Yoga in Lake County

Back to my roots- The first time I did yoga was in Lake County back when I lived in Lake Zurich – in 2003. I was a college student and taking many fitness based classes towards my degree. I had taken a semester long yoga class and it was such an amazing experience. The college instructor had been talking to us about breathing and how most people are breathing incorrectly. This was something I had never heard of before, but I felt was so beneficial to learn about. Something funny that I remember that was out of the ordinary in this class, was that one day I was so relaxed in that class that I actually fell asleep and the teacher had to wake me up! People that know me know I never sleep in the middle of the day and this is very unlike me. I didn’t know at the time, that I needed to slow down, relax, and take time for rest. I learned so many things in that class. And I have learned so much more along the way, once I found my way to a regular yoga practice (at Lifetime ALG). I ultimately felt led to do a 200 hr YTT and it was transformative for me. Taking my practice to a deeper level; giving me the tools to share what I have learned and am still learning (as we are always growing, changing and shifting).

I am super excited and happy to announce that I am going to be going back to Lake County to teach yoga weekly beginning in February and also offering workshops periodically as well.
I will be posting more info soon! ❤ ❤ ❤

Peace to all!

2024-Details coming soon

Back to school

Super excited to be teaching yoga for teens and adults this school year for our home school co-op in Dundee starting in September! The benefits of yoga are endless and I feel every teen should be equipped with the tools that yoga provides for emotional support and to build a strong relationship with breath and body.

Previous teen yoga classes I have taught

HAPPY EASTER!

WHAT IS YOGA?

I FEEL THAT YOGA IS A PRACTICE OF CONNECTION.

A CONNECTION TO YOURSELF, TO YOUR HEART. AN AWARENESS OF THE BODY, THE MIND, THE BREATH, THE SPIRIT. A CONNECTION TO LIFE AND THE PRESENT. ULTIMATELY, A CONNECTION TO GOD.

ALWAYS BE KIND TO YOURSELF. FIND THE JOY AND LOVE THAT RESIDES WITHIN YOU AND SHARE IT WITH ALL BEINGS. ❤

Hear This

Sounds can touch us.

Sounds that resonate with me…

Laughter.

better yet, chuckles, even guffaws,

belly deep.

Birdsong, carried by the wind, carried by the sun. Light.

Applause, cheers, roars!

Woodpeckers, knock knock,

a welcome visitor.

Children’s secret whispers with siblings, with best friends;

sleepovers into the wee hours.

Songs from youth, instant time machines,

nostalgia, wistful.

Crunchy snow, so satisfying,

the journey keeps you present. Acute awareness.

Silence, the space within.

Water in any form, any shape; rivers, waterfalls, ocean, rain, drips, sleet…strength of storms. Miracle of springs. Source.

Wind. Ethereal whistle. Brings everything to life.

Affirmations, compliments, appreciation, gratitude, kindness, tone of a friend’s voice.

Music and the magic of frisson. Soundtracks of our lives. Our hearts. We are not alone.

Fire; power to transform, gatherings of storytellers, draws us near.

I love yous.

Breath. The most beautiful sound of all.

Sound

Folklore of the Halcyon

greek

According to the ancient Greeks, kingfishers built their nests on a raft of fish bones and, having laid their eggs, they set the nest afloat on the Mediterranean sea and incubated the eggs for seven days before and after the winter solstice.

In order to facilitate this it was said the gods always made sure that the seas and winds were calmed during this period. The Greek name for Kingfisher is halcyon, leading to the term ‘halcyon days’ which was originally a reference to the calm and fine weather at this time in Greece. We now use the term to refer to fondly remembered times in our past.

Noah’s ark

A kingfisher, said to be the first bird to fly from Noah’s ark after the deluge, supposedly received the orange of the setting sun on its breast and the blue of the sky on its back. It was considered a symbol of peace, promising prosperity and love.

Watching this ‘halcyon’ bird dart across the river reminded me of the words of Gerard Manley Hopkins when he wrote of how kingfishers “catch fire” in the bright spring sunshine. Along with the simple sweet notes of the recently returned chiffchaff, spring is here.

Salt of the Earth is officially open-

I am so blessed to be able to teach in this sacred space. A dreamy, ethereal Himalayan salt cave. Soothing, intuitive and reenergizing space for one to connect with themselves and to heal. I will be teaching here on Mondays, starting on February 3rd, 2020. Please call to book or just drop in. Manifest health, peace and joy.

Monday offerings:

9-10am- Yoga in the salt cave

10:15-11:15am Vinyasa in the Infrared Yoga Room

11:30-12:30pm Yin in the Infrared Heated Yoga Room.

moments

Some moments stay with us…

spring

That wonder of being reborn. Watching the appearance of old friends/Flowers that come and go, their time short, but so beautiful and loved. Bringing simple joys, a quiet wisdom. And rain, so much rain-puddles to jump in, storms to kiss in, that promise of all hope, everything anew. Eternal love.. travels flourish, we emerge from our hibernations…energy boundless..

summer

Summer: Driving with your windows down, hand touching the air. Connecting with life. Floating in the water, on your back, the surrounding world muffled, all worries melting away. Licking ice cream on cones. Green gardens grow lush with bright vegetables. Intriguing dragonflies flit and remind us of a magical time. Folklore. Summer.. when life stops and our spirit roams. Hearts fly.

fall

Our world dripping in color, everything feels rich, earthy. The forest so vibrant, trees dance, wind making everything so animated and so alive. Hair blowing, sensations high. The sound of walking on leaves, we are here. Present. Fires burning steady and fierce… one last hurrah before the quiet settles in..

winter

Sledding in the snow, to the bottom of the hill, and just laying there with your eyes closed… listening to the laughter and joy softly echoing in the sky. The snowflakes lightly falling on your face. Your heart at peace. The sun shining its brilliant light on you. Other worldly sanctuary finds us. Reflection and rest.

July

Going back to teaching after my son’s accident in July was hard for me. Everything felt different, the world seemed different. Our lives changed, based on one moment in time. I count our blessings and look to God in gratitude for sparing my son. Over time I was able to go back to my practice of body awareness, breath awareness. Taking each moment as it comes. Teaching is just as therapeutic for me as it can be for the students. I am taking this life one breath at a time. Breathing nourishment and life into the body, bringing healing back into my soul. I look to God. I pray. I honor God by taking care of myself. I am strong and present. I thank God for this life. For my family. 🙏 This was my first class taught after the accident. A new beginning for this mama…❤️

My loves

by Brook Mrkvicka

Next to God and my family, I have a couple things that are dear to me.

Photography and Yoga are two of my main passions.

I have been a photographer since my teen days; going in and out of the revolving door into the darkroom. The darkroom was my special place, like kids with their ladder and treehouse. That journey into a space where you create adventure.

I choose to focus (pun intended!) on seeing the beauty in my everyday. I have a love of the outdoors and feel that people really shine when outside. I specialize in outdoor photography, with or without people. I love to be in the sun, in the rain, anything and everything natural appeals to me. I love wind. Exaggerated air. I love for the world to be animated and alive.

Yoga and I met in college, when I signed up for a class while going for a health education major. I have been on the mat since. After moving to my current hometown of Crystal Lake, I really started to fall in love with practicing yoga. It brought me peace. Yoga is a great way to really learn. Learn about yourself, your mind, your heart, your soul… And what a great way to let go.

I am thrilled that I am in YTT- 200 hr and set to be certified in the spring of 2019. This is something that I feel drawn to do and feel blessed to have the opportunity to share with others.