Founder and Director
Beatriz Chalas Harnois
RYT 500
Bea is a 500HR Registered Yoga Teacher with three years of experience. Her goal is to serve as an inspiration for her students and promote peace, relaxation, and wellness through Yoga. She loves teaching children as well as adults at the beginner level.
After a decade of practicing yoga, Bea decided to embark on the journey of yoga teacher training to improve her personal practice. She completed her first 200hr training in Modified Primary Ashtanga Yoga in February 2019. In addition, she completed a 300hr Power Vinyasa training at Inner Jasmin Yoga School in Hinsdale, and a 200hr Viniyoga training at Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove in 2020. Bea received her certificate in kid's yoga after completing an immersive 25hr teacher training with Yoga Shala in July 2019.
Bea believes yoga invites transformation to the body, soul, and mind that can be extended outside the mat. Her teaching style is calm yet deliberate. She pays attention to details and focuses on breath and alignment to avoid discomfort.
Be prepared for a relaxing yet challenging yoga class that will allow you to be comfortable where you are while making progress and growing your practice.
Bea's Schedule
Wed 4-4:45pm, Yoga for Kids–Studio
Deb Zelman
RYT
Deb Zelman is a certified RYS 200 Yoga Alliance instructor, specializing in Hatha Yoga. Deb Zelman enjoys the many health benefits of yoga, including increased flexibility and strength, tools for clearing the mind, and practices to increase energy or wind down. She appreciates the way breath and yoga practices intersect with her career as a musician, singer, clarinet and saxophone teacher, where alignment, breathing, and calming techniques serve many purposes.
Deb is a certified RYS 200 Yoga Alliance instructor, specializing in Hatha Yoga. She continues her yoga studies with Laura Jane Mellencamp Murphy, owner and founder of the Yoga Among Friends studio in Downers Grove.
Deb’s class schedule:
Fri, 11-12pm, Gentle Flow Yoga–Studio
Donna Ohman
PTA, C-IAYT
Donna is a certified yoga therapist who fell in love with yoga in 1999. Since 2002, she has been a licensed physical therapist assistant with a focus on outpatient orthopedic and neurological disorders. She integrates her physical therapy experience, yoga knowledge, and Pilates training to offer a unique teaching style that blends rehabilitation with the healing and health benefits of yoga.
Donna's classes are alignment-based with a blend of therapeutics and rhythmic movement, emphasizing the breath. She intertwines Eastern and Western healing modalities through the integration of physical therapy, yoga therapy, and facial yoga. She aims to inspire and empower others to reach their health and wellness potential in mind, body, and spirit with the philosophy, “Come as you are; do what you can; and grow from there.”
Her background includes the following:
Certified Yoga Therapist & Member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)
Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant since 2002
Certified Urban Zen Integrative Therapy practitioner (UZIT)
Certified in Face Yoga 2020
Certified in Gua Sha 2023
Stott Pilates Rehab trained
Jessica Gonsiorowski
E-RYT200/ RYT500/ RPYT85
Born and raised in Germany by a German mom and American father, Jessica enjoyed a multicultural upbringing that has given her a curious, open mind and warm heart. Jessica took her first yoga class at 19 years old and discovered that letting go of thoughts and stressors as well as finding inner strength through creating a strong body made her feel better and reconnected with herself. Learning to live in the present moment has been the biggest gift she has received from her yoga practice.
As a teacher, Jessica focuses on the body-mind connection, healthy alignment, creating awareness of personal needs and nourishing the relationship with oneself. She continues to be impressed by the parallels of life on and off the mat and hopes to communicate that within her classes. She strives for her students to have fun and to find their personal practice and become their own agent of change.
Jessica completed her 200 hour certification through Bloom Yoga Studio, Chicago and 300 hour Advanced Teacher Training at Prairie Yoga. Becoming a yoga teacher has filled her life up to the fullest and she is overjoyed about how much happiness it has created in her life.
Jessica's Schedule
Mon 9:30–10:45a, Plus Size Yoga 6-Week Series – Studio
Mon 11a-12:15p, Multi-Style Yoga–Studio (Starts May 1, 2023)
Jill Glavan
C-IAYT, E-RYT 500
Jill began her yoga journey in 2000. An avid “gym rat,” she wandered into her first class and immediately knew her life was about to change. She began teaching in 2004 with the encouragement and cajoling of her first teacher, who saw something she did not see in herself.
Since that time, Jill has continued studying and refining her practice of yoga. With over 2000 hours of study, she is a passionate learner. She practiced many styles of yoga and is well-versed in all the major lineages. Her first 300-hour teacher training was with Daren Friesen, an Ashtanga practitioner. In addition, she has hundreds of hours of training with Aadil Palkivala, who studied with B.K.S. Iyengar since the age of 7. She continues to study with him to this day. Her last training was with her heart teacher, Laura Jane Mellencamp Murphy, and JJ Gormley of Surya Chandra Healing Yoga School. She completed the 900-hour Yoga Therapy training under their tutelage, learning the beautiful therapeutic teachings of T.K.V. Desikachar. Eager to learn as much as possible, she concurrently took a 200-hour online Krishnamacharya yoga therapy class with the renowned Amy Wheeler, Ph. D., former president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Jill is a master in blending these three disciplines together, using her keen intuition to discover what the student needs.
Besides practicing and teaching yoga, Jill loves to walk in nature daily and enjoys working at a local winery and spending time with her family and friends. She is the mother of 2 grown children and the grandmother of three, the loves of her life. She is grateful beyond words to share the gift of yoga with you, as she knows it will change your life as well.
JIll’s Schedule:
Wed 9:30-10:45am Multi-Style Yoga–Studio & Zoom (starts Nov 15, 2023)
Julie Pate
C-IAYT, E-RYT 500
Julie first discovered yoga over 20 years ago while working as a personal trainer, Pilate’s teacher and running coach. Julie loved the way yoga balanced her workouts and left her feeling calm and peaceful. In 2006, she graduated from her first yoga teacher training. Julie has continued her studies and now has over 1700 hours of training in different yoga traditions, and she became a certified Yoga Therapist in 2018.
Julie believes that movement infused with focus and breath can heal the body and the mind. She brings a love of movement and a deep appreciate for life’s many gifts into her classes and private sessions. Julie has had success using the tools of yoga for clients with a wide variety of issues including anxiety, depression, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, low back pain and joint disorders.
Julie is a registered Children’s Yoga Teacher and has worked with children with a variety of special needs. Julie believes that yoga can have a positive effect on academic achievement, general health, personal attributes and relationships.
Julie's Schedule
By Appointment, Yoga Therapy
Julie Stewart
Julie's intention for her teaching is to present a well balanced practice that includes all aspects of the journey. To bring into her teaching her knowledge of ayurveda, pranayama, meditation and stillness to help us all live a balanced, grounded life. As we say in ayurveda, "living is costly, so use the tools that we have from the seasons, the asanas, meditations, proper intake of foods and lifestyle that will allow us to live in harmony with nature and our fellow beings."
Julie has been lucky enough to study and practice with some wonderful teachers: Erich Schiffman, Barbara Benagh, Laura Jane Murphy, Tias Little, Doug Keller, Todd Norian, Gabriel Halpern, and Tricia Fiske to just name a few. Her blend of style comes from all of these different teachers and outlooks. Her ayurveda training is from Pat Layton who is the director of Bhavana Institute in LaGrange, and she received her panchakarma training from Diva Ayurveda in Milwaukee.
Julie's Schedule
Thu 9:30–11a, Vinyasa Flow–Zoom & In Studio
Marina Lisjonok
E-RYT 500, MSW
Marina stepped on the yoga mat in 1994 as yoga appeared to be the sure way to physical, mental and spiritual healing and growth. Since then she studied and experienced various styles of yoga with master teachers and spiritual leaders in Latvia (her homeland), India, Nepal and US. Yoga became her life's journey and teaching yoga became her life's passion. She completed several yoga teacher trainings with Rolf Gates, Andrew Lappa, Natalia Dubinina, and Hersh Khetarpal.
Her teaching blends dynamic breath-based movements with static holds of postures. Spiritual affirmations, mantra, meditations and themes are woven into each class to give you an experience of your own acceptance, strength, harmony and inner peace. Learn more about Marina at www.livinglightyoga.com. Her background includes the following:
Certified Yoga Teacher
MSW in Social Work
Practicing yoga since 1994
Teaching yoga since 2005
Marina's Schedule
Sun 8–8:45a, Meditation Circles–In Studio & Zoom
Sun 9–10:15a, Meditative Flow–In Studio & Zoom
Yoga Nidra Workshops–Zoom
Marina stepped on the yoga mat in 1994 as yoga appeared to be the sure way to physical, mental and spiritual healing and growth. Since then she studied and experienced various styles of yoga with master teachers and spiritual leaders in Latvia (her homeland), India, Nepal and US. Yoga became her life's journey and teaching yoga became her life's passion. She completed several yoga teacher trainings with Rolf Gates, Andrew Lappa, Natalia Dubinina, and Hersh Khetarpal.
Her teaching blends dynamic breath-based movements with static holds of postures. Spiritual affirmations, mantra, meditations and themes are woven into each class to give you an experience of your own acceptance, strength, harmony and inner peace. Learn more about Marina at www.livinglightyoga.com. Her background includes the following:
Certified Yoga Teacher
MSW in Social Work
Practicing yoga since 1994
Teaching yoga since 2005
Marina's Schedule
Sun 8–8:45a, Meditation Circles–In Studio & Zoom
Sun 9–10:15a, Meditative Flow–In Studio & Zoom
Yoga Nidra Workshops–Zoom
Marla Mothershed
CYT
Marla began as an instructor to all ages and abilities in a faith community setting after being inspired her to deepen her understanding of how yoga brought calm and energy to her life.
After 20 years of practice, she is still enthusiastic about learning this transformational practice, through training with Laura Jane Mellencamp and Linda Troutman.
With a genuine passion for bringing people together, Marla invites students at all levels, including those who have never tried yoga. She brings her love of nature into class and sometimes teaches outdoors. Her class includes slow and gentle movements, and everyone will learn how to use their breath to nourish their bodies as well as their mental and spiritual well-being.
Marla’s greatest hope is that her students feel more inner peace and strength, and her class brings more community and healing to our world.
Marla's Schedule
Wed 4:30–5:30p, Beginner’s Yoga–Studio & Zoom
Meredith Harbour
C-IAYT, CYT 500
Meredith has been teaching since 2010 having received her training in the Krishnamacarya tradition. She received her training with Krishnamacharya Healing Yoga Foundation, studying under master teachers Chase Bossart and Amy Wheeler.
Meredith's breath based classes are designed to bring focus to the mind while creating strength & flexibility in the body and reducing stress. Her practice is perfect for students looking to find balance in their lives.
As a yoga teacher and as a certified yoga therapist, she brings joy and understanding to every class and private session, meeting her students where they are.
Meredith's Schedule
Mon 7:30–8:30p, Fundamentals of Yoga–Studio & Zoom
Thu 7:30–8:45p, Yoga for Stress & Anxiety–Studio & Zoom
Sat 8–9a, Fundamentals of Yoga– Studio & Zoom
By Appointment, Yoga Therapy
Patti Yates
RYT 200, RN
Her love of yoga inspires her to share her passion with others. Patti has taught yoga for over 30 years. She was yoga certified at Yoga Source Teachers Training Program in conjunction with Yoga Alliance.
Patti is a registered nurse. She practiced nursing in the hospital and at Martha Jefferson Out-Patient Surgery Center.
She has taught yoga therapy to patients at the Chronic Pain Center and to oncology patients. She has also held restorative yoga classes for students with Multiple Sclerosis and their teachers.
Patti worked at the Mind Body Studio in Virginia and taught healing and wellness classes as well as Yoga for Health.
She gets great joy spending time with her grandchildren.
Patti's Schedule
Tue 5-6pm, Beginner’s Yoga, Studio & Zoom
Sara Shotsberger
LCSW, RYT-200
Sara’s experience and training is rooted in the mind + body connect. She has over 15 years experience working with children and families as a developmental psychotherapist. Sara had the privilege of studying yoga in the Krishnamacharya lineage under Laura Jane Mellencamp and Julie Pate where she completed her RYT 200 hour training in September 2020 at Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove, IL.
Sara’s passion about building community, connections & clinical programming.
“There are countless methods for healing and moving forward. Emotions and feelings are a gift; they are the natural barometer for navigating our lives. Working through and assimilating the somatic experience of life, freeing ourselves from trauma and bumps in the road. Often we fear or misinterpret those emotions and fall into a holding pattern as to how to move forward. The best work is done when we are honest and open about who we are, and where we want to be.”
In 2020, Sara founded Sangha Space, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which provides free yoga programming, trauma informed mental health programs, educational workshops & weekend retreats for children, families and volunteers alike. In partnership with Yoga Among Friends, Sangha Space provides scholarship opportunities for professionals and students alike.
Sara’s Credentials
Licenced Clinical Social Worker, Illinois
Yoga Alliance RYT-200
Chakras for Children
EMDR trained & certified through EMDRIA
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Licensed Mediator from Northwestern University
Sara’s Schedule
1:1 Sessions by Appointment
Therese Carlson
RN, CYT 500, Prenatal Yoga Teacher
Therese is a registered nurse and yoga teacher. Therese has taught hatha, a mindful Vinyasa, and gentle yoga but found a love for Prenatal yoga. She uses her 33 years of nursing experience and her love of yoga to nurture, strengthen and guide moms-to-be through this exciting journey. The teachers that have strong influence on her life and yoga are her mom and dad, Tricia Fiske, Lori Gaspar, Julie Gudmestad and Tias Little. She also works as a nurse in the community and is the mother of 3 young adults. Her background includes the following:
Certified Yoga Teacher, 500hr, Prairie Yoga, Lisle, IL
Certified Prenatal Yoga teacher, Global Yoga Center, Chicago, IL
8 years of yoga teaching experience
20 years of yoga practice
33 years of nursing
Therese's Schedule
Wed 6-7:15pm, Prenatal Yoga–Studio (on hiatus June-Aug 2023, returns September 6, 2023)
Kim Eisendrath
RYT 200
Kim has been practicing yoga for almost 20 years and finds it as a source of strength and inspiration being able to come in to her body while expanding her mind. Her yoga practice has been a journey of self discovery and healing her energy, mind and body. She has truly taken the definition of yoga, allowing it to be a guide in her life.
As a special education teacher for 25 years, Kim has a unique way of meeting people where they are at and seeing their inner light. Kim has had the privilege of studying yoga in the Krishnamacharya lineage under Laura Jane Mellencamp and Julie Pate where she completed her RYT 200 hour training in September 2020.
Kim wants to help people discover their gifts to recover from emotional and physical stressors through the practice of yoga and TRE. She is finally living her souls calling by giving back to others through these practices.
Her credentials includes:
Yoga Alliance RYT 200 hour
Yoga Alliance 25 hour Yoga for Trauma Training
Tension/Trauma Release Exercise (TRE) provider
M.A.T. Special Education
ADHD Coach