Meet Lynette Bromiel: Bringing Stability, Joy, and Accessibility to Chair Yoga

New Chair Yoga Class Begins Wednesday, June 4 at Yoga Among Friends

At Yoga Among Friends, we believe yoga is for every body—and we’re thrilled to introduce a new class that brings that belief to life. Starting Wednesday, June 4, our community welcomes Lynette Pitrak Bromiel, a passionate and grounded 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher, who will be leading Chair Yoga, a gentle, supportive practice designed for all levels and abilities.

For Lynette, yoga has been a steady thread woven through her life since high school. While she was initially drawn in by the physical benefits, it didn’t take long for the practice to evolve into something deeper. “A consistent practice has given me tools to help combat stress and anxiety, to keep working towards being more patient and accepting, and to deepen my mind/body connection,” she shares.

Her love of Chair Yoga comes from its powerful accessibility. “Chair Yoga makes yoga available to so many people who might not otherwise feel comfortable stepping into a class,” Lynette explains. “It’s a wonderful way to gently build strength, improve flexibility, and experience the breath-body connection—without ever having to get down on the mat.”

What to Expect in Lynette’s Chair Yoga Class

Whether you’re brand new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner looking for a supportive practice, Lynette’s class is designed for everyone. “We’ll work through modifications of traditional poses like forward folds and backbends in ways that are completely supported but still offer all the benefits,” she says. You’ll also experience stretching, gentle strength-building, breathwork, and balance—all while using the chair as a steady foundation.

And if you’re wondering whether Chair Yoga is “enough” of a workout, Lynette has a clear answer: “Your body is still doing the work. With repeated movements and focused engagement, you’ll definitely feel it. Plus, it’s an incredible introduction to linking breath and movement, especially for beginners.”

Rooted in Tradition, Designed for Daily Life

While Chair Yoga might seem like a modern invention for desk dwellers, Lynette reminds us that its roots run deep. “B.K.S. Iyengar used the chair as a prop to make poses more accessible,” she explains. “This style of practice is all about meeting people where they are.”

And that’s what Lynette loves most—when students tell her they’ve started using what they learn in class at home or at work to manage stress and feel more grounded. “It’s really inspiring to know that even a few simple poses or breathing techniques can make someone’s day a little easier.”

Why You'll Love Chair Yoga with Lynette

Lynette brings warmth, joy, and a sense of calm to her teaching. Guided by two of her most influential teachers, J. Michael Taylor and Laura Jane Mellencamp, she’s learned to balance effort with ease—and to always keep a smile. “Mike would often make his students laugh just to remind us not to grip or push too hard. Yoga should challenge you, but also feel really good and uplifting.”

In class, her favorite poses to teach are the Warrior variations. “They allow students to feel strong, stable, and aligned—without the fear of losing balance,” she says.

Her hope? That students leave feeling empowered. “I want people to walk out thinking, ‘Wow, I was able to practice yoga,’ especially if they once thought it wasn’t for them. And for more experienced yogis, I hope they’ve gained tools they can take with them throughout the day.”

Curious but Hesitant? You’re Not Alone

If you’ve never tried Chair Yoga before, Lynette has this to say:
“We’ve all been beginners at some point. Just trying it out could be the first step to really falling in love with yoga.”

So take that first step—slow down, connect with your breath, and discover how good it feels to move in a way that supports you.

Join Lynette for Chair Yoga starting Wednesday, June 4 at 9:30 AM.
Come as you are. Leave feeling grounded, uplifted, and connected.

One More Step: Lessons from the Camino

How many times in our lives do we willingly get an opportunity to let go of all our outer roles and feel the grace of being invisible?

I was able to embark on a journey that started back in 2010 as a seed thought. I had watched a film, The Way, that was all about walking the El Camino. I set an intention that one day I would walk that path. And thus started a deep desire to create an opportunity to experience a journey for reflection. I wanted to travel and be able to walk each day in a meditation, which had also been inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh—walking with the awareness of Presence.

Two years ago, I was all set to embark on the journey, and life had a different plan. I broke my kneecap five weeks before I was to leave for my yoga retreat in Portugal and the extended time to walk the Camino. Sometimes we have a plan, and the Universe has another plan B. I was able to enjoy teaching on the retreat and surprised myself at how gracefully I had let go of my agenda and accepted the obstacle—not as a burden of disappointment, but as an opportunity to heal. I could actually enjoy—with laughter—observing myself limping through the streets of Lisbon and Porto with a brace!

The dream was still brewing deeper in my soul, and this past April, I did walk the Camino, starting from Sarria and ending in Santiago. I received a certification of completion, and yet, I can honestly say, the journey was more wonderful than the destination.

As my friend and I arrived in Santiago, we each felt a slight bittersweet acceptance that our magical journey was coming to its completion, and each of us wanted one more step... Just a reminder that in life, when that final time comes to take the last breath—no matter the age—we will always want one more day, one more breath. A brilliant understanding of embracing each moment.

We would hold the intention of being more mindful as we return to our daily roles. To remember the “walk” is to hold the beauty of each day, regardless of the struggle to slow down. Getting there is not the reward—it’s being here that nourishes the soul.

My new mantra is simply, “here.”

On the path, I walked each day without the burden of those daily tasks that keep our existence functioning. No longer identified as yoga teacher, studio owner, yoga student, mother, wife, dog walker, Annie’s Aunt Lolly… all the outer roles that keep my identity and feed a vital purpose. Roles keep us in community and belonging.

And yet, my soul needed to be alive to the wonder and mystery of what really is nourishing now. So many people are losing the false safety of their outer world, and we have forgotten the incredible need for coming inward. We don’t have to travel the Camino to come inward, yet for me, I needed to unplug and absorb the grace of being without a role.

Walking is my daily practice, even here in Illinois. I walk each day in a circle around my neighborhood. I walk without a podcast or music, but talk to myself. Yes, I talk out loud and at times catch myself—and laugh at myself—for I am eccentric. I enjoy that I have also been unique in choosing a lifestyle of living my yoga and embracing all of my habits, good or bad.

I avoid competition and the constant striving to be more. I chose to live a smaller footprint years ago when I opened YAF, and the teachings were always spiritual to me. I love nature, and the trees speak to me.

I wanted to walk the Camino to ask the questions:

• How do I continue to live a simple life within the complex changes being presented?

• How can I maintain my integrity as I become even more passionate about humanity’s need to embrace the inner life of the soul?

I am moving into a chapter of my life and accepting I do not have the answers. I am only trusting in the desire to love more.

It’s been a rough five years of holding space and letting go and witnessing the deep exhaustion of so many in a world spinning and not being able to find any stillness in the presence of just being enough. We have too much information being thrown at us daily. The noise and the distractions are taking over the peacefulness of a still and quiet mind.

I needed to reflect and digest and absorb the incredible blessings that life has given me by following the deeper calling of my soul. I thought I would be retired at 70, but somehow that’s not the plan. Instead, I am being called to serve more and hold what I call a “Safe Zone.” In a lonely world isolated by social media and lives too busy, we are forgetting the value of shared belonging.

I thought of releasing the studio, but somehow the Universe is saying my work is just beginning. I can let life present the next step.

When I walked the Camino, I was reminded of my love of playing in the woods behind my house as a child. How I loved just exploring and getting lost, and yet feeling so safe with the trees! My greatest joy is time spent with nature and being removed from having to “do” life, and instead just “be” life.

The expression of greeting on the walk is shared with a special phrase, “Buen Camino.” I also accepted getting lost is part of the plan. Honoring the inner trust that as a child was always with me—and through life’s disappointments and betrayals, we lose that inner voice.

Nothing else is needed on the Camino—the yellow arrows point the way. Yes, I still got lost at times and had to inspire my friend: we will find our way back. As I write this blog, I’m laughing remembering how we had to add extra miles onto our day as we had to retrace our steps. Yet, the path offered entirely new perspectives in the opposite direction!

Everyone is sharing the joy of the journey. No competition to get there when we all are in appreciation for being here. To feel the community of shared gratitude and the smile of acceptance. All ages, all nationalities—all walking in appreciation for a lineage of lifetimes of pilgrims who have walked before. The path is given, and the grace is being able to share the experience.

I saw and greeted people from all over the world, and even when not able to share a language, we shared a smile, a nod, and an understanding that united us all on the way.

My friend and I would keep reminding each other:
“We are sooooo lucky.”
And we would laugh and pause and just feel the words.

The community at YAF needs your presence. We need to be reminded of the strength in shared laughter. In the world, there is so much struggle, and yet, suffering can be healed with a smile. A reminder: we are all on the path.

I can’t change today with anger, for there is too much of that inner rage. Let’s find a way to inspire the courage to continue through the heart.

Remember: The path—or the “Way Out”—is In. (Thich Nhat Hanh)

With light and love
—Laura Jane

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Have you ever taken a journey—physical or spiritual—that helped you reconnect with yourself? We'd love to hear about it —Please share in the comments.

Laura Jane’s Latest Adventure: Walking the El Camino

This month, our beloved founder and teacher, Laura Jane Mellencamp, is embarking on a soulful journey — walking a portion of the famous El Camino de Santiago in Spain!

The El Camino, or "The Way of Saint James," is an ancient pilgrimage route traveled for over a thousand years. Pilgrims journey to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of Saint James are buried. Today, the Camino draws travelers from around the world, each walking for their own reasons — reflection, healing, gratitude, or discovery.

Laura Jane is walking one of the most beloved sections: from Sarria to Santiago. This route, covering the final 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) of the Camino, can typically be completed over 5 to 7 days. It offers a rich tapestry of quiet forests, rolling hills, historic villages, and moments of profound connection — both with oneself and with fellow pilgrims.

Along the way, Laura Jane has shared a powerful reflection from her journey:

"The journey is the entire experience. Humility when we shared the path with a service group from Córdoba who are bringing 17 disabled to experience the Camino. Many blind and some being carried as they were unable to walk. People all over the world with a shared commitment to compassion."

Her words beautifully capture the true spirit of the Camino — a path walked not just with the body, but with an open heart and soul.

We are so excited to share Laura Jane’s photos and reflections with you as she continues along this extraordinary journey, carrying the spirit of Yoga Among Friends every step of the way.

Please join us in sending her love, encouragement, and wishes for a joyful, soulful Buen Camino!