balanced body integraded wellness and studio

2569 W. Fullerton Ave.  Chicago, IL 60647   ph: 773-252-9740   fax: 773-252-9746 

www.balancedbodywellness.net

our instructors

Laura Lash  yoga Instructor

Laura began practicing yoga in 2001 in Boston. A true friend had led her to a Hatha class because Laura was battling anxiety. Having practiced gymnastics in her childhood for ten years, her body immediately recalled holding form and here she began to marry the mental exercise with the asana. In the coming years, Laura attended Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, MA, for retreats and workshops. It was here that her practice developed into a lifestyle.

Laura's practice was strained by an eight year career as a television producer in New York, Boston and LA. In March 2005, exhausted from a 24 / 7 / 365 job, she completed 200 hours of teacher training at Kripalu. Since that spiritual twist of events, She has been teaching Gentle, Fundamentals, Hatha and Vinyasa yoga in the Chicago area.

Though she has explored and practiced in many traditions, she continues to return to the Gentle and Beginner styles. It was there that she found mental and physical peace that she continues to seek. Regardless of the class level Laura is teaching, she always bring a gentle attention to the breath and the need for mental clearing in an asana practice. Laura has a keen understanding of the exploration of the gentle practice and compassion for every body.

Tomoko Horikawa yoga instructor, Makko Ho and Shiatsu practitioner

Tomoko Horikawa was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She has performed as single point trapeze aerial baller dancer with Fly-by-Night Aerial dance company in NY from 2001 to 2003 and as an aerial dancer with Aloft Aerial dance company in Chicago from 2001-2003. She completed the 200 hour Anusara yoga teacher training in NY with senior Anusara certified teachers Jim Bernaert, Ruthie Bernaert, Jackie Prete and Ellen Saltonstall in 2003. She also completed 35 hour anusara yoga training  in 2007 with John Friend in Japan.  She is now an Anusara inspired yoga instructor. Tomoko is also a Makko-ho (Japanese stretching exercise) and Shiatsu practitioner (Japanese meridian massage).  She has been a practitioner for 10 years, is fully licensed through the Makko Ho Kyokai of Japan, and is one of only three instructors in the United States. She is also a dance, movement and yoga instructor at Deaf Theater Company in Japan.

Katya Gulyayev  yoga instructor

Katya came to the U.S. from Ukraine in 1998. She began to practice yoga about 9 years ago. Yoga brought peace and harmony into her life and helped katya as she was trying to assimilate into the new culture. It continued to support and balance her as she was going through the challenging times in her life including the completion of a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Katya have received her Yoga teacher certification from the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre. The Sivananda hatha yoga classes are based on the twelve essential postures that include different variations and adaptations to fit the individual needs of each student. The classes also include breathing exercises. Every class is designed to benefit the students physically, mentally, and spiritually.  She teach beginner and intermediate level classes.  Her personal interests include healthy nutrition, swimming, painting, and traveling.

Mary Wolters LMT,  yoga instructor

Mary has been practicing yoga since 1997 and teaching since 2001. She has studied with master yoga teachers from around the world.  Committed to the process of learning, she believes that we are all students of what our life has to teach us. Sharing knowledge of yoga’s 5,000 year old tradition gives her great joy. She loves to incorporate the knowledge of the past (asanas, meditation, bandhas, mantra and mudras) with what is relevant in the here and now.

Mary is also a Lisenced Massage Therapist, studying a wide range of massage modalities including  rehabilitative, sports, relaxation massage and deep tissue. She is an accredited Thai Yoga Massage Therapist. “Lazy Man’s Yoga”, as it is referred to in Thailand, is a form of partner yoga that combines gentle stretching, acupressure, and breath work in one beautiful and meditative experience. The effects include more energy and a deep sense of relaxation.

Tina M. Nauha, yoga instructor

My yoga journey began 11 years ago while living abroad and searching for alternative methods for coping with life-long, chronic asthma, and related symptoms.

After dedicating myself to a regular practice and combining it with zazen meditation, Tibetan medicine, acupuncture, and various types of massage therapy, I eventually found my way to a more balanced and healthful way of life.

I have practiced and taught a variety of styles of yoga including Astanga, Hatha, Bikram, Anusara, Vinyasa, and Iyengar. The intensity of each class depends on the group dynamic and individual requests, and may have students from beginner’s level to advanced in the same practice. Self-reflection, meditation, and pranayama hold a special place in each class, and are valued as much as alignment of and focus on the experience of the physical body.

It has been an exciting and educational path along which I have been blessed to meet many truly wonderful people from all over the world.

I am grateful to be a part of the Chicago yoga community, and hope to share my experience and knowledge with my students in order to help them find comfort and strength as they heal and grow.