we understand the profound connection between mind, body, and baby, and we're dedicated to supporting you every step of the way.

Step onto your mat and into a sanctuary crafted exclusively for expectant mothers. Led by experienced prenatal yoga teacher and nurse, Therese Carlson, who specializes in prenatal care, our classes blend gentle yoga poses, mindful breathing techniques, and guided relaxation to promote physical comfort, emotional balance, and spiritual serenity throughout your pregnancy journey.

Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

• Alleviate discomfort: Relieve common pregnancy aches and pains through targeted stretches and gentle movements.

• Strengthen your body: Build strength and flexibility in preparation for childbirth and postpartum recovery.

• Connect with your baby: Cultivate a deep bond with your little one through breath awareness and mindful movement.

• Nurture your well-being: Reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue while enhancing overall emotional and mental wellness.

• Join a supportive community: Share experiences, wisdom, and laughter with fellow expectant mothers in a warm and welcoming environment.

Who Can Benefit

Our prenatal yoga classes are suitable for all stages of pregnancy and all levels of yoga experience. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or stepping onto the mat for the first time, our classes are designed to meet you where you are and support you on your unique journey to motherhood.

Why Choose Yoga Among Friends Prenatal Yoga

At Yoga Among Friends, we prioritize your comfort, safety, and well-being above all else. Our intimate class sizes ensure personalized attention, while our nurturing atmosphere fosters a sense of community and belonging. With a focus on holistic health and empowerment, we empower you to embrace the transformative power of pregnancy with confidence and grace.

Join Us Today

Embark on self-discovery, empowerment, and radiant vitality with prenatal yoga at Yoga Among Friends. Whether you're seeking relief from physical discomfort, emotional support, or a tranquil space to connect with your baby and fellow mothers-to-be, we invite you to experience the magic of prenatal yoga.

Register for the Classes

You will receive a class registration confirmation.

Additional reminder emails will be sent 24 hours and 2 hours before class.

Register early; space is limited to 16.

Restore Balance with Gentle Yoga, Aromatherapy, and Sound Healing

Spring Renewal Workshop

As spring arrives, nature reminds us that renewal is always possible. Calm Within: Yoga Therapy, Aromatherapy & Sound invites you to step into a warm candlelit space where you can slow down, release lingering tension from the winter months, and reconnect with a sense of ease within your body and mind.

During this 90-minute workshop, we’ll explore gentle yoga therapy practices designed to help calm and regulate the nervous system. Through slow, mindful movement, breathwork, and body awareness, you’ll learn how to release common areas of tension in the neck, shoulders, back, and hips while creating a feeling of safety and balance within the body.

Spring-inspired aromatherapy will be woven throughout the practice to uplift the senses and encourage a feeling of lightness and renewal. We’ll also incorporate simple self-massage techniques and restorative postures that help the body unwind and reset.

The experience will conclude with a deeply relaxing sound healing journey using soothing instruments and guided relaxation to support the nervous system and allow the body to settle into a state of deep calm.

This workshop is designed to help you move into the new season feeling refreshed, grounded, and supported from within—while leaving with simple tools you can use anytime you need to restore calm in your daily life.

Who This Workshop Is For

This gently restorative workshop is ideal for anyone seeking:

• Stress relief and emotional grounding

• Nervous system regulation

• A beginner-friendly yoga experience

• Relief from tension in the back, shoulders, and hips

• A peaceful reset after the holidays

• A soothing, candlelit sound bath in Downers Grove

Join Us in Downers Grove on April 30, 2026

This workshop is more than a class—it’s a healing experience. This isn’t just a class; it’s a deeply nurturing experience. You’ll step out feeling balanced and renewed, carrying easy, accessible tools to help you return to calm whenever your life needs time to calm and rest.

Reserve Your Spot Today

$40

Click this Calm Within Workshop link to register. You will receive a confirmation email, plus gentle reminder emails 24 hours and 2 hours before the workshop begins.

we understand the profound connection between mind, body, and baby, and we're dedicated to supporting you every step of the way.

Step onto your mat and into a sanctuary crafted exclusively for expectant mothers. Led by experienced prenatal yoga teacher and nurse, Therese Carlson, who specializes in prenatal care, our classes blend gentle yoga poses, mindful breathing techniques, and guided relaxation to promote physical comfort, emotional balance, and spiritual serenity throughout your pregnancy journey.

Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

• Alleviate discomfort: Relieve common pregnancy aches and pains through targeted stretches and gentle movements.

• Strengthen your body: Build strength and flexibility in preparation for childbirth and postpartum recovery.

• Connect with your baby: Cultivate a deep bond with your little one through breath awareness and mindful movement.

• Nurture your well-being: Reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue while enhancing overall emotional and mental wellness.

• Join a supportive community: Share experiences, wisdom, and laughter with fellow expectant mothers in a warm and welcoming environment.

Who Can Benefit

Our prenatal yoga classes are suitable for all stages of pregnancy and all levels of yoga experience. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or stepping onto the mat for the first time, our classes are designed to meet you where you are and support you on your unique journey to motherhood.

Why Choose Yoga Among Friends Prenatal Yoga

At Yoga Among Friends, we prioritize your comfort, safety, and well-being above all else. Our intimate class sizes ensure personalized attention, while our nurturing atmosphere fosters a sense of community and belonging. With a focus on holistic health and empowerment, we empower you to embrace the transformative power of pregnancy with confidence and grace.

Join Us Today

Embark on self-discovery, empowerment, and radiant vitality with prenatal yoga at Yoga Among Friends. Whether you're seeking relief from physical discomfort, emotional support, or a tranquil space to connect with your baby and fellow mothers-to-be, we invite you to experience the magic of prenatal yoga.

Register for the Classes

You will receive a class registration confirmation.

Additional reminder emails will be sent 24 hours and 2 hours before class.

Register early; space is limited to 16.

Somatic Movement, Dance & Sound Healing Workshop

This somatic movement and sound healing workshop invites participants to reconnect with the wisdom of the body through rhythm, vibration, and intuitive movement in a welcoming space at Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove.

Sometimes the body expresses what words cannot.

Somatic healing through dance and sound invites participants to reconnect with the wisdom of the body through movement, rhythm, and vibration. Through guided movement and intuitive dance, the body is given space to release tension and reconnect with its natural rhythms.

Sound healing instruments such as crystal singing bowls, gongs, and chimes create soothing vibrations that support deep relaxation and nervous system regulation.

Together, these practices offer a space for grounding, emotional expression, and embodied healing.

If you enjoy deeply relaxing practices, you may also enjoy our Candlelight Restorative Yoga & Yoga Nidra gatherings, which offer another opportunity to rest and reset the nervous system.

What You’ll Experience

• Gentle somatic movement and intuitive dance to help release tension and reconnect with the body’s natural rhythms

• Immersive sound healing with crystal singing bowls, gongs, and chimes to encourage deep relaxation

• A welcoming, supportive space to explore movement, expression, and rest at your own pace

What to Expect

This experience blends gentle movement, intuitive dance, and immersive sound.

Somatic practices focus on reconnecting with the body and its natural rhythms through movement, breath, and awareness. In this workshop, movement is exploratory rather than choreographed, allowing each person to move in ways that feel natural and supportive.

As the session unfolds, sound healing instruments including crystal singing bowls, gongs, and chimes fill the space with resonant tones that encourage the body and mind to soften into deeper relaxation.

Participants are welcome to move, rest, or simply listen as the experience evolves.

No dance or yoga experience is needed.

Who This Is For

This workshop may be supportive for those who:

• feel curious about exploring movement and sound as pathways to relaxation and self-awareness
• would like to release tension and reconnect with the body in a gentle way
• enjoy practices such as meditation, yoga, or sound healing
• are interested in creative and intuitive forms of movement rather than structured choreography
• are looking for a calming experience that supports nervous system regulation and deep relaxation

No dance or yoga experience is required. Participants are invited to move, rest, or simply listen as the experience unfolds.

What Makes This Experience Unique

This workshop weaves together several healing modalities in a way that invites both movement and stillness.

Rather than focusing on structured choreography or traditional yoga poses, participants are guided through intuitive movement and gentle somatic exploration. This allows each person to move in ways that feel natural and supportive for their own body.

The movement practice is complemented by immersive sound healing using instruments such as crystal singing bowls, gongs, and chimes. These resonant tones create a calming environment that encourages the body and mind to soften into deeper relaxation.

The combination of movement, rhythm, and sound creates a unique experience that supports grounding, emotional expression, and reconnection with the body.

Benefits of Movement & Sound Practices

Many people find practices like these supportive for:

• releasing physical tension
• calming the nervous system
• reconnecting with the body
• emotional expression through movement
• deep relaxation

Each experience is unique and invites participants to explore at their own pace.

About the Facilitator

Rakhi Mistry is a mindfulness educator, yoga teacher, and holistic wellness practitioner with more than 25 years of experience supporting children, families, and communities. A Special Education teacher and advocate for mental well-being, her work integrates meditation, somatic movement, yoga, Reiki, and sound healing to support relaxation, emotional balance, and connection to the body.

Rakhi holds over 500 hours of yoga training, is a Master Reiki Level 3 practitioner, and a trained sound healing facilitator. She is also a student of former Yoga Among Friends teacher Marina Lisjonok, whose teaching continues to influence her approach to embodied healing practices.

Through her workshops and healing circles, Rakhi creates welcoming spaces where participants can move, breathe, and explore healing practices at their own pace.

Event Details

Led by: Rakhi Mistry
Date: Saturday, May 9
Time: 11am - 1pm
Location: Yoga Among Friends
4949 Forest Ave
Downers Grove, IL
Cost: $50

Space is limited.

What to Bring

Comfortable clothing you can move in
A water bottle
Curiosity and openness

All props and sound instruments will be provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Movement, rhythm, and sound have long been pathways for reconnecting with the body and releasing what no longer needs to be held.

If you feel curious about exploring these practices in a supportive environment, we invite you to join us.

Join us in Downers Grove for an unforgettable evening of live music and yoga as internationally touring artist Girish performs alongside Laura Jane Mellencamp.

Experience the power of live music woven seamlessly into your yoga practice. Flow to modern melodies infused with sacred Sanskrit chants as internationally touring musician Girish performs live while Laura Jane guides you through an inspired, all-level yoga class. The evening closes with a Sanskrit lullaby during Savasana — a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.

All levels welcome.

Date & Time
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
6:30–8:00pm

Investment
$45

Register early — this event has sold out in the past.

What Makes This Evening Special

Live devotional music changes the energy of a room. As Girish plays and sings Sanskrit mantras set to contemporary rhythms, the vibration of sound supports movement, breath, and inner awareness — inviting the kind of deep listening that allows us to be fully present to ourselves and one another.

Laura Jane skillfully weaves the music into a thoughtfully sequenced yoga practice, allowing your body to respond organically to rhythm and melody. The class concludes in stillness with a sacred lullaby that settles the nervous system and opens the heart.

This is more than a yoga class.
It is a shared musical and yogic experience.

About Girish

Girish is an internationally touring world music artist, teacher, and author. He began his career as a jazz drummer, spent five years as a monk in a Hindu monastery, and later became a sought-after session tabla player on more than one hundred world music albums.

For over a decade, he has written, recorded, and performed original music while teaching Sanskrit mantra and chanting at festivals and yoga studios worldwide. His seven albums have received acclaim from O, The Oprah Magazine, Yoga Journal, and The Guardian.

His book, Music and Mantras, continues his mission of sharing meditation through music. Learn more about Girish’s music and mantras.

About Laura Jane Mellencamp

Laura Jane Mellencamp, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, MA, is the founder of Yoga Among Friends and has been teaching for over three decades. She has led classes and seminars worldwide and is known for her depth of knowledge, practical wisdom, and ability to transmit authentic yogic teachings in an accessible way.

Blending her clinical training in psychology with yoga therapy, Laura offers a grounded, integrative approach that supports both physical vitality and emotional balance.

Join Us for an Evening of Movement, Music & Meaning

Space is limited. Advance registration is recommended.

This special event is part of our ongoing live workshops and community gatherings at Yoga Among Friends.

Explore all upcoming workshops here.

Yoga • Silent Disco • Meditation • Community

Led by Anna Albrecht & Amy Hallenbeck

Step into an immersive experience where movement, music, and mindfulness come together—inviting you to tune in, soften, and reconnect with yourself.

Wireless headphones create a quiet, focused space—allowing you to fully tune in without distraction.

A different kind of quiet—one you can actually feel.

An Immersive Practice for Body, Mind, and Connection

There are moments when the noise of daily life pulls us outward—into doing, thinking, and responding. This experience offers something different.

Step into a unique, immersive experience unlike any class you've taken before. Through gentle yoga, curated music, and guided awareness, you’re invited to turn inward.

Wearing wireless headphones, you’ll move through a quiet, focused space—free from distraction—where each breath, each movement, and each moment becomes more vivid.

This is more than a class—it’s a space to return to yourself.

What’s Included

• Silent disco experience with wireless headphones and curated music

• Guided cues to support focus and awareness

• Restorative meditation and sound relaxation

• Intentional community connection time

• Gentle, all-levels yoga flow

• Silent disco experience with wireless headphones and curated music

• Guided cues to support focus and awareness

• Restorative meditation and sound relaxation

• Intentional community connection time

Why Silent Disco Yoga?

• A deeply immersive experience—music and guidance come through your headphones, helping your attention turn inward

• Fewer distractions—outside noise fades, making it easier to stay present

• Clear, consistent guidance—hear every cue with ease, no matter where you are in the room

• A personal experience within a shared space—feel inwardly focused while practicing together in community

• A customizable environment—adjust volume to support your own rhythm and comfort

Three Acts, One Experience

A Different Way to Practice Together

Even in silence, something meaningful happens when we gather.

This experience honors both the inward journey and the shared space around you—offering a sense of connection that feels natural, unforced, and deeply supportive.

Come as you are.

Meet Your Teachers

Everything You Need to Know

Date & Time
Saturday, May 16 • 5:00–6:30pm

Experience
All levels welcome • Wireless headphones provided

Investment
$45

Ready to Tune In?

Spaces are limited. Join us for a one-of-a-kind experience that helps you slow down, tune in, and reconnect—within yourself and in community.

Refine your understanding. Teach with more clarity and care.

Led by Jessica Gonsiorowski 
4-Hour CE Workshop · Earn 4 CEUs

Open to 200-hour certified yoga teachers

Refine the Way You See & Teach the Upper Body

The shoulders are one of the most complex—and often misunderstood—areas of the body in yoga.

This workshop is designed to help you understand how the thoracic spine, shoulders, and neck function together, and how to translate that understanding into clearer, more effective teaching.

Through a blend of anatomy, movement, observation, and application, you’ll learn to recognize common compensation patterns and guide students toward movement that is more efficient, sustainable, and supportive.

Why This Work Matters

When thoracic mobility is limited, the neck often overworks.
When shoulder mechanics are inefficient, effort replaces support.

And when teachers can see these patterns clearly, cueing becomes more precise, helpful, and therapeutic.

This workshop creates space to slow down, look more closely, and build a stronger foundation for how you teach the upper body.

Why study with Jessica

Jessica is known for helping teachers see what’s actually happening in the body and translate that into clear, usable teaching.

Her approach is:

• Practical

• Observant

• Supportive

• Immediately applicable

She creates a learning environment that is both professional and deeply approachable, helping teachers build confidence in their own voice and decision-making.

Visit: resilientlifeyogallc.com

Workshop Details

Date: Sunday, June 7, 2026
Time: 1–5pm
Location: Yoga Among Friends, Downers Grove, IL
Teacher: Jessica Gonsiorowski
CEUs: 4 Hours
Investment: $145

A Grounded, Practical Afternoon for Yoga Teachers

If you’ve ever wanted a clearer understanding of what’s happening in the shoulders, upper back, and neck—and how to teach these areas with more confidence and care—this workshop offers a meaningful place to begin.

Join us for an afternoon of study, movement, and insight designed to support both your personal practice and the way you guide others.

Led by Donna Ohman

Workshop | Thursday, May 21
6:30-8:15pm | $45, registration encouraged

“Wisdom is insight that leads to living well.”

The Woman’s Wisdom Circle is a welcoming space to pause, reset, and reconnect with your inner knowing and shared community. Each gathering centers around a gentle theme of revival and balance, weaving together simple health wisdom, breath awareness, therapeutic movement, restorative yoga, and guided meditation.

These sessions invite a soft reset of the nervous system while supporting balance of mind, body, and soul. The practices are accessible, nourishing, and designed to meet you exactly where you are.

This circle also honors the wisdom we carry together. Sharing is always welcome — whether it’s a favorite poem, quote, recipe, or small insight from your own life. You are invited to bring what inspires you, listen deeply, and remember that we all have wisdom to share.

Dates & Themes:

April 16 – Spring Fling 

June 18 – Summer Solstice

Registration is encouraged

Registration and Payment

Workshop Cost: $45

You will receive a registration confirmation email and reminder emails 24 hours and 2 hours before the workshop start time.

Embrace the Mystic Within

A Yoga Retreat Adventure in Turkey

We’ll have yoga classes, excursions, and the richness of the Mediterranean food prepared daily. Relax by the pool, hike the surrounding trails, and be willing to go deeper into a practice restoring the blessings of the female energy of Mary. The healing aspects of the Divine Mother await us as we venture into this healing land.

Using the practice of yoga and meditation, Laura Jane has designed this week to support you in exploring the tools of stilling the mind and embracing your authentic self. The yoga classes will blend the disciplines of vinyasa flow with a strong emphasis on pranayama and meditation to still the roaming mind, calm the system, and live in a state of balance. They will cover the fundamental principles underlying the therapeutic application of yoga and how to incorporate these principles into your practice. Work to dissolve old blockages, unravel samskaras, and create new pathways to vibrant health and happiness. The result will be one of the most incredible, unforgettable yoga experiences you will ever have.

This week is a perfect balance between rest and play. Laura has discovered through leading and attending many retreats that traveling together and saying yes to life and its opportunities in the moment create lasting friendships and a gratitude for life’s abundance that will last forever.

This yoga retreat is for all ages and all life experiences, including all levels of yoga practitioners, yoga teachers, and bodywork therapists.

Private yoga sessions will also be available.

(Optional to meet each student’s needs)
• Early morning hike and meditation
• Breakfast
• In-depth yoga practice with Laura Jane
• Lunch
• Free time to explore this beautiful and healing environment
• Late practice includes asana, chanting, sutra study and meditation
• Dinner
• Evening shared sanga

*Schedule is subject to change.

These include:

• Beaches

• Sailing

• Horseback riding

• Hiking

• Wine tasting and tours

• Visiting Ephesus's ancient city ruins and the Virgin Mary's house, which are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• Visiting Claros, the ancient Sanctuary of Apollo

• And more!

*The cost of some activities is not included in tuition.

Join us for a transformative experience.

Rave Reviews: What Participants Are Saying About Laura Jane's Yoga Retreats

The family atmosphere, the delicacy of service, gardens, small corners, and interior spaces make it an ideal venue for yoga, retreats, and meditation. The restaurant and bar offerings are carefully curated to invigorate energy and cultivate health. Mediterranean cuisine, inspired by traditional gastronomy, fuses local fish, meat, and dairy products with seasonal fruits, local vegetables, Aegean herbs, and olive oil. The retreat emphasizes sustainable cultivation, with all products sourced from their own farms, local suppliers, or from the region. The kitchen caters to a variety of diets, offering vegan, vegetarian, and traditional Turkish dishes and can adapt menus to accommodate individual needs, such as allergies and special diets.

Investment

The cost of the retreat includes:

• 6 nights accommodations
  Note: The group will stay overnight at an airport hotel and depart for the retreat center the following morning.

• 3 meals per day (excluding alcoholic beverages), starting with dinner on the first night and ending with breakfast on the last day.

• Group Ground Transportation to/from Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB) to the Retreat Center (approximately 60-minute drive). Based on our flight window guidelines, there will be one group airport shuttle each way.

• Daily yoga practices

• Personal retreat time (having time to nap, explore, walk, read, and just be)

• 2 full-day excursions including Ephesus and Mother Mary’s House

• 1 half-day activity/excursion

The retreat does not include:

• Airfare to Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB) in Izmir, Turkey. Before booking tickets, please be sure you have received your official confirmation note that the retreat has met its minimums.

• Alcoholic beverages & personal purchases

• Optional excursions

• Travel insurance (highly recommended)

• Gratuities

Payment options, payment schedules, and cancellation policies

Ready for 6 days of movement, friends, and relaxation? Space is limited, and we will sell out.

Let’s do this!

Register

Paying your initial deposit of $350 and a non-refundable $50 Payment Processing Fee (added to the tuition rate upon registration) will lock in your tuition rate and hold your space for the trip.

Laura is planning this trip in conjunction with True Nature Travels, a holistic, educational travel company that provides planning, support, and guidance. For more information about our Spanish retreat, including things to do, sites to see, how to book your flight for the best price possible, and how to get to the Malaga Airport, visit the True Nature Travel website. All bookings and payments are handled on the True Nature Travel website.

Interested, but need some questions answered before you can commit?