Aasha Elliott (She/Her)

E-RYT 500, Studio Owner and Manager, Teacher Trainer, LCSW, Certified ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation Instructor

Aasha is a lover of all things yoga, meditation, mantra, astrology, music, chanting and singing. Singing was her first Love and the initial inherent way in which she connected to spirit and to the flow of shakti without knowing how to give it a name. She has also more recently been drawing 108 Ganeshas over the years and believes everyone has a bit of an artist within!

Aasha has always been a proponent of movement as “medicine”. She found yoga in her 20’s and experimented with various types of asana and meditation until failing in love with ShambhavAnanda Yoga® in 2011. She remembers walking into the Chicago studio and immediately feeling “warm” and “at home”. She completed Yoga Teacher Training at Chi-Town Shakti n 2012 and began teaching soon after graduation. She assisted with 200-hour teacher trainings at Chi-Town Shakti before stepping into studio co-ownership in 2016 and full ownership in 2022. Yoga (in all its limbs) has become an integral part of Aasha's life over the years, and preserving the authenticity of Chi-Town Shakti as a ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Center and supporting the growth of her students brings her so much joy.

Aasha continues to deepen her ability to surrender, to trust the divine and to open her heart through practice and through teaching. Aasha is passionate about offering accessible yoga to many, with the belief that anyone can practice yoga and that the postures can be expressed in many ways in varying bodies, no matter size, shape, race, gender, etc. She also strongly values asana practice as a means to open up the flow of energy within and prepare the practitioner for deeper states of meditation.

Aasha holds a Masters degree in Clinical Social work from Loyola University Chicago (2009) and works part time as a Clinical Therapist. She frequently integrates yoga, meditation and somatic practices into her sessions with clients. She feels this supports the knowledge and understanding of there being no boundary between life on and off the mat and cushion.

Aasha has also led and co-led teacher trainings at Shoshoni Yoga Retreat in the mountains of Colorado and assisted with Jyoti Fontaine’s retreat with RasVida Yoga Excursions in Panama (2022).

TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS:

• 200-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Hatha Yoga Teacher Training (2012)

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Adjustments & Teaching Skills Training (2013) 

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Vinyasa Flow Training (2013)

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Intermediate Level 3 - Rise True: Shoulders + Upper Body Teacher Training (2014)

• 85-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Prenatal Teacher Training (2015)

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Intermediate Level 2 - Deep Roots: Hips + Lower Body Teacher Training (2018)

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Yoga for Wellness Teacher Training (2018)

Meditation Certifications:

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation Teacher Training (2012 and 2015)

• 30-Hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation Teacher Training Level 2 (2018)

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®E Meditation Teacher Training Level 3 (2019)

Sarah DeMarco (They/She)

E-RYT-500, Teacher Trainer, LCSW, Certified ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation Teacher

Sarah took their first yoga class in 2000 and hated it.  They had a difficult time following along with the Sanskrit/poses, always felt a step behind, and was clearly not as advanced as those other bendy people in the room ending up gasping in pain when the instructor lifted their feet over their head for a pose which they were in no way ready to try. Fast forward 10 years as Sarah found themself struggling more and more to feel balanced and fulfilled as work and life were becoming increasingly challenging as a school social worker.  Struggling with anxiety and wanting to practice what they preached, Sarah took a chance on a local yoga studio and fell in love with the practice of yoga.  They even did a headstand that first day! Sarah now has a daily yoga and meditation practice that is helping them learn to let go and see the divine all around them. Sarah’s yoga practice has been a journey of self-discovery – learning to love both the beautiful and not-as-beautiful parts and to revel in a sense of radical self-acceptance.

Sarah received their 200-hour teaching certification in ShambhavAnanda Yoga ® at Chi-Town Shakti in 2013. Sarah teaches with a conviction that yoga is for EVERYONE and creates classes of accessibility and freedom of expression. They want all their students to experience the JOY of practicing and is passionate about helping each student achieve this feeling. Sarah believes that what is experienced on the mat is practice and preparation for life - as a way to work through challenges to find the bliss that is waiting for all of us daily. They wholeheartedly believe that “permanent change comes from love” and makes it their life’s work to help others feel this love and acceptance within their most authentic selves.

Sarah teaches a weekly Yoga Basics + Restorative yoga class at Chi-Town Shakti. They have also taught Introduction to Yoga and various other classes during their tenure there. They have been teaching yoga consistently since 2014. Off the mat, Sarah is a school social worker working with elementary-aged children & families in the northern suburbs.  Sarah relaxes by reading, writing, and attending as many live music concerts as they can!!

CERTIFICATIONS:

• 200-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Hatha Yoga Teacher Training  2013

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Vinyasa Flow Training 2014

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Intermediate Level 3 - Rise True: Shoulders + Upper Body Teacher Training 2014

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Intermediate Level 2 - Deep Roots: Hips + Lower Body  Teacher Training  2015

• 85-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Prenatal Teacher Training (Certificate Pending, Training completed)  2015

• 30 hour Kidding Around Yoga (KAY) Kids Yoga Training 2018

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Adjustments & Teaching Skills Training (Certificate Pending, Training Completed) 2020

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Yoga for Wellness Teacher Training 2021

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Meditation Teacher Training Level 1 2015

• 30-Hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Meditation Teacher Training Level 2 2020

Sithara Vincent (They/Them)

RYT-500, Teacher Trainer, LCSW, Certified ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation Instructor

Sithara aims to teach from the heart--bringing an authentic sense of groundedness to each class. After diving deeper into their journey with movement in 2015, Sithara began to reconnect with a daily yoga practice. At this time, they completed a capstone project researching the effects of movement on human empathy. Through this process, Sithara found forms of movement incorporated into mental health therapies. Sithara then happened upon Chi-Town Shakti in 2018 and immediately felt a connection with the people, the studio, and the school of ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️.

Upon completing their 200hr certification at CTS in 2019, Sithara began to incorporate breathing techniques and movement into their daily practice of social work. Their main goal has been to continue making holistic forms of care more easily accessible to those in need. Sithara’s teaching focuses on pranayama (breathing techniques) to utilize the energy we all have to continue to heal and build a connection with ourselves and the world around us through Yoga. Sithara is thankful for the opportunity to continue this Yoga journey through practicing, teaching, and growing with their students. They hope to continue bringing this sense of gratitude to every class, and hope to continue to grow and learn along with their students. Sithara also completed ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️’s 30-hour Meditation Teacher Training in 2020.

CERTIFICATIONS:

• 200-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® | Hatha Yoga Teacher Training | 2019

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® | Rise: Shoulders & Upper Body | 2020 

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® | Shakti: Vinyasa Flow | 2020

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® | Roots: Hips & Lower Body | 2022

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® | Wisdom: Yoga for Well-Being | 2022 

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® | Resilience | 2022

• Antioch University | Certificate in Somatic Psychotherapy and Practices | 2022

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation Teacher Training | 2020

• 30-Hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation Teacher Training Level 2 | 2020

Elena Tinaglia (She/Her)

E-RYT 200, Teacher Trainer, JD, Certified ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Meditation Instructor

Elena was first intrigued by yoga years ago when her dance instructor weaved yoga poses into post-dance stretches. She had always loved physical fitness and was drawn to the way yoga helped center her effervescent energy. Elena completed her 200-hour certification through Chi-Town Shakti in 2010. Elena holds several group fitness certifications and has experience teaching Barre, Cardio Kickboxing, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), Bootcamp and all levels of Yoga throughout the city.

She loves the challenge of back bends, arm balances and inversions and finds her group fitness training enhances her skills as both an upper level yoga instructor and a Gentle and Basics instructor. 

Elena believes that being a great teacher means being a great student. Her curiosity and excitement of leading and teaching others shines through when leading trainings. Elena works to provide a space for trainees to depend their practice and experience of yoga as well as find their own unique voice and viewpoint in the teaching world.  

Elena is also a lawyer and works full time for a consulting company. She speaks from the experiences of once working full time as a fitness instructor and now working within the corporate world. One can be a devoted practitioner of yoga and meditation no matter their arena in life. Its all just fuel for growth!

CERTIFICATIONS:

• 200-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Hatha Yoga Teacher Training (2010)

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Intermediate Level 2 Teacher Training (2015)

• 60-Hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Intermediate Level 3 Teacher Training (2018)

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Vinyasa Flow Training (2013)

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation Teacher Training (2015)

• Barre Instructor Certification (2011)

• Cardio Kickboxing Instructor Certification (2015)

• HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) Instructor Certification (2015)

• Bootcamp Instructor Certification (2015)

Kisa Kowal (She/Her)

RYT 200, Teacher Trainer, Certified ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Meditation Instructor

Kisa discovered the magic of Yoga in 2006 when, during her first class, she experienced the deep connection between body, spirit, and breath and also managed to touch her toes without pain for the first time since childhood. An enthusiast of movement in all of its forms, she has enjoyed practicing many types including several styles of dance, Tae Kwon Do, hiking, swimming, and theatrical movement. In yoga, she found a unique combination of laughter and meditative movement that has been transformative and deeply nourishing.

 Kisa began taking classes at Chi-Town Shakti in 2008 and received her 200 hour teaching certification there in 2012. She has completed numerous trainings in both asana practice and meditation since that time and continues to work toward 500 hour certification.

Kisa is deeply grateful for the growth practicing ShambhavAnanda Yoga® has brought her both on and off the mat. As a teacher, she encourages each student to have their own journey, meet their body where it is at in this moment, explore the magic of the breath, and strengthen their connection to the love, laughter, and silence within. Kisa is passionate about exploring the use of props with students during yoga to experience asana in more accessible, more challenging or in new and different ways! Yoga truly can be for everyone.  

CERTIFICATIONS:

• 200-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Hatha Yoga Teacher Training (2011)

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Meditation Teacher Training (2012 and 2015)

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Meditation Teacher Training Level 2 (2021)

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Adjustments & Teaching Skills Training (2013)

• 30-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Vinyasa Flow Training (2013)

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Level 2 Deep Roots: Hips + Lower Body Teacher Training (2015)

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Level 3 Rise True: Shoulders + Upper Body Teacher Training - in process

• 85-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Prenatal Teacher Training - in process

• 60-hour ShambhavAnanda Yoga®️ Yoga for Wellness (2017)

Tania Schusler (She/Her)

Tania finds that yoga's integration of breath, movement, and meditation has led her to feel more centered, calm, adaptable, and present in all facets of life. She enjoys sharing yoga with others and encourages each student's personal experience. Originally from northern Illinois, Tania began practicing yoga while a graduate student in upstate New York and next lived in New Hampshire. Each time she moved, she sought a studio that felt welcoming and so was thrilled to discover Chi-Town Shakti when she settled in Chicago in 2012. She especially appreciates the supportive community at Chi-Town Shakti as she continues to learn and grow in her own yoga and meditation practice.

Tania completed the ShambhavAnanda Yoga® 200-hour training at Chi-Town Shakti in 2016 and Level 2 training in 2018. She has been a Certified ShambhavAnandaYoga® Meditation Instructor since 2022. Off the mat, Tania teaches environmental studies at Loyola University Chicago and enjoys reading, cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing, and spending time with family and friends.