Get to know Nancy Fox, formerly DL Hearty!

Nancy is a certified yoga therapist and author with more than 17 years of experience. She is trained in therapeutic and restorative yoga, focusing on the spine and its care.

Since 2010, Nancy has focused on helping people with scoliosis and back issues to avoid surgery, find relief from pain, and learn to manage their own back care.

 She co-authored the book, “Yoga for Scoliosis, a Path for Teachers and Students” with Elise Miller.  

Nancy Fox offers classes and workshops across the Chicagoland area for those with Scoliosis. She has trained extensively with renowned master teacher Gabriel Halpern of Yoga Circle in Chicago since 2006.

Her personal practice is based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar. She continues to study with senior teachers to maintain a current, informed and fresh approach to yoga. Nancy is an artist, a former potter, and that creativity shines throughout her teaching.

Here are some fun facts about Nancy Fox in her own words:

If you could pick one song to play every time you entered a room it would be...
“Laugh and Be Happy” by Randy Newman – delightful!

My favorite animal is.. the white snowy owl, it is my spirit animal

Guilty Pleasure…dark chocolate peanut butter cups! Can’t get enough of them…

Pigout food…popcorn with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pecorino romano cheese on top

Last show I binge watched….Downton Abby

Good book I’m reading…Outlander series for the 4th time!

Best Movie I’ve seen lately…Pirate Radio - I’ve seen it many times

Favorite place...Sedona, Arizona and my apartment/home

If I could do anything for the next 30 minutes, I would ...REST

What would you like to do more of? …Meditate and practice yoga

What would you like to do less of? …Drive in my car

People would be surprised that… I do not like my computer and devices

Greatest inspiration…Gabriel Halpern

In a perfect world, we would communicate via…conversation face to face as it was back in the olden days…remember when you would knock on someone’s door to see them? Now we make text appointments to even talk on the phone!!! Absurd.

Who is/are your yoga role models? Elise Browning Miller creator of Yoga for Scoliosis - a remarkable woman living in Palo Alto, CA. She is my friend and mentor and co-author of our book “Yoga for Scoliosis, a path for students and teachers”. I love working with her at Kripalu and host her workshops in Chicago every two years.

Gabriel Halpern, my first teacher and mentor, a true mensch! I owe my vocation to him, he showed me the ropes – literally! I am a certified yoga therapist because of his teachings and mentorship! May they both live for a very long time!

A pose I struggle with…headstand, I just won’t do it unless I am hanging in a sling :)

A pose I love and why…Ardha Chandrasana, I’M FLYING! Once you can nail the balance and elongation without leaning into a wall, or on a chair, there is freedom and a feeling of empowerment. I love to do it anywhere!

What is the biggest reason you teach yoga? ..I love to help others with the struggles I can relate with, namely anything to do with the spine! Gabriel taught me to teach from what I know. I have gotten to know my own spine quite well! I love to build community and encourage my students to talk to each other and share their stories about their scoliosis and back pain. We have also traded success stories and medical professionals who have helped. It truly has become community!

I want my students to...LOVE to come to classes and workshops to learn more! I also encourage them to practice at home, and to think about yoga positioning when moving through daily life, standing and sitting for example, with alignment in mind.

What 3 words best describe you…Compassionate, silly, passionate.

Find Nancy Fox on the drop-in schedule on Wednesdays at 7:30pm for Yoga for Scoliosis. You can learn more about Nancy on her website fineline.yoga.