https://yhchicago.com/updates daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://yhchicago.com/updates/profilerhonda monthly 0.5 2025-09-23 https://yhchicago.com/updates/pelvicfloor monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://yhchicago.com/updates/begin monthly 0.5 2025-02-13 https://yhchicago.com/updates/firstclass monthly 0.5 2026-03-23 https://yhchicago.com/updates/whyyhc monthly 0.5 2025-02-13 https://yhchicago.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-09-24 https://yhchicago.com/teachers daily 0.75 2025-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/1655335188198-AVBMMW1XJFJLQQR34J9C/Natasha0001.png Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/47ac94ba-3af3-4f5c-8b51-fbb4c036adda/Allison.jpeg Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/1655335445864-MV4NC8GQFSCC3FY6MLV3/not180.png Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/accb7878-2863-4167-a4e0-e32a655b5435/Fukui-Stephanie-230605-106925-fave-final-linkedin.jpeg Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/8ab99945-9f87-4cc0-93cb-3ddbca28f946/j.williford.JPG Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/1ba39a33-37eb-4566-a1b6-edb992f7821f/A+Socha.JPG Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/c0b0a3c0-3c10-4925-b154-f7069fe1312f/M.+Joyce2.jpeg Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/c6883ce1-6027-4a25-a23f-a6d4fec708da/k.wright.png Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/fcd18b62-bcba-4d0c-ade5-aa396714b4c5/R.+Duffaut+1.jpg Teachers https://yhchicago.com/invocation-pdf daily 0.75 2024-05-07 https://yhchicago.com/natasha daily 0.75 2023-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/eefe0d9f-6d12-44dc-866b-c4ecf7dff18d/Natasha002.png Natasha https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/14dcb0cd-00bd-409a-bc02-fdeb3b354b5e/Natasha0001.png Natasha - Natasha Julius “Iyengar Yoga is the first practice I've found that effectively links physical and intellectual rigor. You're not simply performing asana, you're actively focused on a process of discovery." More than 20 years ago, Natasha wandered into an Iyengar Yoga class at a studio near her home and was instantly hooked. "Iyengar Yoga is the first practice I've found that effectively links physical and intellectual rigor. You're not simply performing asana, you're actively focused on a process of discovery." She has found that focus stays with her once she leaves the mat and has led to greater clarity in all aspects of her life. Her passion for the practice led her to study at Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in 2008 and to complete her IYNAUS certification in 2009. She has since enjoyed getting to know the instructional styles of Abhijata Iyengar and Raya Uma Datta. She also studies regularly with Chris Saudek, Laurie Blakeney, and her old Pune travel buddy (and regular YH guest teacher) Jennie Williford. Natasha focuses on creating a welcoming and collaborative classroom environment in which students feel empowered to explore their individual practice. "I think Iyengar yoga can sometimes feel a little exclusive—there's weird equipment! They're speaking Sanskrit! Everyone else seems to know what they're doing!” Natasha wants her students to take what they need from the work they do and trust themselves to move forward from there. Natasha believes students are there to grow in their practice, and the teacher, whether that is the human leading the class, or the block under their hand in a standing pose, is there to support that growth. Outside of yoga, Natasha is the parent of two school-aged children and a writer and creator who is generally developing 8-10 projects at any one time. “I have found that the focus I find while practicing stays with me once I leave the mat and leads greater clarity in all aspects of her life, including staying focused!” Email: natasha@yhchicago.com https://yhchicago.com/allison daily 0.75 2024-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/2f52acc9-42d8-4825-868f-3d6fbada9028/unnamed.jpg Allison https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/623f9e78-8786-4fba-a6a8-433f9c8e3f0f/unnamed-2.jpg Allison https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/cd133d58-4aee-4584-b538-af43a74f120f/unnamed-1.jpg Allison https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/91278831-d170-46b2-a3d0-b9d46a2bbc6b/Allison.jpeg Allison - Allison Chaplick After trying several different styles of yoga (hatha, ashtanga, hot), Allison Chaplick read a description of Iyengar yoga, took a class, and was immediately impressed by the teacher’s knowledge of each pose, including the visual demonstration and verbal instruction. "I loved the sequencing, how one pose could contribute to the understanding of the next as a class built toward a “target” pose or a desired mental and physical state." She also appreciated the attention the teacher had to each student and, after starting teaching, strives to contribute that same focus to the students in her classes. Beyond her daily study and practice, Allison particularly values the therapeutic benefits of Iyengar yoga, something she particularly experienced while pregnant with both of her children. "The synchronized practice during each trimester of my pregnancies, as well as during menstruation, has helped me feel healthy, more energetic and to address problems." Allison finds that people are often hesitant to take yoga because of their physical stiffness. Likewise, she sees people drawn to yoga to improve their flexibility. For her, the beginning of the journey, and benefits, really starts by developing even some even small amount of mental flexibility in order to find greater agility in the poses. In addition to her study, practice and teaching of yoga, Allison is a lawyer focused on professional insurance liability issues and enjoys spending time with her husband, two active teenagers, and two rambunctious Chocolate Labrador Retrievers. Email: allison@yhchicago.com https://yhchicago.com/iyengar daily 0.75 2025-09-12 https://yhchicago.com/stephanie daily 0.75 2023-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/accb7878-2863-4167-a4e0-e32a655b5435/Fukui-Stephanie-230605-106925-fave-final-linkedin.jpeg Stephanie - Stephanie Yukui A resident of Japan for much of her adult life, Stephanie Yukui started teaching in 2004. "There is a natural progression that starts with casually taking yoga, then going deeper by adding a home practice, and finally to wanting to share the joy and bliss of yoga with others." She has been taking classes, teacher trainings, and workshops since 2004. "I traveled to the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, India three times for month-long sessions between 2012 to 2019." Prashant Iyengar and Rajlaxmi Nidmarti, among others at RIMYI, stand as inspiring models for her, as well as her teacher in Japan, Elena Kogure. "Yoga is sure to change your life in a good way," Stephanie insists, but also realizes this is not necessarily obvious at the first class. During her initial year of practice, she found her neck pain disappeared and she discovered a wholesome, holistic philosophy that matched and informed her own. "Given time, practice and patience yoga's secrets will be revealed!" Stephanie is passionate about her classes being pragmatic, interesting and leading toward greater body and mind awareness and finds students that are curious, open-minded and fairly determined tend to more quickly realize the benefits. Outside of teaching and practicing, Stephanie is passionate about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Family Association Japan, a national organization she started for bereaved families. Email: stephanie@yhchicago.com https://yhchicago.com/ann daily 0.75 2023-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/1ba39a33-37eb-4566-a1b6-edb992f7821f/A+Socha.JPG Ann - Ann Socha Ann Socha began studying Iyengar yoga in Crested Butte, Colorado in 1996. After her initial Iyengar Yoga experience, Ann became a dedicated student, loving how calm yet energized she felt after class. With the encouragement of her teachers, she embarked on the journey to become a certified teacher. She went on to study with the Iyengar family in India, and Laurie Blakeney (Ann Arbor School of Yoga), eventually becoming a Level 2 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT). Ann is grateful to all of her teachers for enriching her life and filling her with a sense of purpose. With an interest in anatomy and kinesiology that continues to inform her teaching, Ann has become a licensed physical therapist assistant. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge with her students so that they can maintain healthy and active lives. In her free time, Ann enjoys spending time in nature with her husband and daughter, painting, traveling, reading, and admiring her cat. She holds bachelor degrees in Art History and Women's Studies. https://yhchicago.com/marianne daily 0.75 2024-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/e0cde863-27e0-4200-9765-40fd6752d2fd/M.+Joyce.jpg Marianne - Marianne Joyce Marianne wants to help students develop and enjoy the improved strength, balance and focus that Iyengar yoga offers safely. Particularly for new students, she sees this journey beginning with learning how to build strength (e.g. lift the knees and thighs up! move the muscle to the bone!) to ensure a stable physical foundation before additional movement is introduced. More than anything, she wants students to feel encouraged to continue after every class. "I remember years going by before some of the instructions made any sense to me." She's experienced for herself how sometimes the body and mind feel a benefit from yoga before it's fully comprehended. "A willingness to hang in there is essential." Marianne became a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) with the guidance and patience of Bob Whittinghill. She finds enormous benefit to accessing the impressive range of Iyengar teachers' knowledge in virtual classes and workshops across the country, while also extremely grateful for the Midwest's dedicated and generous senior teachers with whom she’s also studied. In addition to practicing and teaching yoga, Mariane enjoys beach walking, paddleboarding, and cycling. She works for a local organization that helps people who have been persecuted in their home countries and must flee. Email: marianne@yhchicago.com https://yhchicago.com/kathleen daily 0.75 2024-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/c6883ce1-6027-4a25-a23f-a6d4fec708da/k.wright.png Kathleen - Kathleen Wright In 1974, Kathleen began her formal studies of Yoga under the direct guidance of Swami Veda Bharati of the Himalayan Tradition. She began teaching in 1976. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Movement Education from the University of Minnesota, and is a 1983 graduate of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco’s two-year state-certified vocational teacher training program. Kathleen has studied many times in Pune, India with the Iyengar family, including B.K.S. Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar. Recently she attends classes with Abijata Iyengar and lectures with Prashant Iyengar, Professor Edwyn Bryant and Ramanand Patel. She has helped host the Iyengar’s on visits to the United States during national and regional conventions. She continues to work with community efforts to spread the Light of Yoga. Kathleen is a nationally certified Iyengar Yoga instructor at the Junior Intermediate level, and an experienced certified Yoga Therapist and Certified Ayurvedic Educator. She is a beloved teacher known for her love of Yoga and her keen and compassionate eye recognizing and working with students’ abilities and possibilities. She continues to serve as a mentor and teacher to many of the Chicago area’s top Yoga teachers and the Yoga community at large on local and national levels. Email: yogakmw@gmail.com https://yhchicago.com/rhonda daily 0.75 2024-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/625ba7cfa213fb500585b7e1/d61ab6be-503f-4727-944c-10b5f38c354f/R.+Duffaut+2.jpeg Rhonda - Rhonda Duffaut Rhonda believes that Iyengar yoga makes a person a better partner, parent, colleague, friend because the practice teaches you how to listen, first to themselves so that they can listen to others. As a German Professor at Penn State focused on identity in postwar literature, she spent a lot of time on intellectual pursuits. Her first Iyengar class blew her mind because it revealed how little she knew about herself. The learner in her decided to continue, and the educator in her was enthralled by the way knowledge of the poses is handed down in the tradition. Having begun her training in San Francisco, Rhonda continued to study at the Yoga Circle, with the Iyengar’s in India, and with senior teachers at conferences. Rhonda established her own yoga studio, Yoga Niche Chicago, sharing with students ages 6 to 85 her love of alignment-based yoga. She infuses her classes with energy and patience and welcomes questions from her students that illustrates they are delving deeper. Pre-pandemic she trained and taught yoga and meditation at Chill Chicago. She is author of Mindfulness: A Teenager’s Guide to Managing Stress and Life Decisions and teaches mindfulness workshops in schools, showing how the ancient teachings of yoga are skills we can employ in our lives. If there exists an outside of yoga, Rhonda spends her time tutoring young people to reach their academic goals. 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