Tammy Mitchell

Kandy Stamer Bernal
Creating awareness is a constant theme in Kandy's life, always offering assistance & gratitude as an inspiring gift. Kandy's yoga practice began in 2000 and naturally expanded into teaching, drawing experience from a Sivananda based teacher training with Brian Saeger in 2005, Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training with Seane Corn in 2006 & Level I Traditional Thai Yoga training with Tammy Mitchell in 2007. She completed her 200 hour teaching certification through the Shambhava School of Hatha Yoga in 2008 and is registered with the Yoga Alliance.

Kandy has also gathered experience from Suddha Wexler, Gabriel Halpern, Suzanne Sterling, Vinnie Hunihan & various local instructors. Her life experiences, including a BA in Biology from Blackburn College, a background in scientific research and social services, Peace Corps in Guatemala, Central America and current master gardener volunteer experience with the developmentally disabled - all flow into her daily gratitude practice.

Kandy's favorite influences have been the works of Osho, Rumi, Ram Dass, B.K.S. Iyengar, Erich Shiffmann, Eckhart Tolle, Anodea Judith, Shakti Gawain, Carolyn Myss, Weston Price and Paul Chek.

Offering a wealth of knowledge with her love for wellness, nutrition, the environment & sustainability, Kandy is the Co-owner of Ulew Natural Products, LLC, a company that offers non-toxic cosmetic & body products. Ulew advocates 
for safe products, raising awareness of the effects of toxic chemicals on our bodies and the environment and 
co-sponsors the Peoria Healthy Living Expo. Kandy shares 
her life with her husband Jim and her large, loving family.

Heidi Turcot

The emphasis in Heidi's therapeutic teaching is on personalizing the practice for each student using alignment for stability, the full integration of the breath, and a meditative, focused awareness.  Based on her experience with the Kripalu tradition, the practices of asana, pranayama, and meditation are integrated simultaneously.  Students are encouraged to attune to their body wisdom and to use the various yogic inquiries, energy awareness, and focused concentration as a way to deepen their capacity for self-understanding and joyful living.

Heidi has continued to develop her skills and understanding by attending many trainings through the years, and offers pranams and gratitude to Erich Schiffmann, Judith Lasater, Gary Kraftsow, Kausthub Desikachar, Jack Kornfield, and Don Stapleton.  A yoga emersion in India with Swami Dharmakeerti Saraswati has deepened Heidi's connection to the roots of the tradition as well as the completion of the advanced training at Kripalu.

Heidi also holds a Masters degree in Social Work and works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker when she is not on the yoga mat.  She lives with her husband Keith, who inspires her to remain present and open-hearted to life.

Certifications and Professional affiliations:

Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, E-RYT Yoga Alliance, 2009
Professional Level Kripalu Yoga Teacher, Certified 2009
Registered with Yoga Alliance, 1998
Certified Integrative Yoga Therapist, 1997
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW 1988
Member of KYTA, Kripalu yoga teacher's association 2006                      

Lisa Zell

I am the 7th of 10 children of the Pat & Vic Burnett family, so if you don't know me, you probably know one of my parents, brothers or sisters. I attended Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute, Western Illinois University, ICC, and worked in insurance and child care before hearing the call to teach Yoga. I am so grateful to be in love with and happily married to Ed Zell and we share our lives with two beautiful daughters, Clare & Bunny, and our loving family, who remind us daily of our gifts of love, abundance, craziness, and beauty.   Namaste!

Lisa Nelson Raabe       

Lisa Nelson Raabe’s teaching combines the energetics and dynamism of Ashtanga yoga with the alignment and stability of Iyengar. Lisa has extensive training with
Tias Little of Prajna Yoga, a study of the body-mind connection through yoga asana, pranayama, meditation, sensory sensitivity and concentration practices. 
Lisa focuses anatomical precision with yoga therapeutics toward remedying structural issues as well as enhancing 
a contemplative practice. Embodying a meditative attitude of breath awareness, visualization and relaxed mindful effort cultivates the clarity and wakefulness necessary to lead more fulfilling and abundant lives.  
Lisa is also a Registered Art Therapist as well as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She is credentialed in 
Tias Little’s Prajna Yoga. Lisa is a practicing artist who brings her gregarious sense of humor, love of imagery and the effects of numerous pilgrimages to India to visit the Ashram of Meher Baba to every session.

Certification:
Tias Little’s Prajna Yoga
Registered Yoga Teacher : 2005
Practice : Began yoga at age 17, also cultivates a practice 
in Tai Ji, a Chi Kung healing form.
Instruction : Since 2002 with children and families jointly 
and child individual sessions.

Teresa Smith
                                                                                                           

Teresa has been teaching yoga since 2002.  She has certification in Breathwalk, and has also been trained in Reiki, Hatha/Anusara, Radiant Child, Kundalini, and Thai Yoga.  Teresa's teacher training has taken her as far as Honolulu.  At her "day job" as a nurse at Saint Francis, Teresa incorporates pranayama in her interactions with patients and their families.  A shining example of practicing yoga off the mat, Teresa shares her life     with David, Annylyse, and Olive.

Ann Marie Mullen

Ann has been practicing massage therapy since 2004 and continues to define her work as an active meditation between practitioner and client. 

She finds joy in the exchange, both energetic and physical, between practitioner and client while facilitating a path to wellness.  Her heart felt approach to massage is gentle, yet deep and specific, and works well within each clients threshold of pressure.  She believes in a holistic approach to wellness that treats the whole person and encourages her clients to empower and educate themselves on alternative approaches to healthcare, such as integrative medicine, whole foods nutrition, exercise, yoga, and meditation.   

Ann graduated from the Chicago School of Massage Therapy with a curriculum consisting of therapeutic, sports, trigger point and relaxation massage with an emphasis on therapeutic deep tissue techniques.  One of the things that drew Ann to this profession is the element of continued learning both through experience and continuing education courses.  Since graduation she has pursued her interests in anatomy and massage training by attending workshops in Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release, Kinesis Anatomy Trains, Structural Integration, CranioSacral, Hot Stone, and Jin Shin Do.  Her special interests include Neuromuscular, Myofascial, and Structural Integration modalities.  She has been certified through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and Associated Bodywork and Massage Practitioners since 2004 and is a Licensed Massage Therapist within the state of Illinois .  

Ann also has a BA degree from the University of Oregon in Anthropology and worked as an archaeologist for three years upon her 2001 graduation.  She worked on excavation projects throughout the Pacific Northwest and Central Illinois .  Her present interest in anatomy was sparked during her undergraduate studies in Human Osteology. Although a native to Central Illinois , she feels a special connection to the Pacific Northwest and considers both locations as home.  In her free time, Ann enjoys spending time outdoors, whole foods nutrition and cooking, exploring music, traveling, making jewelry and spending time with her husband John and three beautiful step children, Adriana, Andres and Camila.