Student Feature: Prajwala Rai

I remember Prajwala joining us during our first (in a very long time) Beginner’s Series with Gina in 2021. She exuded joy and curiosity from that very first day. Since then, we have seen alot of Prajwala and we are so happy that she enjoyed yoga and that she felt that she wanted to continue to share her practice with us!

Here’s a bit more about Prajwala……

Hometown: Kasargod, Kerala (India)
Sign: Sagittarius
Favorite color: My friends say it’s blue coz my wardrobe has a lot of shades of blues

What would your last meal be?

Neer dosa (translates to water rice crepe. Dosas are rice crepes) with malabar fish curry, Idli-sambar (fermented rice cakes in lentil soup), and of course, top it off with a croissant (guilty pleasure).

What brought you to yoga?

I have had an on-off relationship with yoga. While I was introduced to yoga when I was 12, I did not find it approachable until I was in my late twenties. I started exploring a few yoga classes and noticed that surya namaskara in the mornings really helped with easing nasal/sinus congestions. It gave me a sense of calm and grounding as I started my day everyday. During the pandemic, however, I lost this routine. I wanted to bring the practice back in my life, and found Tula Yoga in my neighborhood.

What brought you to TULA?

Proximity to home. I used to live less than 5 mins away. So, that really helped me build a habit of coming in multiple times a week. Even though I live a little farther out now, I continue to come back to Tula because of the community and its approach to yoga. I love how each teacher has a unique method and is inclusive to practitioners in different stages of their yoga journey. I really like the community at the studio, they have always been welcoming and open to sharing their stories.

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)?

Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) and Bakasana (crow-pose)
When I started practicing at Tula, I came in with the perception that Bakasana was a very advanced pose and I would never be able to master it. But, the teachers at Tula were able to break it down and make it more approachable. Now, when I get into the pose, I find it as a reflection of my mental state - I am unable to stay in the pose, if my breath is not in sync with the present. So, it’s a good reminder for me to be present, and I like using this pose as a litmus test.
Ardha Chandrasana - I remember it as a fun pose - splat on the wall with your body, as Gina would call it during our intro sessions.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice?

Yoga has allowed me to appreciate that each day is different, and my body can (or cannot) do certain things on a day. Yoga has allowed me to listen to myself, my body and understand what it needs in that moment. It has allowed me to be more mindful and present in activities I do, rather than constantly multi-tasking.

What is your least favorite pose (and why)?

Mandukasana (frog pose) - my knees, ankles just don’t love it. I’m always waiting to get out of it.

What advice would you give someone just starting yoga?

Every day is different and your body is different every day. Appreciate that, and listen to your body as you move through poses. Focus on the breathing in each pose, rather than holding on to a pose. Eventually, you will build the strength to get into poses that you thought were impossible. In the meanwhile, be consistent with your practice and patient with yourself.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity?

A walk after yoga is my go-to. On weekdays, I like to walk back home, make some dinner and relax. Over the weekdays, I like stopping by at Collectivo for tea and reading a book.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

• ●  I can speak 5 Indian languages, outside of English of course

• ●  I started learning to play the harp in the last year

• ●  I love tea - all kinds. I have a collection at home, and pick teas based on my mood and

  time of day :D

Teacher Highlight: Nichole Brown

Wow! I can’t believe our last blog post was January 2020! Well, that’s not true, I can, because it is right before all our worlds kind of fell apart. I’m so excited to start highlighting our awesome teachers & students again! Here goes…..

Nichole Brown (they/them) was one of our pandemic graduates of our first, online, biggest ever, teacher training sessions in 2020/2021! Suffice it to say, I never got to know Nichole as well as I had other IRL cohorts, BUT I do know that throughout the training, they continued to get rave reviews from teachers and students alike. It seems that they not only had a dedicated yoga practice, but were very enthusiastic about learning as much as possible and getting all that they could out of training. When they graduated, I was immediately recommended by the teacher trainers that they should join our team and continue growing with us!

Nichole now teaches with us regularly and continues to put dedication into their practice and teaching from the heart.

Here’s some more about Nichole……

Hometown: Jackson, MI

Sign: Scorpio 😈

Favorite Color: changes daily, but I’ve started leaning into lighter pastels.

Favorite Movie or book: I can honestly not come up with a single good answer for this. But if it helps, I love a good dark comedy. I am also a lover of bad movies ( the kind that think they’re good, but not in an obnoxious way). And I’m a sucker for a well thought out romcom - think 'While You Were Sleeping'.

What is your favorite meal? Pork and leek dumplings and the cucumber salad from Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings in Chinatown 🤤

What brought you to yoga? Poor body image + insecurities originally. I was looking for any way to workout + lose weight and found instead a practice that provided me with a safe space to simply be and connect with myself. 

What brought you to TULA? A family friend/past employer was a regular student with Tula, so I had heard of the studio, but my sister pushed me to check it out. I explored the website and dove right into classes and the teacher training.

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)? OOF this is hard. I’d honestly have to say savasana. That feels like a bit of a cop out, but it is a pose that is so often forgotten or cut short. That time to grant myself rest, to simply observe my breath and any sensations that may be lingering from my practice is truly transformative and healing for me. 

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice? I am kinder to myself and have a much stronger connection to my body + mind. I trust myself and advocate for what is safe and comfortable for me now. The mudras (gestures), pranayama (breath work), and philosophies follow me throughout my day to day life - reminding me to be soft, to be flexible, to be strong, and to fight for those around me. 

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)? Skandasana (side lunge pose)! I have knee and hip issues, so oftentimes the way this pose is taught feels AWFUL in my body. I typically add props to relieve this, but I feel I can get the same benefits of the pose elsewhere in my practice without so much stress on my body + mind. 

What advice would you give someone just starting yoga? Ask yourself why you are interested in yoga, what’s pulling you there - if you’re unsure that’s ok! I’d encourage you to continue to come back to that question the more you practice. I’d also say be patient and kind to yourself. It is called a practice for a reason and these positions, philosophies, and breathing patterns can be completely brand new to our bodies and brains! It takes time for us to know how we need to adjust and to find the right alignment for our needs. Lastly, I’d remind them that yoga is NOT one size fits all - my triangle pose may look completely different than yours and that doesn’t make either of us wrong or better/worse at yoga. 

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? I like to keep the softness granted to me from Savasana as long as I can, so I typically sit in silence for a while or will provide myself a little extra care in the form of a massage. If I have time and my energy feels ok then I might journal or create a little bit of art for myself. 

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you: 

• I love birds, but they terrify me.

• I will keep the bit going. If you want to talk to me in a Scottish accent everyday I will reply to you in a Scottish accent everyday. If you want to caw at me like a crow I will caw at you like a crow. I am here for the weird and happy to bring it out anytime <3

• I love to dance!! Not in any trained type of way, but in a flailing of limbs so happy to be experiencing music type of way.

You can find Nichole at TULA on Mondays at 9am, Thursdays at 5pm and they sub once a month on Saturday at 11am. You can also follow their other offerings at @neecolaaayoga and NeecolaaaYoga.com

Student Feature: Lisa Hammond

So I actually don’t know Lisa very well because she usually attends night & weekend classes (when I’m not here), BUT now I wish I did! 50 books a year?! I’m impressed.

I do know that she’s a been a part of our community for a very long time and we are very happy to have her here and appreciate her continued support. We couldn’t do it without dedicated yogis like Lisa.

…… And congrats on the baby news!

Here’s some more about Lisa:

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Sign: Cancer
Favorite Color: black
Favorite Movie: Airplane! or Ghostbusters
What would your last meal be? Sushi, always sushi

What brought you to yoga? I had a friend who was really into yoga and I saw all the positive changes the practice brought to her life. She introduced me to a lot of basic poses which made yoga less intimidating.

What brought you to TULA? After buying a house in Logan Square 7 years ago, I needed a convenient place to keep up my practice. I tried a class at Tula and never looked back J

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)? Utthan Pristhasana - Lizard pose. I have tight hips and this pose really helps to open them up.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice? The most important benefit I see from yoga is that it really helps me to remain calm during stressful times. Yes, yoga makes me stronger and more flexible but ultimately, it’s a mindfulness practice that allows me to slow down and breathe. I’m a more relaxed and easy-going person because of yoga.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)? Mandukasana - Frog pose. Even with a blanket this pose hurts my knees and gives me bruises. (maybe I’m doing it wrong? Help, Rhiannon!)

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga? Listen to your body and don’t be afraid to modify a pose if it doesn’t feel right to you.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? I love to go to the Logan Square farmer’s market after David’s Sunday morning class.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

· I’m expecting my first child (a girl!) in late Spring
· I work at Northwestern University and am passionate about helping students pursue higher education
· I love to read – somewhere around 50 books per year in all different genres

Student Feature: Michael Knapp (Knappy)

Knappy has been coming to the studio for about a year now. Because he does not have the use of his legs, when he first started showing up, I’ll admit, we were all a little bit concerned about how yoga could help him and what we would be able to offer him. Despite this obvious physical limitation, we quickly learned that he was dedicated to his yoga practice in a way that those of us are not as limited, could never even experience. It was clearly a different, but equally valid form of yoga.

Working with Knappy has taught us a lot about what yoga can ‘look’ like, what yoga can do for someone in pain and also how much courage and resilience that it must take to experience such a tragedy and still have a amazing outlook on life.

In other words, I would say that we have learned more from Knappy about YOGA than he has learned from us :)

Thank you, Knappy, for teaching us so much. We are grateful to have you in our community.

Here’s a bit more about Knappy:

Hometown: I was born and raised in the fun center of Ohio, Mansfield. Lived in Colorado and had two kids, moved back to Ohio until retiring to Chicago in 2005.

Sign: Scorpio

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Movie: The Good, the bad and the ugly

Favorite Meal: Crab legs

What brought you to yoga?

Pain from being paralyzed after being hit by a car riding my bicycle June 17th, 2004

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice?

Yoga has done more for me in the five years I have practiced than any drug prescribed by any doctor ever.

What brought you to TULA?

Tula is in my neighborhood and I love supporting local places

What is your favorite after-yoga activity?

I enjoy eating out after yoga at one of my favorite places like Revolution

3 Fun facts about me:

I enjoy reading history

I am considering running for public office like President of the United States or mayor of Logan Square

I retired here from roofing in Ohio in 2005

Student Feature: Michael Rinaldo

I meet ALOT of people at the studio. People that come in for a quick class and I never see again, some that come in once in awhile, then there are the people that come in one day and then I see them EVERY DAY, forever :) The regulars. I knew that Mikey (as he likes to be referred to as) would be one of the regulars from the first time he came in. His love of yoga is very apparent AND he is just the friendliest person around. Welcome to our community, Mikey. We are happy to have you as a ‘regular’.

Here’s some more about Mikey:

Hometown: Jakarta, Indonesia

Sign: Libra

Favorite Color: Not black

Favorite Movie: None, but I loved re-watching Punch-Drunk Love recently.

What would your last meal be? I'd actually prefer a drink!—either a nice cup of Kabuse Sencha green tea or a glass of Forlorn Hope Dragone Ramato wine.

What brought you to yoga?

At first, I just tagged along. But the practice has become dear and important to me after some health issues in recent years. Last year, yoga really helped me while recovering from a broken collarbone after a car wreck.

What brought you to TULA?

It was the first studio I checked out after moving to Chicago. But I became hooked right away because of the solid instructions and posture cues from different teachers at TULA.

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)?

Recently, Eight-Angle Pose (Astavakrasana). It's a fun, beautiful pose that shows me how I've improved in my arm strength and hip opening just through diligent practice in the past few months instead of working on the pose in particular.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice?

Resilience is the biggest benefit I notice. My day job is fairly demanding physically. A regular practice helps me recharge and refocus.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)?

I don't have one!

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga?

Just show up. Even on days when I'm exhausted, I still feel better after a class.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity?

Cooking a simple meal or retox-ing at a bar.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

1. I've lived in Nairobi, Kenya.

2. I grew up a chubby video game nerd with a bowl cut.

3. In college, I played drums badly in a garage-punk band (while also sporting a bowl cut).

Student Feature: Catie Olson

If you live anywhere near Logan Square, you have no doubt seen Catie riding around on her bike, but who could miss a bike helmet with big styrofoam eyeballs on the top?? Catie took her first class here in July of 2012 and she is just a joy to have here. It doesn’t matter if I’m having a most terrible day ever, when I see Catie come in, I smile. She is just awesome. I don’t know her all that well, but I can tell that she is confident in her own skin, still as playful as a kid, super creative and loves yoga and that’s enough for me. Catie, we hope to know you forever! :)

Here’s some more about Catie:

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Sign: Taurus

Favorite Color: green

Favorite Movie: Aaltra

What would your last meal be?

Sautéed morels with baguette

What brought you to yoga? I first took it at the school of the art institute of Chicago and had friends who enjoyed it, so I followed suit

What brought you to TULA? I had recently moved to Avondale and looked up yoga studios in the area. TULA was an inviting and beautiful space

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)? Half moon. It requires balance and strength, but it opens all joints of the body at same time.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice? Focus, mental clarity and freedom to try without worrying

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)? Backbends- I’ve had an umbilical hernia for the last 10 years and just recently had surgery for it. Backbends put a small amount of stress to the area

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga? Take time, Trust yourself and know that everyone is at a different level. I highly recommend yoga for a balanced life!

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? riding my bike

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

I can play the musical saw

I’m in an experimental electronic band

I love building sculptures out of wood

Student Feature: Leah Samler

Leah took her first class at TULA back in 2013 and over the years, it has been such a great pleasure to get to know her better. She is strong, beautiful, and most of all, just a lovely human to be around. She has supported the studio and our community continuously and we consider her not just a customer or student, but also, our dear friend. She commented to me once that she doesn’t get how any one can get through life’s challenges without doing yoga…… this is when I knew that she really understood that yoga was not just a physical work-out, but so much more! AND I agree, Leah, I don’t get it either :)

If you haven’t met her yet, she is pretty much a staple at our Happy Hour Yoga class, Fridays at 6:30pm. Join us!

Here’s a bit more about Leah:

Hometown: Chicago

Sign: Aquarius

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Movie: I Can't name just one. Silence of the Lambs, The Matrix, Memento, Requiem for a Dream, Shawshank Redemption, anything John Hughes...

What would your last meal be? As many carbs with cheese as possible. And warm brownies.

What brought you to yoga?

I started doing yoga in 1995 from a book by Richard Hittleman called Yoga 28 day exercise plan. It's from like 1969 and the pictures are hilarious if you look at it now. I was hooked on how it made me feel. This was before yoga was as accessible as it is now. Once studios started to open up, I took my practice there.

What brought you to TULA?

I've lived in Logan Square since 2008 and was SO excited when the studio opened up within walking distance! I love the community at Tula. I've made great friends and had many awesome experiences because of Tula.

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)? All the forward folds. I love the full body stretch and how relaxed it makes me feel.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice?

Beyond the physical benefits, yoga calms me and helps me focus on what's important. It resets my mind and allows me to slow down and live in the moment. My brain goes a million miles a minute but when I'm on my mat, I can be present.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)?

Side plank because: upper arm strength is lacking. Probably means I need to do it more often.

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga?

I hear people say they aren't flexible enough to do yoga. Yoga is not about flexibility so don't let that deter you. But if that's your concern, your flexibility will naturally improve the more you practice.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? Happy Hour!

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

-I lived in Puerto Vallarta for a year.

-I'm a really good cook and love cooking for people.

-I'm a total Harry Potter nerd and I love Stephen King. That was four but oh well

Teacher Highlight: Gina Reynolds

Gina has been here for a few years now and has been a pleasure to work with and to have on the team. She is very responsible, reliable, and always willing to help out whenever and however she can, from subbing classes to working behind the desk! I get the sense that she understands the importance of her role on the team in supporting the community as a whole, no matter how small, and that is always highly appreciated. She is super-smart, fun, and very dedicated to her yoga practice. She teaches with sheer enjoyment and she has an ability to pass along that joy to her students - even when you are doing something especially challenging in class. Her energy and presence is always warm and comforting and I always feel like I am being supported in her classes (again, no matter what challenge she is offering you :)

I’m so happy to have Gina at TULA and I look forward to continuing to support her on her yoga journey, as she has always supported us.

Here’s some more about Gina:

Hometown: a very small town in Pennsylvania called Boswell. Which is not where the aliens crashed. That's Roswell, in New Mexico. (I've been asked that more than a few times.)

Favorite Color: All of them. I love bright colors.-

Favorite Yoga Pose: Inversions. Especially forearm balance with all the leg variations.

Least Favorite: (Why) Chair. It's always hard and I'm never comfortable. There are other poses that I've disliked in the past but grown to love such as double pigeon and gomukhasana, even though they're both still really intense for me. Other poses have grown on me over the years, even if "love" isn't quite the right word for them like dolphin and goddess. But I've disliked chair from day one, my relationship with it hasn't ever improved.

Sign: Aries. A fire sign.

Favorite Place: Home! With my husband and dogs and cat, and books and piano and wine, and brightly colored walls and rugs and a large dining room table to welcome guests.

Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride. A childhood favorite that I still enjoy revisiting from time to time. I've seen plenty of good movies as an adult, but nothing that I've seen as an adult has stuck with me like the movies from my childhood. Though I am aware that it doesn't pass the Bechdel test. And the last time I watched it, I was yelling at Princess Buttercup to at least pick up the sword and throw it to Westley while he wrestled the Rodent of Unusual Size in the Fire Swamp.

How do you define Yoga? The word "yoga" means union or yoked, and yoga is comprised of 8 limbs, one of which is the physical asana practice. The majority of my yoga practice is dedicated to asana practice. I love physical poses that can be restful or vigorous or thoughtfully challenging, depending on what I need. Through the practice of physical postures, I've grown in my exposure to the other limbs including pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration) and dhyana (meditation). Although the other limbs are not given as much attention in classes as the physical postures, I was nonetheless slowly exposed to the other branches over the years. I didn't learn about them in an organized way until I started reading about yoga philosophy and enrolled in yoga teacher training. In trying to explain how yoga has helped me and why I love it so much, I realized that a lot of the benefits I've taken from my practice fall under the other limbs. Yoga has helped me be present in the moment, without focusing on the "why did I...?" (the past) or "what if..." (the future). Difficult poses have helped me focus and concentrate. Achieving poses that I didn't think were possible for me has taught me that a lot of barriers are self-imposed. Holding uncomfortable poses has taught me to breathe calmly through mild discomfort. (Never pain; yoga poses should not be painful.) I've taken all of those lesson off the mat and out into the world. I apply them literally or figuratively to situations at work, in my relationships and in my personal life. There's more to yoga than just the postures. If you stick with the practice long enough, you'll gain a lot more than just the ability to stand on your hands. Those benefits will likely come even if you're not initially conscious of the ways in which the practice is changing you.

Why do you teach Yoga? I love practicing and want to share the practice with other people. I want everybody to discover and love this amazing thing that I love. I also enjoy the performative aspect of leading a public group class. It helps me satisfy that acting bug that I never quite shook even after my short-lived attempt at becoming a professional actor. I also love the creative and solitary aspect of putting together a sequence, crafting a class to prepare the body for whatever peak pose I have planned. In short, teaching is a lot of fun.

What would your last meal be? Sushi, red wine, vanilla ice cream with chocolate fudge.

The band you can't live without? I enjoy listening to music without really knowing a lot about it, so my favorite musicians are nostalgia based. I inherited my love of Barry Manilow from my mom and I discovered Billy Joel through my dad's cassette tapes.

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now where would it be and what would you do? Hawaii has been on my bucket list for years. I'm finally going to Hawaii in 2019, not just once, but twice! My husband and I have been planning a trip for a while to Maui and Kawaii, and that's happening later in 2019. I was invited to speak at a legal conference in Honolulu about immigration consequences of criminal convictions. The conference is at a resort on the beach in Waikiki! I am very excited about my 2 upcoming trips to Hawaii.

When you aren't teaching yoga, what can you be found doing? I have a full time job as an immigration lawyer at Hernandez & Reynolds, LLC, where I'm also a partner. When I'm not at work or teaching yoga, I'm typically attending yoga class or at home reading, hanging out with my cat and dogs, playing piano, or watching Netflix.

Three fun facts we don't know about you? :)

1. I was a majorette in high school. I still have my batons somewhere. Every couple years, usually when I'm moving and stumble across my batons, I go into the yard and twirl for a bit to see how many of my old tricks I can still manage.

2. I love bright colors. You can probably tell that somewhat from my yoga clothes, but I also have bright colors painted on the wall in every room of my house, and have done so in every home that I've owned and even some rentals when I could get the landlord's permission. My office has one wall painted a warm deep gold. My childhood bedroom was painted pink at my request; it was the perfect girly 1980's bedroom, complete with brass headboard and homemade pink quilt and heart-shaped pillows. I've been surrounded by bright colors ever since.

3. I've been to 3 countries in the Americas, 3 countries in Europe and exactly 0 countries on any other continent. I aim to slowly change that. Though I really do love travelling within the US and Mexico.

You can find Gina at TULA on Mondays at 6:30pm and Tuesdays at 6:30am. You can also find her on Intsagram: @ginareyn

Teacher Highlight: Paige Armstrong

I first met and got to know Paige as a student that would come to yoga religiously each winter that she spent in Chicago (she spent her summer months in Michigan teaching kayak lessons). She immediately became a part of our yoga family and we would miss her each year when she would leave us - but she would always return! Then, one winter, she came back - to stay this time - as not just a student, but as a yoga teacher!

I can tell that Paige is strong, not only just physically, but she has a quiet resilience that I can see through and through. She is kind, funny, and wonderfully quirky. I can also tell that she loves yoga. She is like a sponge, ready to soak up all that this yoga journey can offer her and she is clearly passionate about sharing all that she learns with us, through her teaching. She is a newer teacher, but is already exploring yoga beyond poses and the physical practice and she is already a bright light in this crazy yoga world :)

We are honored that Paige has chosen TULA as her yoga home and we are excited to have her continue to grow with us.

Here’s a bit more about Paige:

Hometown: Stanton, MI.

Favorite Color: Light Pink.

Favorite Yoga Pose:

Can’t Choose! Supported and Unsupported Malasana (Yogi Squat) because it feels good on my hips and Astavakrasana (Eight Angle Pose) because it’s super challenging and fun.

And definitely, Supported Savasana (“Shavasana”, Final Resting Pose) because I love rest.

Least Favorite: (Why)

Karnapidasana (Ear Pressure Pose). I have yet to find ease in this pose and usually experience pain and/or shortness of breath.

Sign: Gemini...That’s probably why I have answered most of these questions with multiple answers. :)

Favorite Place:

Local: The woodland trails of Mackinac Island, MI.

International: Ubud region of Bali, Indonesia.

Favorite Movie:

Can’t Choose! I love Harry Potter, Captain Fantastic, and Patti Cakes equally, but for different reasons.

Why do you teach Yoga?

I teach Yoga because I love it. I love the way it makes me feel, and the healing it has brought into my life. I want to help students find their own breath, alignment, healing, and “Yoga” within. I also teach because I learn as much from students, if not more, then they do from me. Teaching Yoga adds depth, humility, challenge, and patience to my own practice. In becoming a “Yoga Teacher,” I have become a lifelong student.

How do you define Yoga?

Simple definition: Yoga = Meditation... + Moving + Self Study + Compassion Training.

Not so simple definition: I was taught that Yoga literally means union of mind, body, and soul. This can be somewhat esoteric, so I like to think of the Yogic path as moving meditation, self study, healing, and compassion training. When the ultimate “Yoga” is achieved, there will be no attached description or distinction. Rather, an ease in oneness with everything that we currently perceive as separate. I have experienced a small taste of Yoga in that space between the thoughts during practices such as meditation, nidra, and vinyasa. We commonly use the word “Yoga” to describe what is actually the tools to help us achieve Yoga, such as asana (yoga posture) and pranayama (breath extension). I say that I am a Yoga teacher because that is the common language, but I would assert that I can only teach tools to achieve Yoga. Union of mind, body, and soul...well, that comes from within.

What would your last meal be?

Fresh ackee and saltfish with fried breadfruit, oat dumplings, fried green plantains, naseberry, and soursop juice with lime, all from Jamaica. Yes, all in one dish. It’s truly amazing.

The band you can't live without?

I'm not sure what my favorite band is, but I really love Ali Farka Toure’s music.

Most empowering moment?

The present moment. ;)

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now where would it be and what would you do?

Bali, Indonesia or Maui, Hawaii. I would practice and teach yoga, take surf lessons, and help and learn to build sustainable food systems.

When you aren't teaching yoga, what can you be found doing?

Listening to podcasts, reading, journaling, and eating great local food.

Three fun facts we don't know about you? :)

I am fascinated with hip hop dancers and would really love to learn this beautiful movement someday.

I want to eventually become a therapist who blends mindfulness, movement, meditation, outdoor recreation, and nutrition with modern psychology.

I write free form poetry. It does not abide by any academic rules.

You can find Paige at TULA on Mondays at 5:15pm and Fridays at 6:30am & 8:30am. You can also connect with her on Instagram @liveahimsalife 

Teacher Highlight: Kristie Kahns

I recently asked the teachers for a few descriptive words to describe their teaching/classes and Kristie said: Intentional, Precise, Sequential and Introspective and I couldn’t more! Although she’s only been here a few months, she has already made a big impression on our students and on me! Her classes are very deliberate, quiet, but with many challenges to strength and concentration with a welcome sprinkling of yoga philosophy and story-telling. I have a feeling, in her classes, that there is a lot of yoga wisdom beyond what she is cuing and much more that she has to share with us all. I am so grateful that Kristie is a part of our community and I cannot wait to get to know her better and learn more about yoga from her.

For now, here’s a bit more about Kristie:

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Favorite Color: green

Favorite Yoga Pose:

Least Favorite: (Why)

I don’t like to label postures in this way, but I do particularly love Utthita Parsvakonasana. no practice feels complete without it.

Sign: Virgo

Favorite Place: 
Plaza Blanca, New Mexico

Favorite Movie: Book?
(I hardly watch movies!) Recently finished reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Totally great book. His book This is How You Lose Her is one of my favorite books.

How do you define Yoga?

A roadmap for navigating one’s inner life. More specifically, yoga is a set of practices meant to create a healthy body and mind, provide guidance for mental and emotional well-being, and ultimately reveal a clearer version of oneself and one’s purpose. And the rich traditions and history of the practice of yoga provides more than enough to stay curious about this path of life we are all on.

Why do you teach Yoga?

I truly enjoy sharing the benefits and intricacies of the asana practice that have kept me engaged and inspired for so many years. Part of the yoga practice is the transference of knowledge, and I am humbled by the opportunity to share what I’ve learned through my own practice and study. It offers a chance to build community in a really unique and empowering way.

What would your last meal be?

Ethiopian food

The band you can't live without?

super tough question. I’m a music lover, and listen to so much music. but an all-time favorite is The Roots.

Most empowering moment?

When the photo book that I self-published (a photo essay of the Ashtanga Primary Series) was featured in Yoga Journal in Australia, Japan, and the US. That was a very proud moment.

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now where would it be and what would you do? 
I’d travel to Cusco, Peru and spend time exploring the Sacred Valley of Peru, including Machu Picchu.

When you aren't teaching yoga, what can you be found doing? 
Photographing! I work as a freelance photographer, and I also teach photography for After School Matters. Besides that, I go out to a lot of music shows.

Three fun facts we don't know about you? :)


I’m a really big basketball fan.


I studied dance when I was younger, and wanted to be a professional ballet dancer.


I trained capoeira for several years with Gingarte Capoeira Chicago, but injuries led me to yoga.

You can find Kristie at TULA on Mondays at 9am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 5:15pm and Sundays at 5pm. You can also connect with her at https://www.kristiekahns.com

Student Feature: Shirley Kienitz

I just love Shirley. I also kinda want to be her. She’s a bad-ass small business owner/pioneer/entrepreneur (Wolfbait), an awesome mom of two girls, she’s talented AF (has her own clothing label, BruiserEst2003), and she’s just plain COOL. I would describe her as a ‘fearless ray of sunshine’. I am so happy that I get to see her so much at the studio and that I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know her better over the last few years.

If I can’t be Shirley, maybe I can convince her to be my BFF? :)

From Whitney Bradshaws OUTCRY portrait series.

Here’s a bit more about Shirley……..

Hometown: I am a pilots daughter so there were many homes in many towns. Chicago has had my heart for a long long time though.

Sign: Libra

Favorite Color: Emerald Green

Favorite Movie: Is it Delicatessen? Or UHF? Depends on my mood.

What would your last meal be? My Dads Famous BBQ Spaghetti, or My husbands Shrimp and Grits, or a Phillys Best cheesesteak from next to the car wash. All delicious.

What brought you to yoga? A need for mental and physical well being, as well as calmness that my kooky life does not otherwise contain.

What brought you to TULA? Tula is the most welcoming, inclusive, positive, happy place I have ever practiced at!

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)? I like balancing poses because they are fun and I laugh when I fall down! Same with inversions. Eagle arms has probably saved me from becoming Quasimoto, so those are my top 3.

Shirley in a Bruiser original!

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice? I am more present, whether at home with my kids or working at Wolfbait. I also have more strength and patience, 2 things you can never have enough of.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)? Back bends, because my back DOES NOT BEND!

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga? Breathe, and look inward, it's a personal practice that helps me live intrinsically.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? It's usually errands out of necessity, but if I could do anything it would be to commune with nature. A hike or a bike ride in a forest preserve is ideal.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

I am an open book so it's hard to come up with anything that is not common knowledge...

1) I studied acting in NYC before going to fashion school in San Fran.

2) I sign the alphabet with my hands when I am nervous or claustrophobic.

3.) I love old footage and narration, Ken Burns RULES!

Shirley and her family.

Student Feature: Christine Cikowski

Christine is just so beautiful. I love seeing her smiling face coming in to yoga - and she’s always sooo happy about it! :) As an owner of a restaurant (Honey Butter Chicken - highly recommend!) I know that she works really hard and needs this yoga reprieve. I am so grateful that I have gotten to know Christine over the last several years. She’s quite a bad-ass and one of my fellow buisness-owner HEROS. Thank you for helping to make TULA such an amazing community!

Here’s some more about Christine:

Hometown: Chicago

Sign: Virgo

Favorite Color: ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

Favorite Movie: Changes like the seasons. Really enjoyed La La Land and Moana more recently. (Strange, because I don’t typically like musicals.)

What would your last meal be? Fries with limitless dipping sauces.

What brought you to yoga?

Wanting a deeper connection to and between my body, mind, and soul.

What brought you to TULA?

Initially I just lived in the neighborhood and it was the closest studio to my house, but I quickly grew fond of it. Since, I’ve moved and I still go to Tula! Small studio nature, friendly teachers, great retreats, neighborhood feel, online classes = WINNING

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)?

Triangle Pose. Something about stretching down, to the side, and up at the same time makes me feel like a starburst. I also have low back and hip issues and triangle pose seems to not only not hurt, but also soothe and open those areas.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice?

Being more present, most importantly - especially in my body. So much of my life is spent in my head, on the phone, in busy kitchens, and crowded restaurants. Yoga gifts me time to reset and reconnect to only myself - to work my body, to strength my heart, to let go. No matter how tired I am when I walk in the studio, I always leave with positive buzzy energy and a more grounded sense of self. I often joke that going to yoga is like going to my church, but it’s not far off in theory.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)?

Fire Log - but only because my hips and fire log are in direct conflict with each other I use block props to do the pose and to work on opening my very tight hips safely, but yeah - I sort of feel like fire log and me are like two people in a relationship who like each other but simply just aren’t compatible.

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga?

Yoga is a practice that is learned over a long period of time, over a lifetime. Let it take you on its journey. Ya probably aren’t gonna do side crow your first day - let the poses come to you as you are ready. Also - focus on your own relationship with yoga, not others relationship with it. Your yoga is your own - own it, and don’t worry about what poses, mantras, classes, clothing, body shape, or status other people have.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? Brunch :)

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

- I love gardens and plants and farms but I’m a total black thumb.

- I have a tattoo of a Yosemite pine tree from my Tula yoga retreat.

- When I was first starting to cook professionally, I sliced my thumb open from cutting a sweet potato and got 13 stitches. I also have no feeling on the side of my thumb now. #cheflife

Christine and her Yosemite tree.

Student Feature: Gifford Kasen

Gifford has been attending classes here since 2015 and his dedication to his yoga practice is admirable. Even when we don’t see him for a few weeks here and there, he always returns with a renewed energy. I have enjoyed getting to know Gifford better and as a fellow small business owner (even in a totally different industry) I find that we have a lot of the same challenges (and wins!) He recently tattooed a beautiful wildflower piece on my arm - if you haven’t seen it, ask me! Besides the beautiful work, he was extremely easy to work with and chat with for 6 hours! I highly recommend him……

I’m so happy that Gifford is a part of our community and if you see him around the studio, maybe ask him (nicely) to play the sax for us sometime :)

Here’s some more about Gifford……

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sign: Aries

Favorite Color: ummm, I guess I'm more into color combinations. That being said, warm and cool green combinations.

Favorite Movie: The Lobster

What would your last meal be? My Dads Kung Pao Tofu

What brought you to yoga? Life. Stress. Back Injuries. A decade plus of tattooing.

What brought you to TULA?

At first, accessibility, it being a block away from work. After regularly attending for several years I'd say I really enjoy the diversity of classes and the sense of community I get. It's also nice to get feedback from teachers I've been going to for a longer period of time. Even in the "easier" classes I think they find ways to try to challenge me (sometimes the challenge is trying to take it easy, ha!).

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)? Right now, standing balance poses, because I have a really hard time with them. They humble me every single time.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice? I feel great! All of my old injuries don't bother me. My neck and hands don't feel cramped up all the time anymore, and long hours working don't seem to bother me. Mentally, I generally feel much better focused and my anxiety levels are pretty low. I don't want to get too much into my personal life, but I'll say that I started yoga six months into opening a business, and If I hadn't started a yoga practice I don't know that I would have had the skills needed to deal with the stress of it.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)?

Half splits/splits. Just can't do it. Haven't made any progress on it. An old injury makes it hurt if I try to push it.... I don't hate it, I like to keep trying it, but it is like a brick wall that shows me my limitations.

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga?

Try a handful of different teachers/classes and see what works for you. And of course, enjoy yourself!

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? Usually grabbing some lunch at the Chicago Diner before I start my appointments for the day.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

1. Gifford is in fact my first name, It was my Grandmother's maiden name.

2. I own Logan Square Tattoo and am a full time artist there.

3. Before I was a tattooer, I played the saxophone in some jazz and blues combos. I probably won't play the saxophone for you, even if you ask nice.

You can find Gifford at Logan Square Tattoo or on Instagram @futureteller

Gifford with his dog, Utah

Student Feature: Rachel Kyne

I cannot say enough awesome things about Rachel. She is just a joy to be around. She is always smiling, always mindful and present, always kind and thoughtful. She is literally the reason why I built TULA. Thank you, Rachel, for showing up everyday. We are a better community because of you.

Here’s a bit more about Rachel.

Hometown: White Rock, British Columbia

Sign: Total Gemini.

Favorite Color: Phthalo blue

Favorite Movie: Empire Records

What would your last meal be? BC cedar smoked salmon and blueberries!

What brought you to yoga?

I started doing yoga at home as a teenager while struggling with anxiety and depression. I also wanted to become physically stronger. During university I worked at a health store/yoga studio in Vancouver and got much deeper into my yoga practice—but unfortunately for the wrong reasons. My mental health had deteriorated and I found myself doing physical yoga practice to lose weight, which is not a good situation for someone with anorexia. I ended up having to take a break from yoga for many years while I worked on my recovery.

What brought you to TULA?

I started coming to Tula in 2016 in an effort to keep myself stable and healthy while writing my PhD dissertation and digesting the aftermath of a very painful breakup. I was terrified I was going to fall back into the eating disorders I had finally kicked, and I needed to learn how to be with myself kindly. I tried a class at Tula after biking past it. The first time I walked into the studio I felt safe. It means a lot to me that there are no mirrors in the studio, that people of all ages and sizes do yoga here, and that every teacher at Tula focuses on the interior aspects of yoga.

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)?

Dancer. It requires you to find your balance, open your heart, and stand strong, and then be able to laugh at yourself when you fall on your face.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice?

There are too many too count! I have a much greater ability to investigate what I’m feeling and to sit with it. I can actually feel my body now. There’s a condition called alexithymia that a lot of people dealing with eating disorders and other mental illnesses have; it means you can’t determine what you’re feeling or what sensations mean. Spending time on my mat or sitting quietly in meditation has enabled me to sense what my body is doing and how that relates to how I’m feeling—like if my chest is so tight I can’t draw breath I might find myself experiencing panic. Yoga has also enabled me to sit with joy more, and to accept love.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)?

Double pigeon! My hips cannot deal.

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga?

Be patient and stop beating yourself up for not knowing the poses. Try lots of different classes and teachers—there are so many different ways of doing yoga.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity?

Floating home listening to a Harry Potter audiobook and then making a mess cooking something.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

- I’m the middle of 5 kids

- My spirit animal is my dissertation advisor’s Airedale, Kazoo, who I’ve been looking after for 6 years. We have a lot in common—she’s delighted by life, has the attention span of a toddler, and finds the world deeply confusing.

- I have degrees in painting, creative writing, and English lit.

Student Feature: Trisha Raines

I actually don’t know Trisha very well personally, but I do know that she has been a member of our community since March of 2016 and is here A LOT. I also know (from teachers) that she has a dedication to her practice that is pretty rare and she’s quite a bad-ass when she gets on her mat (so I have no doubts that she is also a bad-ass in life :). We are always happy to see her when she walks in our doors and we are lucky to have her as a TULA student.

Here’s some more about Trisha!

Hometown: Longview, Texas (a very small town in East Texas)

Sign: Virgo

Favorite Color: Black

Favorite Movie: “Rushmore” and “Steel Magnolias”

What would your last meal be? Either tacos, nachos or raw oysters. If I’m being fancy, I would go all out with a tasting menu with wine pairings at a three star Michelin restaurant.

What brought you to yoga? I’ve had two spinal surgeries and deal with chronic pain and lasting nerve damage in my limbs. I started practicing yoga seriously almost four years ago for pain management and the resulting stress associated with chronic pain. However, while I started yoga to manage pain, I’ve continued practicing for many reasons – yoga has given me confidence, strength and an outlet to challenge myself and grow.

What brought you to TULA? I really lucked out with Tula. My husband and I had just relocated to Chicago, and I was looking for a yoga studio that was near our apartment and easy to get to after work. I started taking a few classes and really liked the instructors – especially Rhiannon, Mara, Cassie and Kathryn. I tried a few other studios but kept coming back to Tula. Now, I can never move!

What is your favorite yoga pose and why? I have a few. I’m currently enjoying Pincha Mayurasana (forearm stand), which I’ve been working on for more than a year now. When I can get into the pose, it makes me feel so strong and powerful. I also think tripod headstand is just a lot of fun. Another ongoing favorite is Malasana – it’s a pose where I can close my eyes and just relax.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice? The flexibility and strength I’ve gained has played a huge part in my pain management – it’s much more tolerable since I’ve added yoga to the mix. And as I mentioned above, practicing yoga has improved my confidence and pushed me to challenge myself. I never thought I could hold myself up in a headstand!

What is your least favorite pose (and why)? Dhanurasana (bow pose) and Parsva Virabhadrasana (reverse warrior). Both are just very uncomfortable to me.

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga? I’m going to paraphrase Rhiannon here: slow down and pay as much attention to the transitions between poses as you do for the final pose itself. Also, really listen and respond to the instructions from your teacher – which muscles to use, your posture, where to focus your eyes, etc. Once you really start putting those instructions into action, the quality of your practice will greatly improve.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? During the week, I usually hang out with my husband, making dinner or catching up on a television show. After my Saturday class, I like to grab coffee and a pastry. If I can fit it in, a soak with Epsom Salt is also ideal.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

1. I’m a cinephile and love horror movies.

2. I have webbed toes!

3. I lived in D.C. for almost ten years and worked for a member of Congress. I’m proud that I helped get Obamacare passed.

Virtual Audio Classes

We are excited to announce the initial launch of Virtual Audio Classes! Here’s what you need to know!

• You can access these classes by going to our website and logging in under “student access”

• Go to our class schedule calendar

• Look for the blue ‘listen’ links under the class name (note: these will all be PAST classes)

• Listen to your favorite classes from where ever you are!

• It is open and free to all students now, but will soon be only available to members

• Over the next few weeks, we will be working on getting more classes up and improving audio quality

• Please give us feedback about this feature! Since it is just in Beta, we are requesting feedback to make it even better!

Find out more this feature and why it was created HERE.

Here’s to taking your home studio with you!

Maile & the TULA Team

Student Feature: Stanton McConnell

David Duerkop referred Stanton to TULA and there is rarely a week that has passed since 2016 when we haven’t seen him. He is just the nicest guy. Always has a smile and a kind word to share! And I love it that he always shows up to the photo session classes - we have a lot of pictures of him doing yoga! :)

Here’s a bit more about Stan….

Hometown: Dixon, IL, USA

Sign: Virgo

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Movie: Mission Impossible--to choose just one! A few of my actual faves are Zoolander, It Follows, Hook, and Carrie.

What would your last meal be? Mexican and al fresco

What brought you to yoga? I first tried yoga because of a Groupon, and I was hooked after a month.

What brought you to TULA? The diverse teaching styles and personalities make for a real community here, and the people are passionate without pretentiousness. It was the obvious choice for me to become a member here.

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)? I really dig half moon--it's a challenge for me depending on the day, but I feel like it gives me clarity and length everywhere in the body. I'm always stoked to hear malasana (frog) called. Hopping on the lily pad always lightens the mood in the room, and I love how it accesses deep in the hips while also relieving the spine.

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice? Yoga helps me in too many ways to count. Aside from the obvious physical benefits and tight booty, it has helped me with sleeping, singing, dancing, breathing, and staying present in stimulating environments. It makes me a better performer.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)? I can never find comfort in restorative poses on my back with the bolster or blocks.

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga? I would say to embrace how incremental the progress is and to not force anything. Eventually, you notice improvement.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? If I can, I like to slow roll to some good coffee and food at Gaslight. When you can see and feel the sunlight coming in, it's the perfect environment to feel your body recover, taking in nutrients and the coffee drug.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

-I speak French and Spanish.

-I used to be a lifeguard on a nude beach. It also had a volleyball net, and people would be playing on the sand completely naked--except for their kneepads LOL!

-I love singing and writing songs.

Student Feature: Anna Eley

Anna started attending classes here in 2012. As of writing this, she has attended 702 classes here. We have seen her grow tremendously in her yoga practice and have been also lucky enough to have gotten to know her personally over the years. She is not only an amazing student of yoga, but also an amazing human being and we are so grateful everyday that we get to call her our friend.

Here’s a bit more about Anna:

Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI.

Sign: Sagittarius

Favorite Color: mustard yellow

Favorite Movie: Back to the Future

What would your last meal be?

chicken thighs with lots of garlic and onion, sweet potatoes and kale and I giant bowl of ice cream with almond butter and dark chocolate

What brought you to yoga?

i was interested in trying something new and staying healthy during the winter when i'm not as active outside

What brought you to TULA?

i wanted to support a local business and after i took my first class i immediately felt at home at Tula- being new to yoga i was nervous to try it but everyone was so inclusive and welcoming.

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)?

pigeon pose is my favorite, i tend to have tight hips from biking and pigeon always feels so good (especially if the teacher gives an adjustment- that's the best!)

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice?

i feel more balanced overall. yoga has taught me to be more patient with myself. i've also built a lot of strength and flexibility over time and the breath work has benefited me a lot in all areas of my life both physically and emotionally- it's pretty great!

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)?

i hate back bends and i hate camel the most. not sure why, it just doesn't feel good and makes me anxious

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga?

be patient with yourself, there's no hurry. find teachers and times of day that you feel comfortable with. yoga is challenging in many ways so know that you are challenging yourself but it is worth the work. i always feel better in all areas of my life when i am practicing regularly.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity?

i am an early morning yoga person so i like to come home and have coffee and oatmeal after class

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you:

1. i am a proud 4 season chicago biker

2. i love doing jigsaw puzzles

3. one of my life goals is to visit every National Park in the U.S.

Student Feature: Meighan Depke

Meighan took her first class at TULA in April of 2012 and has been a regular ever since. Meighan is one of the many students at TULA that I can't wait to see each day. She has an amazing yoga practice and dedication, and a practical, yet optimistic and cheery, outlook on life. When she comes to yoga, she always brightens up my day! I'm so happy that Meighan has chosen TULA as her yoga home and I'm honored that I have gotten to know her over the years. 

Here's some more about Meighan:

Hometown: Lakewood, Ohio (outside Cleveland)

Sign: Aries

Favorite Color: Sometimes orange, sometimes green, never mixed.

Favorite Movie: Dr. Zhivago. I cry every time. 

What would your last meal be? As in I’m dying? I think I’ll skip food and have a Mezcal Negroni at Reno. Make that 2. 

What brought you to yoga? Well…this is a tough one. Seven years ago my younger brother was dying and I was out East a lot helping to take care of him. We were very close. My sister dragged me to yoga one day, to “relax”, since it was a very stressful time. After my brother passed, the grief was intense. It was like my mind and body had become disconnected and I was watching everything from somewhere else. I found that yoga was the only time I didn’t feel this way, so I continued to go. Eventually my mind and body hooked back up I guess, but yoga continued to be a time when I didn’t feel any of that intense pain.

What brought you to TULA? I was a Groupon yogi for about a year taking classes all over..some good…some not so good. I realized that I needed to be less anonymous and find teachers that I consistently liked. Tula was a natural choice since it was the closest studio to my house, and I had tried it out several times and liked it. 

What is your favorite yoga pose (and why)? Headstand, because it’s a bit scary to be upside down but also fun, and at my age it makes me feel like a badass!

What are the benefits you have experienced from a regular yoga practice? The benefits (or lack of them) are most noticeable when I DON’T practice. Suddenly I’m creaking in the morning and getting nothing done. My body and mind start to separate again. Yoga makes me feel physically and mentally refreshed. I’m always telling my friends to take yoga…the older you get, the more you need it.

What is your Least favorite pose (and why)? Bridge. And I don’t know why. Maybe because it is always at the end of class and I’m tired? I just always get that “ugh, bridge!” feeling. I’ll do one. Then the second and then some days I can’t muster the third!

What advice you would give someone just starting yoga? Don’t compare yourself to others and go slow, especially if you are older. I’ve had plenty of injuries and the oder you are the longer they take to heal.

What is your favorite after-yoga activity? Well, if I didn’t have to go to work, I think a walk and some iced coffee would be an excellent idea.

List 3 fun facts we don’t know about you: 

1. I can nap anywhere. If I’m tired, I can lay on the ground wherever I am and sleep. It’s a great skill.

2. I have 2 different colored eyes which probably isn’t noticeable in downward dog.

3. I’m a big traveler and perhaps a bit too adventurous for my own good. I’ve been attacked by rabid dogs in Tibet, bribed my way into Zaire (Republic of Congo) with whiskey and cigarettes, and hiked in the mountains of Yemen after 9/11 (this still irritates my boyfriend who I left at home with my 2-year old). I’m more responsible now, but I continue to drag my family to out of the way destinations where we usually get stuck in some shitty little town on Christmas. That’s when my daughter will say, “can’t we just do what other families do on vacation?”

Teacher Profile: Hannah Keene

Hannah completed the first year of TULA teacher training in 2016 and has been around ever since. I actually don't know Hannah, personally, very well. What I do know is, that every time I see her, I am reminded that energy is real. Her energy is bright, beautiful and positive and I feel it when she walks in the room. She leads her classes from the heart, she always makes you feel comfortable and welcome and I am so very proud and honored that she chose to be a part of the TULA community.

Here's some more about Hannah: 

Hometown: Salida, Colorado

Favorite Color: swampy greens!

Favorite Yoga Pose: Marichyasana I

Least Favorite: (Why) Lotus isn’t necessarily my least favorite but it is the pose that I struggle with the most in my personal practice.

Sign: Sun in Cancer/Rising Aquarius/Moon in Libra

Favorite Place: Norway has been my favorite place I’ve traveled but I am homebody, I love my home studio.

Favorite Movie: The Thing! When I grow up, I want to be like Kurt Russell.

Why do you teach Yoga?

I teach because part of my practice is service. Giving back to my community is very important to me, especially through yoga. I struggled when I first started practicing but I had teachers who held me accountable and encouraged me. I have such love and gratitude for them. They showed me how to be the teacher I now want and hope to be for my students. One who is gracious, patient and kind.

How do you define Yoga?  

Yoga, for me, is a practice in being present. A way to slow down and catch up with yourself. It is a practice to build trust in yourself and in your intentions. But it’s also a place to hold space for other people. In practice, we come together, in one room, working out whatever it is we need to work out and we’re doing it together. That is powerful and there is nothing else quite like it.

What would your last meal be? A hot cup of coffee and an entire peach cobbler.

The band you can't live without? Songs Ohia, PJ Harvey and Electric Wizard

Most empowering moment?

Sometimes, getting out of bed everyday feels like the most empowering thing I’ve done but let’s go with finishing college and becoming the first person in my family to earn a Master’s degree.

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now where would it be and what would you do? I’d love to go back to the UK and travel the countryside.

When you aren't teaching yoga, what can you be found doing? Drinking coffee and reading!

Three fun facts we don't know about you? I used to be a Magician’s Assistant, I read 52 books a year and I’m a poet.

Hannah teaches Restorative Yoga on Sunday mornings at 9am and Gentle Yoga on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am.