Kelsey Allison

Kelsey was drawn to yoga through her extensive dance training. She enjoys yoga's unique blend of movement, alignment and technique that creates a gratifying experience for each day. With a passion for education, she completed her 200hr yoga teaching certification at The Chicago School of Yoga, and thoroughly enjoys the lifelong lessons allowed by continued practice. Kelsey's focus for her classes is a comprehensive vinyasa experience meant to explore natural sequences that are mentally, emotionally and physically stimulating.
 

Katarina Arneric

Katarina has a love and passion to move. The human body is of great interest to her and shes is always wanting to learn more. Katarina enjoys helping others and sharing her experiences and knowledge in any way she can. She received her teacher training form Breath and Body Yoga, a Baptiste affiliate studio, in Austin, TX. As a dancer, she loves to incorporate music, and mind & body awareness into her yoga classes.
 

Rachel Castellanos

Rachel enjoys creatively and playfully teaching and practicing yoga. She brings an open mind and an open heart with her to each class. Being a professional trombonist, music also plays a huge part in her life, and she enjoys exploring connections between her art and yoga.

Rachel received her 200-hour certificate at the Chicago Yoga Center studying with Suddha Weixler. She has also done teacher training with Richard Freeman. Additionally, Rachel has been to workshops with Paulie Zink, Paul Grilley, and Sarah Powers. She continues to learn and grow under the guidance of her teachers Bruce Symonds and Suddha Weixler.
 

Danielle Dickinson

Danielle Dickinson took her first yoga class in 2002 and instantly fell in love. She was so excited to have found a practice that not only worked out the body, but the mind as well. Aside from the physical benefits, Danielle was very much drawn to yoga for its profound healing abilities. Yoga inspired Danielle to let go and embrace the present moment. As her dedication to the practice grew, Danielle was compelled to follow her dharma and in 2007 she signed up for 200 hour teacher training at Inner Vision Yoga in Chandler, Arizona. Danielle sees yoga as a gift and an inspiration, providing strength, balance, and peace of mind from the inside out. She strongly believes that in order to live in harmony with the Universe, we must first live in harmony with ourselves.

Danielle is a RYT with the Yoga Alliance, a certified TRE (trauma and tension release) teacher and is certified in Yoga Sculpt (vinyasa yoga with weights). Her classes are inspired by her favorite past yoga teachers: John Salisbury, Jenn Chiarelli, Alex Austin, Maredith Schroder and Jeff Martens.
 

David Duerkop

David was drawn to yoga and meditation studies as an antidote to his hectic days at the Chicago Board of Trade. He found that meditation and yoga calmed his mind and softened his heart. David leads meditation services at the Midwest Buddhist Temple and brings over a decade of meditation practice to his yoga teaching style. He is fascinated by the depth of yoga and humbled by the valuable lessons his practice regularly provides. The power and alignment of the postures have helped him connect with his true self, and challenged him to go deeper. David is a Baptiste Associate Instructor and has also completed a Teacher Training program led by Quinn Kearney and Claire Mark. He feels fortunate to now teach and share the beauty of yoga with others. David lives in Chicago with his longterm partner and favorite yogini Rachel, and their dog Libby.
 

Nick Florino

At an early age, Nick was introduced to Tantric and Buddhist studies, meditation and breathing exercises by his sister, Deneene. He played sports all of his life but never enjoyed the competition aspect of them. Three years ago he took his first yoga class and has been a devoted student to the practice ever since. After a year of practicing with his first teacher, Patti Lupo, he decided to devote his life to studying the self, the body and mind. Yoga helps him to live his life more fully in the moment and connect to the beautiful power of the divine.

One of Nick's passions is to help people spiritually and physically, and yoga is his vehicle to do so. He completed Teacher Training & Practice Intensive in 2010 at a well-respected Chicago studio with Tom Quinn, Geri Bleier, Quinn Kearney, and Claire Mark. He is full of gratitude for the education he received from his teachers. Nick has been blessed to experience many great teachers including Richard Freeman, Tim Feldmann, Joel Kramer, Shiva Ray, Noah Maze, Stephanie Starnes, Sara Strother, Paul Weitz, and many other local Chicago teachers, and continues to study all types of yoga. He is currently working on becoming an Anusara-Inspired teacher.

Nick teaches Tantric Vinyasa Flow with emphasis on pranayama, meditation, alignment, mantra, mudra, and visualization. His open minded, open hearted spirit brings a calm, peaceful, and playful energy to his yoga classes. He practices living in the moment with gratitude, love, and mindfulness, and without judgment and resistance. He believes this is one of the keys to happiness and health. Nick sees every student as himself and has the patience and positive attitude to teach and really influence people's lives in a positive, loving way.
 

Kristen Folkes

While living and studying in Japan, Kristen was lucky to have a teacher who was also a yogi. She learned about the history and philosophy of yoga as well as how to practice various forms of pranayama and meditation. Seeing how these techniques aided her anxiety and calmed her panic attacks, how they soothed and strengthened her mind, Kristen was eager to delve deeper into her physical yoga practice upon her return home and has since never looked back. Aside from the mental clarity and inner calm she found, yoga repaired her injured body from being a life-long athlete and avid runner. She completed her teacher training in Chicago, is a RYT 200 hour certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance, and continues to advance her knowledge through various trainings with great teachers, research, and a devoted practice. Kristen believes that yoga can be a part of anyone's life. In her classes, expect to develop and refine inner body awareness, to be challenged and have fun, and to engage in a deep sense of relaxation.
 

Kraig Footlik

Kraig took his first yoga class in 2008. Coming from an athletic background as a weight lifter and a football player for 12 years, Kraig has always been an intense and physical person. Kraig became committed to his yoga practice and soon the benefits of yoga became clear. In late 2009, Kraig decided to make additional changes in his life and made a commitment to lose the extra weight that was holding him back from reaching his true potential. Kraig proceeded to lose 160 pounds over the next year and a half and made a decision to dedicate his life to helping others achieve positive health changes in their lives. Finding himself on his mat on a daily basis Kraig began to deepen his yoga practice and found yoga to be exactly what he needed and what was missing in his life. In 2011 Kraig earned his 200 hour National Yoga Alliance power vinyasa teaching certificate and now teaches yoga, indoor cycling and fitness while providing weight loss consultation. "If I can inspire one person every day to make positive changes in their life, I have done my job!" Kraig creates a fun, safe, noncompetitive and nonjudgmental environment in his classes which are inspired by music and humor.
 

Rachel Kates

Rachel's yoga practice began in childhood when she and her big sister imitated the pictures in their mom's yoga book, and she still thinks of yoga as time to play and connect.

She began taking Iyengar classes with Gabriel Halpern in the early 1990's, and her curiosity has led her to explore ashtanga, Anusara, hatha, Forrest, vinyasa flow, and yin yoga. She has also studied The Alexander Technique, Thai yoga massage, and The Franklin Method.

Her most influential teachers have been Rusty Wells, Erich Schiffmann, Tim Nowortya, Kim Wilcox, Scott Blossom, and Geri Bleier.

Rachel is certified to teach Bhakti Urban Flow by Rusty Wells and vinyasa flow by the incomparable faculty of a well-respected Chicago studio.

She leads loving, balanced classes and doesn't believe in skimping on savasana.
 

Stacy Levy

Stacy Levy has been an avid yoga practitioner for over 10 years, and her approach to yoga is continually evolving through dedicated study and self-reflection. Her passion for teaching yoga is rooted in her strong spiritual foundation, love of movement and holistic lifestyle. Stacy brings her positive energy to her teaching as she nurtures and respects the individuality of each student. Stacy's teaching philosophy embodies a focus on healthy and safe alignment, and balancing strength, endurance and flexibility while using the breath to connect the mind, body and spirit. Stacy's soulful Vinyasa yoga classes blend mindful poses into eclectic sequences that are set to uplifting and contemporary music, ranging from Classic Rock to Regage to Pop and Hip Hop. Music is a strong component of her class experience, as she utilizes the power of sound to motivate students to further deepen into the poses and themselves. Stacy has studied and been influenced by Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga, Hatha, Anusara, Iyengar, Hot Yoga, Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga, and fuses these styles to create a unique energizing, yet grounding flow. Stacy inspires her students to live consciously and consistently seek to find balance. Supported by her own personal experience, Stacy strongly believes in the therapeutic nature and healing power of yoga, as well as the ability of the practice to awaken and transform. She feels blessed and honored to assist others on their journey to wellness and witness profound transformations each and everyday. Stacy completed her yoga teacher training at a well-respected Chicago studio, and has deep gratitude for her teachers Claire Mark, Geri Bleier, Quinn Kearney, and Tom Quinn. She also offers loving thanks to her family, friends and students for supporting and inspiring her on her own journey. Currently, Stacy teaches group and private classes for people of all ages and provides corporate yoga and wellness education and instruction. She is currently pursuing her certification as a Holistic Health Coach, focusing on integrative nutrition and total mind-body-spirit wellness.

Katie Rowe Mitchell

Katie was introduced to yoga at a young age along side the eccentric, spandex-clad ladies of her local community center. With a background in gymnastics, she was immediately drawn to the physical challenges and alignment principals that yoga had to offer. Katie quickly realized that yoga served more than just the body. Over time, she discovered a passion for the connection between our bodies and our emotions. It is through yoga that Katie is able to explore, see clearly, and have compassion towards relationships and daily experiences. Yoga unites us with our own truth - it helps us wake up, be aware, and grow. Katie is grateful for her teachers, Geri Bleier, Claire Mark, Tom Quinn, and Quinn Kearney, and for the amazing Teacher Training program at a well-respected Chicago studio. She is delighted to share the transformative qualities of yoga with her students.
 

Danielle Robinson

Danielle Robinson is a vinyasa yoga, Pilates, and cardio dance teacher who just recently moved to Chicago from Italy. She started practicing yoga while pursuing her degree in Psychology back in 2002. Soon after graduation and her jobs in the real world both in the States and abroad, she felt inspired by fellow yogis and her own quest for physical and mental challenges to pursue teaching as a career. She studied under yogis in Florida, Italy, and New York City and now she hopes to parlay her training and teaching style into a fun and rewarding career teaching in the great city of Chicago. Her love of sports and dance is a big inspiration and contributor to her vinyasa classes. She's excited to be in the city, to meet new people, and to have the opportunity to teach at The Chicago School of Yoga.
 

Ludmilla Schildman

A Slovak native, Ludmila moved to Chicago in 2004 after earning her M.A. in English language and Literature at University of Constantine in Nitra, Slovakia. She did not discover yoga until her Pilates instructor began offering a combination of Pilates/Yoga classes. Ludmila, who had a background in ballroom dancing, was immediately drawn to yoga. She started practicing yoga five times a week. The more she practiced, the more was yoga changing her life. The positive effects on her body were countless. She also loved peace and clarity yoga brought into her life. Ludmila has a certification in Power Yoga, Yoga Sculpt and Core Restore. She is thrilled to be a member of Chicago School of Yoga teachers' team. Her classes open up a space for students to challenge themselves and learn something new about their bodies. She thrives to guide students through their practice safely and with acceptance. Ludmila also hopes to bring an element of fun with her music and authentic themes.
 

Emma Shansky

Emma Shansky began practicing yoga as a means to cope with the stress of graduate school. She found the physical challenge of Ashtanga yoga to be a welcome distraction from long hours of studying and collecting data in the chemistry lab. Having been a dancer all her life, she realized (or was reminded) that this "distraction" was, in fact, a passion for movement that she had held her entire life. This discovery led her to quit school and chemistry altogether and begin performing and teaching dance again, as well as becoming a certified Pilates instructor and undergoing Yoga teacher training. She now has a new career teaching dance, Pilates, and Yoga and loves to find creative ways to blend these methods. She has not set foot in a laboratory since and has never been happier.
 

Amy Simonson

Amy signed up for her first yoga class in college at Wichita State University while working for her degree in dance. A knee injury caused her to have surgery, and she turned to yoga to get back in shape. Amy instantly found yoga to be so much more than just the stretching she first went to get. She found yoga to give her not only a great workout, but emotional benefits and better mental clarity as well. Always up for a physical challenge and a good sweat, Amy fell in love with the energy and intensity of a fitness/yoga class. Amy joined Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training and now finds excitement everyday in sharing the wonderful challenges and rewards of yoga with her students.

Stephanie Starnes

Stephanie has been teaching yoga since 2004, and is an avid student of Anusara Yoga. Growing up with the weirdest mother in town, Stephanie lived an all natural lifestyle including herbal medicine, organic gardening, energy healing, home schooling, fort building, and native American medicine. She was also exposed to many different spiritual practices and ways of thinking as a child. After rebelling for awhile, she soon came back to her roots and found a home in yoga. A home in yoga really meant a home in her heart. She believes that everyone is a unique, beautiful light that should be honored, shared and loved. We all have our own gifts to reveal and dreams to live. This is why she teaches yoga. It is one of many ways to find joy in who we are, and to really embrace the magic and possibilities that are all around us. Stephanie teaches private and group yoga classes, as well as 200 hr Yoga Teacher Trainings in the city and suburbs of Chicago. She also holds gong/sound healings and kirtans with her lovely sister, Sarah.
 

Cassidi Stuckman

Born in Kansas, Cassi discovered the gift of yoga at the age of thirteen. In the years following, she practiced several styles of yoga: Bikram, Anusara, Yin, Vinyasa, Iyengar and Kundalini. In college, Cassi continued practicing yoga and taught aerobics to college students and faculty. Realizing that her passion lay in yoga, Cassi completed her YogaFit Level One, Level Two, Anatomy and Alignment and YogaFit Kids training. Over the following five years Cassi taught clients of all ages in Florida, Kansas and Utah. In the summer of 2011 Cassi completed a lifelong dream by studying with Annie Carpenter in Los Angeles, California. It was there that she received her Yoga Alliance Certification 200 RYT. Cassi also holds a BA in Theatre and Film and an MA in Theatre Management. This Spring Cassi completed a 30-hour comprehensive training with Karma Kids Yoga in New York City. Cassi has developed her own personal philosophy of yoga: a vinyasa flow that focuses on the partnership of the breath and movement while cultivating acceptance and awareness with a playful tone.
 

Kelly Tahini

Kelly's love affair with yoga began in 2009 when she moved to Thailand with her husband. Despite the language barrier, Kelly was immediately drawn to the sense of community she felt within each yoga class. She learned the yoga postures by strategically positioning herself in front of the mirrors so she could see the reflection of the other students. Within a few weeks of practicing, she was hooked. After experiencing the extraordinary benefits of yoga, Kelly awakened to a deep realization…. "I want to share yoga with everyone!"

Kelly's love of yoga and desire to share the path of profound transformation has led her to teaching. In 2010, Kelly returned to Chicago and received her 200hr yoga teaching certification through a well-respected Chicago studio, under the incredible guidance of Geri Bleier, Claire Mark, Quinn Kearney and Tom Quinn.

Kelly teaches alignment based vinyasa flow. Utilizing breath, music, theme, mindful sequencing, and humor, she brings a challenging, yet playful teaching style to her classes.

Off the mat, Kelly maintains her fun zest for life doing anything outdoors, cooking and entertaining, visiting vineyards, and travelling across the planet with her husband.