A Gentle Evening to Restore: Calm Within

Kylie’s compassionate approach extends beyond her weekly classes. This November, she’s guiding a candlelit evening designed to soothe the senses and restore the nervous system:

Calm Within: Candlelit Yoga Therapy, Aromatherapy & Sound Healing Workshop
Wednesday, November 6 | 6:30–8:00 PM
Yoga Among Friends – Downers Grove, IL

Step into a soothing candlelit space designed to help you release tension, quiet your mind, and reconnect with your inner calm. This 90-minute workshop weaves together the therapeutic elements of yoga therapy, aromatherapy, and sound healing to support your whole being—body, mind, and spirit.

You’ll be guided through grounding breathwork, gentle yoga therapy, self-massage, and restorative postures while immersed in calming aromatherapy and live sound instruments like bowls and wave drums. The evening offers simple, practical tools to carry this sense of calm into your daily life.

→ [Save your spot for Calm Within »]

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Wisdom to Carry Off the Mat

Kylie believes yoga is for every body and every stage of life.

“Yoga isn’t about achieving a pose—it’s about connecting with yourself. That connection is something we all need, no matter our age, size, or ability. Yoga adapts to you, not the other way around.”

She hopes her students leave class not only feeling lighter and calmer, but also with practical tools they can use daily—whether that’s a mindful breath, a moment of rest, or the confidence to trust their body’s wisdom.

Her advice to anyone who feels disconnected, overwhelmed, or nervous about trying yoga?

“Start small and be kind to yourself. Even one deep breath can be a step toward reconnection. You don’t have to be flexible or experienced—just show up as you are.”

Meet Kylie on the Mat

Beyond teaching, Kylie grounds herself through her own practices—morning breathwork, quiet time with her pets, journaling, gratitude, and hiking in nature with her dog. Living with fibromyalgia continues to shape her empathy and compassion, inspiring her to guide others toward healing.

What inspires her most today is seeing students discover the gift of mindful yoga:

“The moment a student realizes they don’t have to push, perform, or be perfect—that’s where the magic happens.”

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✨ Join Kylie for Mindful Flow ✨

Every Monday at 9:30 AM
at Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove
$20/class or use your subscription code

This class is perfect for beginners, for anyone living with chronic pain, or for those simply seeking a calmer mind and body.

Come as you are, breathe deeply, and experience the gentle healing power of mindful yoga.

Curious about Kylie’s background and experience? Check out her teacher bio.

Finding Balance in a Season of Change

The month of October is presenting so many opportunities for our community to unite in a peaceful shared space. Today, as I write this, we are entering the Fall Equinox. It is also a New Moon. How auspicious an opportunity to come inward and set a fresh intention for the season.

Autumn invites reflection and a shift in energy. It asks us to pause and consider: What does balance feel like when the entire world seems to spin in cycles of vast confusion?

The Power of Words

How do I use my words to inspire and nourish when so much is heard in the wrong way? Our state of mind is deeply tied to how we speak and listen. Language is a sacred gift—we are the only beings able to use words to heal, inspire, and bring peace. Misused, our words can create fear and division. The fragile state of being vulnerable to fear which only produces the heated agitation of defending identity.

This season, I am setting my intention to speak with clarity, so that my words may comfort, uplift, and reframe what no longer serves. I want to listen more deeply—to intuition, to the wisdom of the body, to the heart’s quiet voice—and to welcome uncertainty as the beginning of true transformation.

A Practice of Balance

Of course, these are lofty ideals. All I can truly do is return to practice: noticing my own thoughts, shifting the negative vibration of doubt. May my inner fire shine through my heart and listen to what my higher self is speaking, and raise the density of darkness into the light of self-compassion.

Balance begins within, but it grows stronger when we share it together. I long for dialogue, for listening, and for spaces where our community can explore new perspectives in these uncertain times.

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“In these uncertain times, what wisdom or practice helps you return to balance? Let’s begin the dialogue together—share your reflections in the comments below or in class.”

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Set Your Intention and Join Us in Downers Grove

This month is an invitation to gather, to listen, and to practice balance—both within ourselves and in community. At Yoga Among Friends, October is filled with opportunities to connect through yoga, meditation, and shared presence.

🌟 Featured Workshop: Bhakti + Breath with Girish – Thursday, October 23

Join musician and former monk Girish for an extraordinary evening of Breathwork, Chanting, and Vocal Yoga. This transformative workshop blends sacred sound and mindful practice, guiding you into deep restoration and joy.

And that’s just the beginning. From candlelit restorative practices to women’s circles, sound baths, and self-care gatherings, October offers many ways to nurture your body, mind, and spirit.

Many blessings,
—Laura Jane

Free Fall into Grace: What Humility Teaches Us

Each of us walks into life with only a limited understanding of who we are. We spend a lifetime staying inside our familiar comfort zones. Often, we define ourselves by what we do, rather than by who we are, or by the grace that comes from continually learning and unlearning, touching the deeper spiritual core of the soul.

For me, the spiritual path has always been more than a refuge in times of struggle. It is a companion. It helps me open my eyes to the complexity of life, the paradox of mystery, and the gift of not knowing. It invites me to meet those vulnerable moments of uncertainty and doubt—especially in times of social unrest or personal upheaval, when loss and fear feel near.

During those difficult times, I can slip into blaming, complaining, or rigid thinking. But sometimes there is a small opening, a flash of insight into my own beliefs. And that opening begins the journey of questioning what I’ve held as reality. It is like one is stepping into the dark night of the soul. Sometimes the doorway begins with a free fall—just asking for help. Sometimes it is as simple as realizing that my thoughts are getting in the way of loving, and my heart wants to feel less worry in the endless chatter of the mind.

“Sometimes the doorway begins with a free fall—just asking for help.”

I have whispered to myself more than once: “Laura Jane, you don’t see clearly, and you don’t hear clearly.” What I called “taking care of myself” was often just living with my attachments, clinging to a rigid identity of being right. I see how I keep myself in a bubble of my own making, craving sustained comfort.

In recent years, I’ve had to face that I isolated myself from the differences in our political landscape. My anger at those with whom I disagreed hardened into judgment, and my opinions became walls that excluded rather than embraced. I thought I was protecting myself, but those invisible borders were squeezing the life out of me. The pain of judgment leads to resentment, and resentment constricts the heart.

Patajali, in the Yoga Sutra, reminds us: practice non-attachment help us step out of the push and pull of likes and dislikes. We can remain captives, or we can choose to open. This takes practice—and the deep desire to love more freely, letting go of what I think I know, and remembering that everyone sees through their own lens.

Just weeks ago, I was humbled again. A dear friend was recovering from an injury, and I thought my job was to help—lining up rehab, arranging care, trying to make her better. But my “help” was not what she wanted. In my zeal, I became the bully. I wasn’t sitting with her fear, only with my own fear of watching her decline with age. What I thought was compassion was really my ego, needing to feel useful. And when I wasn’t heard, I got angry. It was not my best moment.

Grace blossoms when we soften, release, and return to love.

And so I return, again, to my breath. To remember that even these stumbles are teachers. To surrendering—gently, imperfectly—into growth.

I ask for help to stay steady and calm in the face of change, whether in myself, in my relationships, or in the world. My practice prepares me for the next right action: knowing when to speak, when to act, and when to rest. Every experience gives me a chance: to be entangled in reactivity, or to pause, listen, and choose compassion.

“Every day brings the chance to be entangled in reactivity, or to pause, to listen, to respond with compassion.”

We are all human. Life is all learning.

As my dear friend and teacher Deborah Adele says:
“It is not a weakness to see our attachments and resistance; if these are the cause of our bondage, then it seems like a gift to see the things that stand between ourselves and our freedom.”

With Love and Light,

Laura Jane

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As always, these words are part of my own learning. We walk this path together, each with our questions, our stumbles, and our openings. I would love to hear how this reflection touches your own journey:

• What part of this reflection resonated most deeply with you today?

• And if you’ve walked through a “free fall” moment, what helped you discover grace on the other side?

Please feel free to share your reflections below in the comments—I would be honored to read them.