DIRECTOR
Lori Gaspar, BFA, MA, 500 E-RYT, is the Director of Prairie Yoga and Prairie Yoga’s teacher training programs. She is a dedicated, long-time student of yoga, health and eastern philosophy. Lori has completed numerous teacher training programs with a variety of international yoga teachers. She is trained in alignment-based yoga, ashtanga vinyasa, restorative and therapeutics. She apprenticed for many years under Gabriel Halpern, a life-long student of BKS Iyengar. She was originally certified by Moksha Yoga Center and Tias Little’s Prajna Yoga. She studied Asian classic literature and eastern philosophy at the University of Chicago, including travel to India to study historic and current practices of yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Lori’s dynamic teaching style combines the intelligent use of breath-synchronized movement with a strong emphasis on technique and alignment. She guides students from the physical to the subtle to develop deep levels of self-awareness; realize their full potential; and discover their inner joy. Lori has written many articles about yoga for Yoga Chicago magazine and has been referenced in regional and national publications. An avid gardener, she loves digging in the dirt and sharing her abundance of organic produce with friends. Truly a karma yogini, she advocates using the self-knowledge gained from yoga practice to serve others. She is highly involved in public education and currently serves as President of the Community Consolidated School District 89 Board of Education. Lori and her husband, Don, enjoy a busy family life with their two children. For more info…
FACULTY
 Jennifer Botka, BA, 200 RYT, has been practicing yoga since 2003, when she faced a life changing injury. She just completed her thesis work on yoga for managing emotions for the 500 hour certificate through Prairie Yoga. She received her 200 hour certification from Moksha Yoga Center in 2007. Jennifer brings compassion, insight and joy to her classes which focus on alignment and therapeutic strengthening, breathwork and meditation. These are the tools she believes primarily responsible for her own physical, emotional and spiritual recovery. Additionally, she strives to adapt each practice to meet the students’ individual needs within these realms. Jennifer was a social worker in health care settings for almost 10 years, and also currently teaches yoga for cancer survivors. She is grateful to be part of the exceptional yoga community of Prairie Yoga. |
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 Polly Deardorff, B.A., R.N., 500 CYT, has been studying yoga and meditation for more than 20 years with a background in both Iyengar and Vinyasa Flow styles. She has trained with many great teachers over the years including Gabriel Halpern in Chicago. Polly enjoys sharing both the joy of movement and stillness in yoga, meditation and NIA dance. She attended Moksha Yoga’s 200 hour yoga training in 2005, Prairie Yoga’s 500 hour program in 2008, and the NIA White Belt dance training in 2010. |
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Laura Gibson, 200 CYT, comp leted the 200-hour and Intermediate Teacher Training at Prairie Yoga, and is enrolled in the 500-hour Advanced Training. She is also a mentor for the current 200-hour Teacher Training. Laura is a long time student of Lori Gaspar, whom Laura reveres for her teaching style, work ethic, intelligence, energy, and humor – qualities Laura aspires to reflect in her teaching. Laura is grateful for a rare opportunity, which allowed her to immerse herself in a self-study/yoga practice in Montreal in 2010. She has returned eager to teach from a fresh viewpoint and share her new discoveries with fellow yogis. Laura’s alter ego is “domestic goddess;” she enjoys family, cooking, and entertaining, in addition to furthering her education and being involved in her community. |
 Gabriel Halpern, holds a BA in Philosophy, a MA in Health Psychology, and was trained at the Iyengar Yoga Institutes in San Francisco and Pune, India. Gabriel has practiced since 1970, traveled to India several times to study with BKS Iyengar, and gives workshops nationally. For the past 20 years he has also been a core faculty member at De Paul University Theater School. Gabriel has been studying yoga for 39 years and his life has been dedicated to the pursuit of yoga and its therapeutic applications in all forms. He is a blazing light of love, laughter, healing and wisdom. A gifted storyteller, his brilliance shines in all areas of the spiritual nature. Gabriel is married with two teenage children and is celebrating his 25th year as Director of Yoga Circle, Chicago. He is Lori Gaspar’s mentor and a major influence in the Chicago yoga community. |
 Alison Larkin, 500 CYT, is a certified yoga teacher, registered nurse and certified Ayurveda Practitioner. She was originally certified to teach yoga by Moksha Yoga Center and completed her 500 hour advanced yoga teaching certification with Prairie Yoga. Alison teaches Ayurveda in Prairie Yoga’s Teacher Training Programs. Alison’s classes combine her breadth of knowledge in the healing arts. She adapts the practice of yoga to your individual composition and current condition, bringing you into a state of balance. |
 Reeny Linstrom, 500 RYT, has been a passionate practitioner of yoga for over 12 years. She is an assistant teacher trainer for Prairie Yoga’s yoga teacher training programs. Reeny received her 500 hour yoga teaching certificate from Prairie Yoga in 2008 and her 200 hour yoga teaching certificate from Moksha Yoga in 2001. She has studied extensively with Tias Little and Gabriel Halpern, with a special focus on therapeutics. Reeny was originally trained as a dancer. Her teaching style reflects her love of movement, imagery and language. Always a student, Reeny enjoys studying yoga with all the excellent local teachers in the western suburbs when she is not busy with her husband and three energetic teenagers. |
 Motomi Naito, 200 CYT, a native of Japan, has been practicing yoga since 2004. She enjoys practicing different styles of yoga and is especially drawn to the alignment-based yoga and the strength of Forrest Yoga. She has completed the Prairie Yoga 200-Hour Foundation Teaching Training and Ana forrest’s Advanced Training, and continues to study with her Prairie Yoga teachers, Lori Gaspar, Michael Taylor and Tricia Fiske. She is grateful to her first Forrest Yoga teacher, Rich Glejzer, who inspired her to find a path to teaching yoga. |
 Rebecca Russell, MS, 500 RYT, teaches from a foundation of more than 12 years of practice in hatha, vinyasa and alignment-based yoga. She earned her 500-hour certification through Prairie Yoga and 200-hour through Moksha Yoga Center. Rebecca studies as often as she can with master teachers including Angela Farmer, Tias Little and Gabriel Halpern. As an adjunct faculty member at De Paul University and Elmhurst College, she teaches courses in yoga, interviewing, group communications, food and identity. Rebecca is a freelance writer who has published in Yoga Chicago and nationally. www.yogarebecca.com |
 Marinda Stopforth, OTR/L, 500 CYT is an Occupational Therapist at Edwards Hospital in Naperville, IL. She is interested in the therapeutic application of yoga. Marinda earned her 500-hour certification through Prairie Yoga and 200-hour through Moksha Yoga Center. Marinda teaches anatomy for Prairie Yoga’s 200 hour teacher training programs. She has worked as an aromatherapist, reflexologist and is a qualified Reiki Master Teacher. She is a residential trainer in the study of consciousness for the Monroe Institute in Virginia with her husband, Bob, and is also a certified 1:1 Provider for the Institute of HeartMath in California. |
 April Storms, BA, 500 RYT, has been practicing yoga since 2000. She earned her 500 hour certification through Prairie Yoga and 200 hour through Moksha Yoga Center. Her studies over the past several years have focused on the sacroiliac joint– working within her own body and others to help restore stability. This work has given her insight into ways to make yoga practice accessible to all, regardless of age or injury. April is a teacher trainer in Prairie Yoga’s 200 hour teacher training programs. A curious and dedicated student of all aspects of yoga, she truly loves sharing her passion and inspiring others. |
 Denise Sutherland has practiced a variety of yoga styles over the years and has inspired Denise to share her experience of personal transformation through yoga with everyone she meets. As a spiritual counselor and holistic healer, Denise imparts her passion for yoga onto her clients, as well as integrates yoga into her amalgam of healing therapies for the mind, body and spirit. Denise has completed the Prairie Yoga 200-Hour Foundation Teaching Training and is participating in the Krisnamacharya Healing Yoga Foundation 500-Hour Yoga Therapy Teacher Training Program. |
 J. Michael Taylor is a certified Iyengar teacher and has practiced yoga since 1987. Having played sports all his life, yoga helped him develop flexibility and heal his injuries. He is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable yoga teachers in the western suburbs. He started apprenticing with Gabriel Halpern at Yoga Circle, Chicago in 1989 and began teaching soon after. He has studied for many years with Senior Iyengar teachers, Lois Steinberg and Laurie Blakeney. His teaching places a strong emphasis on alignment and the use of props to facilitate learning. Michael’s great sense of humor keeps his students laughing. Yoga gives him the energy to teach photography at College of DuPage and play music, dance, and enjoy life to the fullest. |
 Linda Troutman, 500 CYT, RYT, has practiced Hatha yoga for more than 20 years and she has taught yoga for 10 years. Linda believes that yoga meets you where you are and that yoga can be adapted for any person. Her teaching style is an eclectic mix of therapeutic yoga encompassing precision of alignment, along with the breath synchronized practices of Viniyoga and vinyasa. Linda is certified 500 CYT by Prairie Yoga and is also a Certified YogaKids® teacher and trainer. She holds in-service trainings, Taste of YogaKids® and Tools for Schools® workshops for educators and other professionals who work with children. Linda has been dedicated to mentoring yoga teachers for many years and is an assistant teacher trainer in the Prairie Yoga teacher Training Programs. |
 Duane Welte, At age 50, it was apparent to me I was aging in relation to strength, balance and flexibility. I was at the point of investing in healthcare insurance for my later years or investing in my own health. I chose the latter. I met my teacher and mentor, Jeff Manning, at a local healthclub and was hooked after the first class. The changes, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally were profound. I have come to realize that while we can’t change everything in our lives, we are certainly in charge of those we can. The gift of Yoga has made such a difference in my life I just had to share it with others. Jeff was very supportive of me teaching and suggested Prairie Yoga as THE place to go for teacher training… he was right. The training at Prairie honed the skills I already had and presented new skills and outlooks on how to share my love of yoga. Through teaching yoga, I can show the path I have taken in my life and hopefully assist others in a path to more fulfillment in their lives. Helping others is one of the most important things we can do and I appreciate the opportunity to share yoga through teaching. |
Tricia Fiske, B.A., 500 E-RYT, has been a student of yoga since 1997 and a teacher since 1999. She is primary faculty for Prairie Yoga’s Teacher Training Programs. Tricia is a leader in the west suburban yoga community and has trained and influenced many teachers in the area. She finds joy in her students realizing their personal power and strength. Tricia follows the Six Gems of ParaYoga in practice and teaching: DHARMA: destiny and surrendering into that which you are born to be; TANTRA– self mastery over mind and prana; VIDYA– science and seated wisdom; AGNI– fire, becoming powerful to release those things that hold us back; PARAMPARA– honoring the Source, and NONDUALITY.