Yoga Among Friends turns 17!

On April 1st we celebrated our 17th anniversary! It's hard to believe that I am still just as passionate and inspired by yoga as I was when I opened the doors in 1998. Yoga has been the toolbox for my life and I am forever grateful to the amazing teachers, students, and community that have supported our presence in Downers Grove.

The teaching path of yoga is one of service. I often find myself struggling to balance the fact that I am running a business with the understanding that my true purpose is in teaching the sacred. I deeply appreciate you, our students, who understand that yoga is more than an exercise routine, and that Yoga Among Friends is so much more than a fitness center - it is a spiritual home.

It is my truest hope that we will continue to inspire you to see the beauty of your life's purpose and to be present with your True Self. May we continue to shine as a place of nourishment and sustain the integrity of our roots that allow for the well-being of these incredible teachings to thrive.

Namaste!

Laura Jane

Inner Knowing & Renewal

When root is linked to heart, we can feel a passion for life which motivates us to deepen our experiences. Rather than having the feeling of just "passing through", we become, not only voluntarily, but passionately, resident in our Life.
~ Laura Jane ~

The mind becomes dulled through the long nights and cold days of winter and we begin to doubt the possibility of life sustaining life. We become discouraged with our outer world and start linking our minds to thoughts of worry and fear. When we dedicate ourselves to going inward and stilling the mind of those outer senses, we reach the place of listening to our inner knowing. This intelligence is always moving in the direction of its True Nature.

I am forever reminded of this "knowing", when I see the first crocus push its green shoot of life up into the light. These roots have the integrity of intelligence to come back every Spring - to renew the sustained understanding that life is moving towards the space of light. Winter has lasted too long! But what a joy to see and smell and taste the air of this sweet new season.

Each Spring I honor this process and return to a sacred space for retreat to be reminded that the heart needs to be nourished in order to sustain the vitality of living. When we begin to care, not only for ourselves, but also set the intention as a community, then we restore this true and vibrant energy. I call this HOPE.

I invite you to join me April 16-19 for a magical experience at Gray Bear Lodge, a retreat center outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

For those souls wanting to go deeper in a practice of connecting, I promise you wonderful asanas, meditation, walks in the woods, music, chanting, and healthy delicious food. Not to mention a great group of like minded yogis longing for the fullness of LIFE.

Register today! Space is limited.
Contact Yoga Among Friends for more info.

Namaste,
Laura Jane

A New Journey

It has taken this seed of intention a long time to germinate but the plant is finally coming into its form. After a year of planning, and thirty years of teachings, 16 years of holding space as the Director of YAF, and many more years of living, I have teamed up with the amazing teacher and educator, JJ Gormley, Director Surya Chandra Healing Yoga School, to present Yoga Among Friends' first 300 hour yoga therapy teacher training! We are Yoga Alliance accredited. The intention of offering subsequent teacher trainings to complete a 900 hour yoga therapy teacher training program through the International Association of Yoga Therapy.

The Journey begins this year - April 2015 - which marks our 17th anniversary as one of the most highly regarded yoga centers in Chicagoland and the Midwest. I am so excited about this program and finally feel the time is now to bring these deeper tools of yoga education into a respected program.

I have been working with JJ for months to create a teaching model that will embrace the lineage of Krishnamacharya and the vast experiences we both have accrued as yoga therapists and teachers throughout our decades of combined experience. I feel confident our program will inspire, nourish and give a firm foundation for this powerful and inspiring work of teaching others from the heart. These teachings and this program are for anyone interested in further understanding the history, philosophy and depth of the mind and body and spirit. I am hopeful that teachers, psychologists, nurses, and of course all seekers will find the joy of what yoga can offer in your life.

I hope you will consider joining me on Saturday, January 31st at 3:00pm at YAF for an information session on this unique teacher training!