Hi, I’m Lauren. A mom, yoga teacher, doula, and lover of animals, nature, and slow, intentional living. My yoga journey began in 2013. I felt deeply inspired by the teachers I had the privilege of practicing with early on in Chicago. Through their passion and care, I felt called to one day be able to share the transformative effect of yoga with others, as it was so lovingly shared with me. Since then, my path as a teacher has been guided by the hope that I can help others experience even small moments of connection, embodiment, and deeper presence through the practice.

I believe that through conscious awareness of our breath and bodies, we can find more peace, resilience, and a sense of lightness in our lives. Yoga has been the most powerful tool in my life. It helped me see clearly, confront, and begin to heal from an eating disorder that began in adolescence. Making peace with food and my body was a layered journey that involved many things, yoga played an irreplaceable role in my healing. Through the practice, I rebuilt a deep sense of trust in my body. That experience continues to shape how I practice and teach, valuing softness just as much as strength, and honoring each person’s unique path.

The practices that have shaped me the most have been Ashtanga, Rocket, and prenatal yoga. During my own pregnancy, prenatal yoga helped me stay grounded, ease discomfort, and prepare for labor through breath, mindfulness, and building trust in my body. That experience deepened my understanding of yoga’s ability to support people through life’s transitions, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Over time, yoga philosophy has quietly woven itself into my everyday. The yamas and niyamas gently guide me back to integrity, compassion, and presence, reminding me that yoga is not only something we do on the mat, but something we live and return to each day. These teachings have also shaped how I aim to show up in the world. How I raise my voice, take responsibility, and stay rooted in care. I believe that yoga and activism are intertwined: both call us to be awake to suffering, to stay present with discomfort, and to act from a place of love and truth.

In 2017, I co-founded Shakti Shala, where I teach weekly classes. It's a space built on connection, community, friendship, and reverence for the yoga practice. I’m deeply grateful for this space and to be a part of this community. Yoga, when practiced with compassion and patience, can truly make the world a better place. Inside and out. Whether you’re practicing with me in person or online, my deepest intention is to create space for you to land more fully in yourself. To breathe, to soften, to remember your wholeness.