Our Teachers

Divya's strong desire to live in an elevated state of mind led her to the path of Yoga. The insight she received through self study and exploration passionatley drove her to share it with others.

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Trainings/Certifications:

* General Psychology, BA - University of Illinois, Chicago

* E-RYT 200 hours of Hatha Yoga - Trained by Vita Sireikis

* RYT 200 hours of Kundalini Yoga - Trained by Samadhi Banks

*RYT 300 hours of In Depth Iyengar Yoga (Yoga Therapy Focused) - Trained by Gabriel Halpern

* Master Reiki Healer - Trained by Jenni Maes & Shaman Jay

* Sound Healer - Trained by Shaman Jay

* 80 hours of "Living Wisdom" - Bridge Between Yoga & Activism - Trained by Bex Tyrer, Yoga Barn, Bali 

* 80 hours of "Unwind the Feminine" - Specialized Yoga Training  - Trained by Bex Tyrer, Yoga Barn, Bali

* 10 hours of "Yoga on a Quantum Level" - Trained by Gina Tortorello

* 10 hours of the "Foundations of Meditation" - Trained by Gina Tortorello

* 12 hours of Para Yoga - Trained by Yogarupa Rod Stryker

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Outside of teaching Yoga, Divya hosts ceremonies, retreats domestically and internationally and is the lead teacher in the Rising Lotus School of Yoga & Wellness 200hr teacher training program.

Since September of 2018, Divya became the owner of Rising Lotus Healing Center and has been devoted to creating a space for conscious living where community can gather to heal, to unite, to grow, to connect with themselves and conscious community.

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"We can experience the ecstasy of creation in THIS moment only. Heaven is right here! To fully say "YES!" to this moment with every facet of your being requires Yoga "Union" and Yoga can only happen when the fluctuation of the mind seizes to disrupt your present moment. "

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Divya brings a genuine calmness and a deep sense of grounded presence to her classes with a positive outlook not only within you but with the surrounding world. She truly allows you to become blissful, to be you, and to just BE. With her grounding energy her yoga teachings create an environment for others to be completely present in the moment.

Bernie Rybarczyk, Jr. Bernie began practicing yoga at the age of 27 in February 2012. Within One year he began teacher training with Sarah Starnes at the Elmhurst Yoga Shala where he received his first 200 Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification. He began teaching on June 2013 for Lifetime Fitness and freelancing at studios in the Chicago-land area. In June 2014, Bernie went to Minnesota to train with Jason Hulshof of Lifetime Fitness and received his 2nd 200 Hour Vinyasa/Ashtanga Teacher Certification.

He has 7 years of teaching experience at Lifetime Fitness and other studios. Bernie was ranked Top 10 in the Country in Lifetime’s yoga program for class attendance & participation. He is also a music producer/artist/songwriter and Film Writer.

Gina’s altruistic nature and intuitiveness has led her to share the practice of yoga and conscious raising wisdom with others. The profound awakening of realizing her own divinity inspires Gina to share in helping her brothers and sisters of planet Earth to remember their own.
 

“Because it’s time for us to raise our vibration and the vibration of the human collective. The
work we are doing here is important. It’s time for us to remember who we are and I’m overjoyed to be part of the lightworkers who are helping others reunite with their authentic Self”

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Her curiosity sparks passion for growth and learning. Gina is dedicated to higher living and loves sharing it withbothers. She received her E-RYT 200 Hr. Yoga certification from Soderworld Wellness Center in 2013, a Reiki practitioner, Circle Space Holder, Creatrix of Becoming:The Science & Practices of Becoming Your Higher Self, brainwave entrainment mentor & self employed hair stylist who volunteers teaching yoga and leading hikes through the Cook County forest preserves is dedicated to higher living and loves sharing it with others.

Celeste Santiago, a certified yoga teacher, wellness coach, essential oil mentor, conscious food advisor, and a mother of two accepted the challenge to overcome years of ill advised prescriptions and health advice by tapping into her God given intuition to seek out what was right for her body and mind to heal. Years of learning and experimenting with holistic therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, homeopathy, just to name a few, helped bring her the health and healing she needed. It is with will and determination she continues to learn about other options to restore and maintain true vitality for herself and family. The practice of yoga was the biggest driving force in staying in alignment with her virtues and it is because of her journey that she wants to help others tap into their truest essence for healing, happiness, and positive mindset.

“Daring to emerge from adversity with courage and unwavering bravery is what we are built for, yet, we have forgotten this magnificent power within. With the right tools and people, we can recover more quickly and rise up to be the resilient, powerful, natural, resourceful, brave human beings we were born to be.”

starlite 🌟 received her 200hr YTT in 2016. starlight is very passionate about the meditative aspect of yoga, connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit. She brings many styles of yoga into her classes, always making sure to dedicate time to create a space for stillness during practice. With her powerful meditative guidance, you truly open up the path to go into a space of stillness and peace within and feel the unity you share will all of life. 

"Greetings. Eye am. Reflections abound. Healing me healing you. Describing me describing you. Loving me loving you. Slightly more yin than yang, and also more yang than yin. Eye balance like fire. Unpredictability is the plan, more of an evolution than a class. Are you breathing, or are you being breathed? Release. A loss, a purge, a deep wonderment that bends all cells, one. Breathe in the exhale. Notice. Just look at it. Come with me, be come a receiver. Abundant. Pure. Fulfilled. Now inhale. This always was an introduction to your cellf. Love you."

A RYT-200 teacher, Diane began practicing yoga late in life as a way to round out her cardio and strength training while increasing her decreasing flexibility. After just one class, she discovered that yoga was so much more… a true balancing of mind, body and spirit.

Diane loves to share her love of yoga asana, breath work and a sense of inner peace in her classes. Knowing that every day is a unique experience, so too is your yoga practice. Her philosophy is to let the poses meet the body where it is today, not trying to push your body to fit the poses, while developing your own self-awareness.

When not practicing or teaching yoga, Diane loves to walk in nature, kayak, try new vegetarian/vegan recipes, read, listen to music and enjoy family time.

Jenni Maes is a yoga teacher, Reiki healer and master, spiritual mentor, ascension guide, multi-dimensional coach and cosmic healer. Jenni completed her 200 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at Rising Lotus School of Yoga in Homer Glen. She is a sacred space holder, a pioneer of consciousness and facilitator of transformation.

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Jenni is known for her authentic, playful, radiant spirit that supports brave souls desiring a deeper connection with their own beloved essence through a guided asana practice. She incorporates rich intentions through guided practice, cultivating an organic flow of spiritual knowledge to become embodied within the poses.

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She is certified in several energy healing modalities, including Reiki, and enjoys weaving multidimensional techniques into her yoga classes thereby creating a space for students to overcome fears and step more fully into their radical exquisiteness and unique divine expression.

Having first discovered yoga on television through a PBS special in the early 2000s, Titi has been a dedicated student for almost two decades. As an avid learner, she has learned to apply yoga in all aspects of her life, on the mat and off the mat. Always a student first and a natural-born teacher, Titi was led to teach yoga through paths of fate. Known for her terrible dad jokes and her childlike spirit, the space she creates allows her students to be playful, let go, and connect to their true sense of Self. Mentored by Gabriel Halpern, Chicago’s Grandfather of Yoga, she sets herself apart from other yoga teachers by aspiring to stay true to yoga’s original roots by finding ways to incorporate all eight limbs of yoga in class. She goes above and beyond to ensure that all students have access to yoga practices regardless of background, in hopes that all students walk away with their most authentic selves.

Certifications/Training: E-RYT 200 hours of Vinyasa Yoga with Luna Pierson and Linda Lehovec

RYT 300 hours of Yoga Therapy Focused Iyengar Yoga with Gabriel Halpern

200 hours of Qi Gong Teacher Training with Christopher Grant (To Be Completed and Registered through the National Qi Gong Association in 06/2023)

50 hours of Fascia Training with Joanne Avison

50 hours of Yoga Nidra Training with Ram Jain

6 hours of Restorative Yoga Training with Cyndi Lee

B.S. Natural Sciences - St. Norbert College

M.A. Early Childhood Education - Northwestern State University

Alina was awakened to the power of yoga back in 2000 when she felt deeply and unexpectedly drawn to try a class. She immediately experienced a strong sense of home, of belonging and as she developed her practice she became more drawn to the spiritual knowledge, pranayama and the way yoga can transform lives as well as bodies. 

Alina has practiced many styles of yoga here and overseas and was moved to become a teacher, achieving her Yoga Alliance teaching certificate in Italy. 

Radiating a positive, encouraging energy, Alina’s classes reflect her desire to help others find stillness, strength and joy through their practice. 

Each class has a focus, a purpose and in her classes she manages to weave in the wisdom of the ancient teachings of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita and even her own mystical poetry. She has commitment to the asanas, her students and to the yoga community. 

She is grateful to her teacher, Wade Gotwals for his guidance, encouragement and support and is honored to be teaching as his assistant.

“When I teach I become aware of the pure love and joy students feel when they master the breath and I am passionate about helping others find their inner light and healing power through this ancient practice,” says Alina.

After 20 years of balancing career, family and expectations, Allison took a leap of faith to be more present at home and at ease in her life.  Allison's passion for Yoga became a central focus as she completed her training with Brenda Temme and Life Power Yoga. 

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Allison believes in the healing power of Yoga, the strength of its community and impact on the world. She's committed to empowering others to see themselves through their own eyes, finding peace through breath and cherishing the present moment. Allison keeps fresh with meditation, workshops and practicing with fellow Yoga teachers. Her classes are dynamic, powerful and full of heart!

“I believe in the healing power of yoga, one breath and one moment at a time.”

With a background in dance, Connie first came to the mat seeking a physical practice for strength and flexibility but quickly realized yoga is so much more. The more she practiced, the more her mat became a sanctuary. A place to let go and find stillness. Connie fell in love with the spiritual side of yoga, and the way our connection to breath makes us whole in mind, body and spirit.

Yoga has helped Connie grow stronger, both physically and mentally, on and o( the mat. Her practice has taught her self-acceptance, and to see herself and others with only love. “When you lead with your heart, anything that no longer serves you begins to fall away and only love remains.”

Connie’s passion to help others led her to complete her 200 RYT certification in 2016 through LifePower Yoga. Always a student first, she continues to learn and holds additional certifications in Restorative Yoga, Restorative Yin Aerial Yoga, and Level 1 Reiki Energy Healing.

Connie is grateful to be part of the yoga community and Rising Lotus family, and looks forward to sharing space with you.

Natalie’s passionate and authentic style of teaching is accessible and engaging on all levels. She originally came to her yoga mat as a college student trying to seek calm and ease in her busy schedule but she ended up finding so much more. The amount of awareness she received from practicing yoga inspired her to start sharing her love for mindfulness with others.

In 2014, she completed her 200 hour teaching certification through Life Power Yoga. Natalie’s enthusiasm to deepen her studies and serve in her community led her to explore and complete multiple other teacher trainings- a trauma sensitive training with the Prison Yoga Project which encouraged her to teach incarcerated women at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago. She completed an Aerial Yoga Certification through Aviana Yoga and teaches hanging from Oak trees. She most recently completed her 300 hour teaching certification in Integrated Vinyasa through the Colorado School of Yoga, now a E-RYT with 500 hours. Natalie graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability and is a Certified Horticultural Therapist- she incorporates her love for nature and the environment into her teachings.

She not only wants you to feel connected to your true self (Atman) but to the environment around you. Natalie’s calming and natural presence will allow you to feel grounded, nurtured, and rejuvenated. Off the mat, Natalie contributes her time volunteering for dog rescue, traveling, hiking, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her husband, chickens, and dogs.

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Tiffanny’s yoga journey began as a personal committment to a healthier lifestyle.  Relating deeply to the delicate balance of motherhood and a full-time career, she understands that stress management can play a key role in one's physical health and emotional well-being.  With the motivation to be more present for her growing children, Tiffanny found herself at a local yoga studio with no idea what to expect.  Little did she realize, she was also on a path to new a found source of strength and self-acceptance.  The development of her daily practice has also kindled the desire to share the knowledge and benefits of yoga with others. As above all, Tiffanny feels it is her calling to help and support others.  She completed her 200 hour teacher training with Katya Sidelnik, Liz Smith, and Katie Hawks through InnerJasmine in February 2017; and is currently pursuing her 300 hour certification.  Always a student, she is certified in both Nidra and Restorative yoga, as well as being a Reiki Master.  While also navigating her own personal growth, Tiffanny has been able to share these healing practices from lineages she has admired and loved.  She is forever grateful for her teachers' continued support and mentorship. Tiffanny believes yoga can touch everyone in unexpected and wonderful ways, and hopes to encourage her students to utilize their practice to deepen the connections within themselves and those around them.