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Vicki Browdy
It is with deep gratitude and love that I come to the practice of yoga.
After working for several years as an integrative wellness coach I have found that yoga is essential to creating a foundation for balanced health and well-being.
It is an honor to help others access their highest potential and experience the limitless expression of the physical being. The art and science of yoga is a key component to this process.
My ultimate job is being a mother to three beautiful daughters. They truly are my greatest teachers.
I am delighted to share my personal santosha with all of you.
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(photo coming soon)
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Lisa Brown
I am so happy to have discovered yoga in the mid 90’s. Finally I found a physical practice that was challenging, FUN and didn’t hurt my body! Gradually, I realized that as I became more familiar with the movements of vinyasa yoga, my practice became much more deep and more meaningful. As they say, a Meditation in Motion.
Yoga is connection for me; to my breath, to the students from whom I’m always learning, to my ever-present and lovely teachers, to my everyday life. Yoga has taught me to draw energy from the universe when I need it, and give back when I can. There is truth for me in surrendering to the natural ebb and flow of life.
Yoga is my therapy. I find myself practicing more when my life goes slightly off kilter and it always brings me back to my center, my strength, my self. Each time I step onto my mat I’m reminded of the commitment to myself. I honestly don’t know where I would be right now if yoga wasn’t a part of my life.
I teach a vinyasa flow practice with a strong emphasis on the flow of breath with movement. Breath generously provides life and beauty and allows us to shine from the inside out! I love to share this with students and see them manifest it themselves.
I’m very fortunate to have had Daren Friesen as my very first teacher who introduced me to the physical, mental and spiritual wonders of yoga. I attended Moksha’s Teacher Training in 2002 and have been teaching ever since. I’m grateful to all of the teachers with whom I’ve had the opportunity to practice, and feel most influenced by the freedom of Erich Schiffmann and the fluidity and ease of Lourdes Paredes.
The best thing about yoga is after all these years my practice continues to evolve, and as this happens I can only hope that I’m evolving too. That makes me happy.
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Brooke Hessel Cline
Brooke fell in love with yoga 7 years ago when she first started practicing out of necessity in order to relieve back pain from a herniated disc while pregnant with her first child. Not only was she able to eliminate her back pain while other methods failed, but she quickly learned that there was a lot more going on with yoga then just the physical practice. With yoga, she was able to take time for herself and really focus on the connection between her mind, body and spirit.
Over the years, Brooke found that being on the mat was some of the only time she had to decompress while working in a stressful job environment and raising her two young children. In 2010, Brooke completed her 200 hour certification through Wendy Dahl of Blue Sun Yoga and she is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She continues to expand her knowledge and find inspiration through many workshops and classes from various teachers and styles of yoga. Her intention as a yoga teacher is to help share the healing effects of yoga with others. Ultimately, she realizes she is simply a guide for her students to find their own practice and do what speaks to them.
Brooke's biggest joy is spending time with her family. She also loves hanging out with friends, seeing live music, reading and spending time outside.
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Andrew Gurvey
Andrew has been a yoga junkie since the day he first stepped foot on the mat. His love affair with arm balances began the first time he put his hands on the floor and became acquainted with Crow Pose 7 years ago. He has been splitting his time between standing on his feet and standing on his hands ever since. His path to teaching was an inevitable journey as his affair with the practice continued. Andrew finds his greatest joy in watching his students discover their own amazing radiance through the offerings of the yoga practice. Andrew considers himself to be a very lucky tour guide on the yoga journey, and considers it an honor to have the privilege to teach. (Photo Credit: Joanie Schwarz)
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Zoe Kaufman
At the end of October, 2011, I was getting ready, once again, to leave everything and everybody and go into retreat for two weeks. It's always hard when I go - on my husband; on all the creatures who live in the house, and on the house itself, which grieves itself into chaos and dust. It's hard on the yoga classes I teach and on the studio owners who often end up having to sub for me. It's hard on me, too, to leave everything behind. And, believe me, it's hard to meditate. Sometimes it’s agony. But I am compelled to do it. The fate of the world, I've discovered, is up to me. Only I decide if it will be a world of suffering or of peace. I have to master my mind.
I realized that this would be my 50th retreat and I was a little horrified to count up the approximately 420 weeks, or, 5,040 hours I'll have spent in meditation. I asked myself, "What should I do with those hours and hours and hours of sitting alone in the Buddha Hall?"
As of October 2011, I'd been teaching Yoga for almost 12 years. I taught Vinyasa and Flow and Hot Yoga, and I had so much fun. But now, with the weight of 5,040 hours of seated meditation practice on my shoulders, I felt my mat shift under my feet. "True", I thought, "my classes always had a bit of a ‘spiritual spin,’ maybe a bit more than other teachers. But, on the whole", I thought, "people would do just as well, or better, to go to one of the many other yoga teachers around here, who are fabulous, stronger, more athletic, more fun, and a whole lot younger than me."
I knew then that it was time for me to use my Buddhist practice and my experience teaching Yoga to help others.
For the past year, I have been offering special Yoga workshops to people suffering from anxiety, tension, depression, and to those suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer. These workshops focus on providing easy, practical instructions and tools that people can use to make themselves feel better and live happier lives. My material comes from my own experiences in meditation and from my experience practicing and teaching Yoga. It also comes from Buddhist scripture, and from the spare and powerful words of Master Ji Ru, who is my teacher. From all of these I have learned, without doubt, that Mindfulness of body and Mindfulness of mind is the way to end all suffering. That's good news because that means that simply by practicing Yoga and by using Buddhist Mindfulness techniques, everyone can find an unlimited source of the most powerful medicine in the world within themselves. They can sail on an ocean of peace and joy, with the boundless sense of well-being that comes from simply being mindful of body and mind.
I was done with yoga for fun and profit, and done with being young. But I didn't feel over the hill. I felt amazingly happy. And, more amazing, immediately, doors began to open. I was chosen by the Cancer Wellness Center to teach for them at Lutheran General Hospital. I'm teaching a class I developed, called Classic Yoga for Long Life, at Shri Yoga Center in HP, and Santosha Yoga in Libertyville. I also teach meditation at Shri, along with Tai Chi. I continue to offer special workshops at Cancer Wellness Center, and at various Yoga studios on the North Shore. (And by the way, you can still find me teaching very hot yoga with very loud music, at least four times a week, if you know where to look.)
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Stephanie Metz
Stephanie used to think yoga was limited to relaxation. As she explored many different styles and teachers she found “Yoga” can be intense and highly challenging for mind and body. Stephanie believes the intensity develops mental clarity as well as flexibility and strength.
Stephanie studies Ashtanga and Ashtanga based “Vinyasa Flow” (movement linked to breath). Her classes are highly physical to build strength, find flexibility and create awareness. A key focus is on core strength to protect the low back as well as prepare for arm balances and inversions. It is most important to listen to your body; find your “edge” but respect your limits.
Stephanie completed Moksha Yoga's teacher training (C.Y.T.200). She has studied Yoga Therapeutics, to advance her knowledge of Anatomy. She has apprenticed with Gabriel Halpern and assists him at Cancer Wellness workshops. Stephanie is currently working toward her 500 level teaching certification at Yogaview, she loves practicing and expanding her knowledge with these special teachers.
Stephanie chose to teach yoga to offer help those dealing with cancer and related surgery. She has felt the impact of both and it has greatly influenced her life. She currently volunteers and teaches staff class weekly at Cancer Wellness Center (Northbrook). She also volunteers at Highland Park Hospital/Kellogg Cancer Center.
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Mary Schooley
Having practiced yoga for 5 years and feeling her practice evolve through pranyama and meditation, Mary detemined quickly that yoga was far more than a physical practice. Following her heart she embarked on the journey of teacher training to enhance all aspects of her own practice as well as to share this practice with others.
After studying under Lourdes Parades and Pam Udell, Mary received her teaching certification through House of Shanti Teacher Training program in Highland Park, IL. Mary's intention as a yoga teacher is to share her passion of the yoga experience by connecting the mind, body and breath through movement of asana, pranayama and meditation.
She aspires to be a vessel of light, love and positive energy to all beings. Mary is deeply grateful to the many teachers she has whom encourage and inspire her through their teaching. Mary believes their guidance and encouragement gives her the opportunity to continue to better herself and her practice, allowing her to share this gift of yoga with others.
She shares a favorite quote by Danna Faulds that expresses her feeling and experience of this beautiful practice...
It is a wonder how a simple stretch deepens breath and an elegantly held pose grows to touch the whole of me. Like sugar stirred into tea, the potency of yoga spreads from body into mind and heart, revealing an ocean of energy that heals and opens, holds me close and sets me free all in the same moment.
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Mary Scudella
I discovered yoga several years ago through a friend of mine who spoke endlessly about its benefits. When I became a stay-at-home mom, yoga became my personal time for physical and emotional well-being. As my path of yoga continued, my love for the practice grew, just as my daughter grew. When she got ready to begin school, I decided to pursue my own education and to become a yoga teacher. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I was a social worker, helping children and adults to work towards emotional balance. Practicing and teaching yoga was an easy and natural transition for me, especially when I realized that yoga works the body in the same way that therapy works the mind. I no longer work directly in social work, but the experience I gained in that profession has guided my path in yoga.
My original teacher training at Total Body Yoga focused on the Vinyasa Flow style of yoga. At the time, Yoga Alliance certification was not dependent of training coming from all one yoga school. So, I sought out a comprehensive yoga anatomy training. I attended Tias Little's Level 1 training in the fall of 2005 at Moksha Yoga in Chicago. This gave me a strong base and interest in anatomy. Therefore, I also participated in his Level 2 training in the spring of 2007 at Moksha, as well. After teaching for two and a half years, I reached the 1000 hours of teaching mark and registered with the Yoga Alliance as an R-RYT® 200. Since much of my background is with children, I developed a four hour workshop to train people how to include yoga into their work with children. I have also held other various workshops and trainings since my initial training.
As my practice progressed, I realized that my training needed to continue and deepen. I found myself aligned with teachers such as Todd Norian (Anusara), Sean Corn (Vinyasa Flow), and still Tias Little. I found myself drawn back to Tias and committed myself to his 500 hour Prajna Teacher Training. I began participating in his advanced workshops in the summer of 2010. At this time, I have completed his Level 4 training, The Art of Sequencing and Hands on Adjustments, and his Level 6 training, The Art of Healing: Anatomy of the Vayus. I have recently revisited his Level 1 training and assisted him at Moksha for his From Earth to Sky: Embodying the Elements workshop.
I strive to teach my classes engaging a balance between physical challenge and emotional freedom. I enjoy the duality of yoga and find that it mirrors the many oppositional concepts of life. I use subtle pauses within a Vinyasa style class to explore alignment in poses. I find that the pauses give us an opportunity to look within the poses and within ourselves, experiencing sensation of body, breath, and spirit. I also teach restorative yoga and basic yoga classes. Creating the foundation of alignment and breath is a fundamental necessity in creating a safe, effective yoga practice.
I am truly grateful each day that I walk on the path of yoga. It is my hope that I can share some part of this wonderful practice with my students, young and old, each time we step onto the mat so that we may carry the grace of yoga with us into the world.
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Tracy Ulmer, RYT
Tracy was introduced to yoga in pre-natal class while pregnant with her first son. While she connected instantly to the practice, life and babies got in the way of more yoga. In 2003, the urging of a friend and dedicated yogi landed her back on her mat and hooked. Linking movement to breath was the answer to a long sought-after mind/body connection. Yoga offered a new sense of balance and mindfulness in her life.
Tracy believes practicing patience, kindness, honesty and compassion for ourselves on the mat, prepares us for life off the mat. Inspired by the lessons offered through yoga, she encourages her students to be accepting of themselves and embrace where they are in the present moment.
Her love of learning is balanced by her love of teaching. She completed the yoga teacher training program at North Shore Yoga under the direction of Sharyn Galindo and is registered with the Yoga Alliance.
She offers gratitude to her early teachers at the Nantucket Yoga Room and is deeply grateful to her teachers at North Shore Yoga.
Tracy lives in Lake Forest with her husband and three sons.
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Page Lee Webb, CYT
After almost 20 years of teaching group fitness classes as an ACE certified instructor, Page moved out of the gym and into the yoga studio. Realizing that her passion was more aligned with yoga philosophy than fitness classes, she pursued her teaching certificate through Moksha Yoga and began studying with both locally and nationally-recognized teachers.
The physicality of the asana (poses) combined with the increased energy from pranayama (breathing techniques) and stress reduction of meditation helped Page continue her enjoyment in outdoor activities (including hiking, horseback riding, skiing) while balancing the needs of her family.
To share her love of yoga with as many people as possible, Page decided to open a studio in Libertyville, Illinois (with lots of help from family and friends). Santosha Yoga, LLC was born. She hopes to bring joy, light and ease to her students as well as a sense of fun to her classes. She strives to live the yogic principles. Being a mom of two teenagers, often she tries to remember to just breathe.
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