Santosha means contentment. Santosha is the second niyama, one of yoga's guides for how we relate to ourselves. It asks us to meet this moment, this body, this breath, exactly as it is right now.

Yin gives us a direct way to practice Santosha. We hold a floor-based shape for several minutes, and in that stillness, the mind stops negotiating with the shape and settles into it instead. The hips settle. The breath finds its own rhythm. What's left is the sensation the shape has created, the connection to the breath, an attention to your own experience, your own need, your own intention — in that moment.

That capacity travels. The same steadiness that holds you inside a long shape builds resilience and compassion. It's the steadiness that meets a hard conversation, an unexpected shift in plans, or the rhythm of an ordinary day — its challenges, its routine, its joy — with more room and less resistance. Santosha, practiced on the mat, becomes a way of meeting a life.

In this workshop, we'll spend time in this quiet practice and with this question — building the capacity to stay, to soften, and to meet what's here, on the mat and beyond it.

Open to all, no experience or prior workshop required.

Tiered Pricing Available!

*Pre-Registration Required.

Sign UP!

Join us for a September Sound Magic Immersion - a vibratory purification for the Soul. 

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, September 12th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$39 if registered by August 29th

$45 if registered after August 29th

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

Sign UP!

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to start of event. Please arrive early to get settled. No late entries. 

The premise of Yin yoga is simple, if a little counterintuitive: we use time, not effort, to create change in the body. We stay in a shape longer — finding enough ease there to sustain the hold, rather than forcing the tissue into what we think it should look like. It's not about finding an aesthetic pose, but settling in, listening, and meeting the body where it actually is, with variations and props as needed.

Passive loading, held over minutes, rehydrates connective tissue, supporting mobility and flexibility. The same stillness is doing something else: reharmonizing the body's energetic balance, letting stuck or excessive energy in a channel settle back into flow.

That stillness is where Ahiṃsā lives — practiced directly, pose by pose. Ahiṃsā means non-harming, and it's the first of yoga's five Yama, the relational guides for how we meet ourselves and others. The other four — truthfulness, non-stealing, right use of energy, non-grasping — only hold if they're practiced without harm.

Ahiṃsā isn't one guide among five. It's the ground they stand on.

In this workshop, we'll slow down and spend real time with the postures and this idea — each hold a place to explore what non-harming actually asks of us. Ahiṃsā as the foundation, the other Yamas as what becomes possible once that ground is there.

Tiered Pricing:

Community Rate (Discounted): $35

Sustainer Rate (Standard): $40

Supporter Rate (Helps Support Another): $45

Sign UP!

**Pre-Registration Required. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to start of event.

Join us for a Spring Sound Magic Immersion - a vibratory purification for the Soul. 

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, May 9th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

EARLY BIRD Discount through April 11th

Sign Up!

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to start of event. Please arrive early to get settled. No late entries. 

Back by popular demand! 

Cozy up in your comfiest pair of pajamas for 2 luxurious hours of restorative yoga in the soft glow of candlelight. Your softest blankets, favorite pillows and stuffies are also welcome. Kirstin will gently guide you through a series of restorative yoga asana - shapes held for 5 minutes or more, while luxuriously supported by props such as bolsters, blocks, blankets etc. Surrender, release, and renew. Enjoy an extended savasana before floating home and melting right into bed!

Tiered Pricing Available - Sign up!

**Pre-registration required. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event's start. Please arrive early to settle in. No late entries. 

Celebrate friendship, partnership, connection with others or Self this Valentine's Day. Treat a partner, friend and YOU to a luxurious and magical immersion. 

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Friday, February 13th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by January 16th

$45 if registered after January 16th

Sign UP!

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to start of event. Please arrive early to get settled. No late entries. 

3 consecutive Saturdays: February 7th, 14th and 21st

2 pm to 330 pm

Starting a yoga practice may feel intimidating with the strange names of the postures, coordinating breath and movement, and feeling like others know more than you...but here at Chi-Town Shakti, we welcome newbies (and those who wish to refine their practice) to the practice with our In-Person, In-Studio Introduction to Yoga Series!

Join us for 3 consecutive weeks to learn how yoga is about MUCH more than just stretching! In this workshop-style class, we will explain the physical postures to help you understand your own alignment, work with understanding and experiencing how the breath moves in the body, and begin to touch on some simple meditation techniques to help calm the thought waves of the mind. 

As students, you are encouraged to ask questions, take notes and/or experiment with different variations of a posture to help support and nourish your practice! We believe yoga is for everyone. Each person's expression and experience of each yoga posture is unique and we celebrate this diversity. Yoga is truly about connecting within, embodying breath and movement and feeling into one's own unique expression through practice. 

Beginners are welcome to join as well as those looking for a refresher or a workshop-style class where alignment and basic yogic concepts are discussed in more detail. We hope you will leave this class feeling confident and ready to attend a group yoga class while also beginning to explore and experience how yoga uniquely supports YOU. 

$80 for the series

• Price includes the 3 weekly sessions as well as optional access to any of Chi-Town Shakti's  in-person Yoga Basics classes between weeks 1 and 3 of this series.  Yoga Basics classes are scheduled on Sundays from 9 to 10 am, Thursdays from 630 to 730 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 12 pm

• Pre-Registration Required for Intro Series

• Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event's start

• Limited to 8 participants

• Doors open 15 min before class

• Please arrive early enough to set up and get settled before class begins

• We recommend bringing your own water/water bottle and wearing clothes in which you can move! We provide yoga mats and yoga props though you are also welcome to bring your own. 

Sign Up!

YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Fran Lonergan (She/Her) began her yoga journey right here at Chi-Town Shakti back in 2011 and they haven’t been able to get rid of her yet! :) She completed her 200-Hour teacher training in 2012 and later completed her Level 2 (2015), Level 3 (2018) and Pre-natal (2015) teacher trainings. She has been teaching at Chi-Town Shakti since 2015. Fran firmly believes that yoga is for everyone, that it is a great asset for your physical and mental health, and that you should have fun while you’re doing it.  Fran has always loved puzzles and finds the way our bodies move can be just like a puzzle -- she loves helping her students find out how best to move within their own bodies to strengthen their mind/body connection.

A Deeply intentional way to practice on New Year's Day....

The vibration of Medicine Buddha Mantra is powerfully soothing and healing, both physically and psychically. In this Medicine Buddha Mantra “Soak”, you will be gently guided through a series of restorative yoga asana (poses held for 5 minutes or more while luxuriously supported by props such as bolsters, blocks, blankets etc). You may choose to lie silently, soaking in the vibration of live Medicine Buddha Mantra chanting with harmonium. Or you may choose to chant the Mantra along with the group, exploring your relationship with the rich, potent sound and how it vibrates your soul...

You may choose to dedicate the mantra to those you love or hold the vision of the entire world in your Heart as the rich medicine of matrika shakti (energy of spiritual sound vibration) travels far beyond the walls....

Surrender. Soak. Renew. 

Tiered pricing available:

Community Rate (discounted): $35

Sustainer Rate (covers your costs): $40

Supporter Rate (pay it forward - covers your costs and helps support another): $45

Sign UP!

*Pre-registration required. Space is Limited - sign up soon!

*Non-Refundable 48 hours prior to event's start

**All props and mats provided, though you are welcome to bring your own.

*Please arrive early. No late entries. 

**Medicine Buddha Mantra Woodblock photo by Faith Stone.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FaithStoneArt?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=703999672

(online or in-person)

Join Sithara for a 75 min slow flow yoga class centered in Self compassion. Meet yourSelf with openness and grounding to start the upcoming New Year! Choose to join online or in-person. 

Sign Up Here!

*Pre-registration required.

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, December 6th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by November 15th

$45 if registered after November 15th

Sign UP!

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to start of event. Please arrive early to get settled. No late entries. 

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, December 6th from 4:30 to 6 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by November 28th

$45 if registered after November 15th

Sign UP!

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to start of event. Please arrive early to get settled. No late entries. 

Cozy up in your comfiest pair of pajamas for 2 luxurious hours of restorative yoga in the soft glow of candlelight. Your softest blankets, favorite pillows and stuffies are also welcome. Kirstin will gently guide you through a series of restorative yoga asana - shapes held for 5 minutes or more, while luxuriously supported by props such as bolsters, blocks, blankets etc. Surrender, release, and renew. Enjoy an extended savasana before floating home and melting right into bed!

Tiered Pricing Available: 

• Community Rate (Discounted): $30

• Sustainer Rate (Standard): $35

• Supporter Rate (Covers your costs and helps support another): $40

Sign up Here!

**Pre-registration required. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event's start. Please arrive early to settle in. No late entries. 

Join us (online or in-person) for our annual Halloween-Asana Candlelight Yoga + Meditation class on Sunday, October 26th! Class will be Halloween-themed and costumes are absolutely welcome (though not required). In past years, we have seen a skeleton, a Cheshire Cat, a ballerina, a Panda, and Wonder Woman in attendance! Be prepared to howl like a wolf, cackle like a witch and roar like a zombie in this fun-filled class!

Format: Spend an evening in the soft glow of candlelight using your flow of breath and asana to open your body and mind. After a 60 minute slow flow Halloween-Asana (Physical) practice the teacher will lead a 30 minute guided meditation utilizing ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation tools.

Sign up Here!

Pre-Registration Required. Non-Refundable after event’s start. Doors close at 7 pm. No late entries. 

Prepare for the Full Moon of September 7th by basking in the vibrational and transformational energy of sound. 

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, September 6th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by August 16th

$45 if registered after August 16th

Sign UP!

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to start of event. 

3 consecutive Saturdays: September 6th, 13th and 20th

2 pm to 330 pm

Starting a yoga practice may feel intimidating with the strange names of the postures, coordinating breath and movement, and feeling like others know more than you...but here at Chi-Town Shakti, we welcome newbies (and those who wish to refine their practice) to the practice with our In-Person, In-Studio Introduction to Yoga Series!

Join us for 3 consecutive weeks to learn how yoga is about MUCH more than just stretching! In this workshop-style class, we will explain the physical postures to help you understand your own alignment, work with understanding and experiencing how the breath moves in the body, and begin to touch on some simple meditation techniques to help calm the thought waves of the mind. 

As students, you are encouraged to ask questions, take notes and/or experiment with different variations of a posture to help support and nourish your practice! We believe yoga is for everyone. Each person's expression and experience of each yoga posture is unique and we celebrate this diversity. Yoga is truly about connecting within, embodying breath and movement and feeling into one's own unique expression through practice. 

Beginners are welcome to join as well as those looking for a refresher or a workshop-style class where alignment and basic yogic concepts are discussed in more detail. We hope you will leave this class feeling confident and ready to attend a group yoga class while also beginning to explore and experience how yoga uniquely supports YOU. 

$75 for the series

• Price includes the 3 weekly sessions as well as optional access to any of Chi-Town Shakti's  in-person Yoga Basics classes between weeks 1 and 3 of this series.  Yoga Basics classes are scheduled on Sundays from 9 to 10 am, Thursdays from 615 to 715 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 12 pm

• Pre-Registration Required for Intro Series

• Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event's start

• Limited to 8 participants

• Doors open 15 min before class

• Please arrive early enough to set up and get settled before class begins

• We recommend bringing your own water/water bottle and wearing clothes in which you can move! We provide yoga mats and yoga props though you are also welcome to bring your own. 

Sign Up!

**Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to first session’s start.

A Magical Spring 2025 Sound Immersion experience. Spring is a time of Rebirth! Relax. Restore. Renew!

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, May 10th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by April 19th

$45 if registered after April 19th

Sign UP!

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event start.

“Chanting opens the heart and makes love flow within us.” - Swami Muktananda

Kirtan is the uplifting practice of call and response style chanting. Sacred mantras are sang continuously over beautiful melodies moving toward a deep state of peace. Singing together connects us to our inner divinity while creating a sense of community. Join Kalika Fortin for a special Spring Kirtan Celebration as she offers heart-opening chants to welcome the blossoming of Spring within! We will close with a short meditation practice. 

Beginners welcome! Words and guidance will be provided.

BIO:

In 2005, Kalika Fortin (She/Her) moved from the conservative mid-west into an ashram in Colorado. She was immersed in a new and beautiful world of meditation, service and devotional chanting. Captivated by the sweet, calming energy of the morning chants, as well as the lively evening kirtans, it became clear that bhakti yoga was her path. She has enjoyed several years in Shoshoni Yoga Retreat's resident band, Shiva's Garden.

Kalika has shared music at several yoga festivals including Hanuman Festival, Denver Chant Fest and Bhavapalooza; and has shared the stage with kirtan artists Dave Stringer, C.C. White, Girish, David Newman and Govindas & Radha. Her music has been featured on New World Kirtan and Wild Women Rising.

Her albums, Flowers for Kali and Breathe, honor traditions lost and found through offerings of uplifting chants and intimate songs. Here are a few links to Kalika's music and an introduction to her angelic voice: 

Om Namah Shivaya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzRiIkMUdI0&list=PLnbmkD91idLoGgd6aS2qrW5bldHcGnoy6&index=14

Jai Sita Ram

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSS0sPE_fzM

Pricing: 

Suggested Donation: $20 (alternative pricing options available)

Sign UP!

**Pre-registation required. 

A Magical February 2025 Sound Immersion experience. Bring a date - a partner, dear friend, loved one AND treat yourSELF!

Allow yourself and those who join you to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, February 15th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by February 1st

$44 if registered after February 1st

Sign UP!

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event start.

3 Consecutive Saturdays - February 8th, 15th and 22nd from 2 to 3:30 pm

Starting a yoga practice may feel intimidating with the strange names of poses, coordinating breath and movement, and feeling like others know more than you...but here at Chi-Town Shakti, we welcome newbies (and those who wish to refine their practice) to the practice with our In-Person, In-Studio Introduction to Yoga Series!

Join us for 3 consecutive weeks to learn how yoga is about MUCH more than just stretching! In this workshop-style class, we will explain the physical postures to help you understand your own alignment, work with understanding and experiencing how the breath moves in the body, and begin to touch on some simple meditation techniques to help calm the thought waves of the mind. 

As students, you are encouraged to ask questions, take notes and/or experiment with different variations of a posture to help support and nourish your practice! We believe yoga is for everyone. Each person's expression and experience of each yoga posture is unique and we celebrate this diversity. Yoga is truly about connecting within, embodying breath and movement and feeling into one's own unique expression through practice. 

Beginners are welcome to join as well as those looking for a refresher or a workshop-style class where alignment and basic yogic concepts are discussed in more detail. We hope you will leave this class feeling confident and ready to attend a group yoga class while also beginning to explore and experience how yoga uniquely supports YOU. 

$75 for the series

Sign up!

• Price includes the 3 weekly sessions as well as optional access to any of Chi-Town Shakti's  in-person Yoga Basics classes between weeks 1 and 3 of this series.  Yoga Basics classes are scheduled on Sundays from 9 to 10 am, Thursdays from 615 to 715 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 12 pm

• Pre-Registration Required for Intro Series

• Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event’s start

• Limited to 8 participants

• Doors open 15 min before class

• Please arrive early enough to set up and get settled before class begins

• We recommend bringing your own water/water bottle and wearing clothes in which you can move! We provide yoga mats and yoga props though you are also welcome to bring your own. 

YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Fran Lonergan (She/Her) began her yoga journey right here at Chi-Town Shakti back in 2011 and they haven’t been able to get rid of her yet! :) She completed her 200-Hour teacher training in 2012 and later completed her Level 2 (2015), Level 3 (2018) and Pre-natal (2015) teacher trainings. She has been teaching at Chi-Town Shakti since 2015. Fran firmly believes that yoga is for everyone, that it is a great asset for your physical and mental health, and that you should have fun while you’re doing it.  Fran has always loved puzzles and finds the way our bodies move can be just like a puzzle -- she loves helping her students find out how best to move within their own bodies to strengthen their mind/body connection.

Join us for a focused workshop on goal setting, affirmation practices, and intention board creation. This session is designed to help you connect your goals to your values and map out actionable objectives. Through a combination of meditative reflection, guided exercises, and breaking down values-based affirmations into goals, you'll develop a clear visual representation of your desires for your new year. This is a practical, intentional space to set the tone for the year ahead with clarity and purpose.

$30 (supplies included - cork board and vision board supplies)

Sign Up!

*pre-registration required. non-refundable 24 hours or less prior to event's start

Bio: 

Sithara Vincent (They/Them), LCSW, RYT-500

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. 

A Deeply intentional way to practice on New Year's Day....

The vibration of Medicine Buddha Mantra is powerfully soothing and healing, both physically and psychically. In this Medicine Buddha Mantra “Soak”, you will be gently guided through a series of restorative yoga asana (poses held for 3 to 5 minutes or more while luxuriously supported by props such as bolsters, blocks, blankets etc). You may choose to lie silently, soaking in the vibration of live Medicine Buddha Mantra chanting with harmonium. Or you may choose to chant the Mantra along with the group, exploring your relationship with the rich, potent sound and how it vibrates your soul...

You may choose to dedicate the mantra to those you love or hold the vision of the entire world in your Heart as the rich medicine of matrika shakti (energy of spiritual sound vibration) travels far beyond the walls....

Surrender. Soak. Renew. 

Tiered pricing available:

Community Rate (discounted): $35

Sustainer Rate (covers your costs): $40

Supporter Rate (pay it forward - covers your costs and helps support another): $45

Sign Up!

*Pre-registration required. Space is Limited - sign up soon!

**All props and mats provided, though you are welcome to bring your own.

**Medicine Buddha Mantra Woodblock photo by Faith Stone 

A Cozy Autumn 2024 Sound Bath!

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, November 2nd from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by October 19th

$44 if registered after October 19th

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

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***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event start.

Join us (online or in-person) for our annual Halloween-Asana Candlelight Yoga + Meditation class on Sunday, October 27th! Class will be Halloween-themed and costumes are absolutely welcome (though not required). In past years, we have seen a skeleton, a Cheshire Cat, a ballerina, a Panda, and Wonder Woman in attendance!

Spend an evening in the soft glow of candlelight using your flow of breath and asana to open your body and mind. After a 60 minute slow flow Asana (Physical) practice the teacher will lead a 30 minute guided meditation utilizing ShambhavAnanda Yoga® Meditation tools.

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Pre-Registration Required. Non-Refundable after Event’s start. Doors close at 7 pm. No late entries. 

A Soothing September 2024 Sound Immersion experience. 

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, September 14th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by August 31st

$44 if registered after August 31st

Sign Up!

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event start.

The New Moon begins the waxing phase of the moon cycle, as light and energy build toward the Full Moon's fruition. We can begin anew, through purification and surrender, welcoming each New Moon cycle with wonder and possibility. We set intentions, visualize and open to our potential. 

Join Aasha and Nicole for a 2-hour New Moon Yoga + Acupuncture afternoon. Open, surrender and begin anew through a New Moon themed slow flow yoga experience (led by Aasha) with an extended 45 minute savasana with accupuncture (with care and compassion by Nicole). Choose to enjoy your savasana with support of yoga props of your choice - bolsters, blankets and cushions - while Nicole administers acupuncture to support opening the flow of energy (or Qi) within for a more peaceful and blissful relaxation. Visualize your wish, desire or intention for this New Moon as you deeply breathe and deeply release held tensions. 

Tiered Pricing: 

Community Rate (Discounted): $40

Sustainer Rate (Standard): $48

Supporter Rate (Supports Community Programming): $55

Pre-registrations Required. Capped at 12 Participants. 

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BIO for Nicole Rousonelos, Guest Acupuncturist

Nicole Rousonelos draws from a diverse background in both the service industry and the performance arts. She brings a unique blend of creativity, empathy, and attention to detail to her practice as an acupuncturist. Her journey into the world of healing arts began as a quest to integrate her passion for helping others with her love for artistic expression. She holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science Chicago, where she merged her passion for healing with artistic sensibilities. Additionally, she is licensed by the NCCAOM and continually seeks to deepen her knowledge through ongoing education and training. She is currently practicing out of Golden Hour Acupuncture in Edgewater.

***Non-Refundable after 24 hours prior to day of event. 

3 consecutive Saturdays: August 10th, 17th and 24th

Starting a yoga practice may feel intimidating with the strange names of poses, coordinating breath and movement, and feeling like others know more than you...but here at Chi-Town Shakti, we welcome newbies to the practice with our In-Person, In-Studio Introduction to Yoga Series!

Join us for 3 consecutive weeks to learn how yoga is about MUCH more than just stretching!

In this workshop-style class, we will explain the physical postures to help you understand your own alignment, work with understanding and experiencing how the breath moves in the body, and begin to touch on some simple meditation techniques to help calm the thought waves of the mind. 

As students, you are encouraged to ask questions, take notes and/or experiment with different variations of a posture to help support and nourish your practice! We believe yoga is for everyone. Each person's expression and experience of each yoga posture is unique and we celebrate this diversity. Yoga is truly about connecting within, embodying breath and movement and feeling into one's own unique expression through practice. 

Beginners are welcome to join as well as those looking for a refresher or a workshop-style class where alignment and basic yogic concepts are discussed in more detail. We hope you will leave this class feeling confident and ready to attend a group yoga class while also beginning to explore and experience how yoga uniquely supports YOU. 

$75 for series

• Price includes the 3 weekly sessions as well as optional attendance for any of Chi-Town Shakti's  in-person Yoga Basics classes between week 1 and 3 of this series.  Yoga Basics classes are scheduled on Sundays from 9 to 10 am, Thursdays from 630 to 730 pm and Saturdays from 1030 to 1130 am

• Pre-Registration Required. 

• Limited to 8 participants

• Doors open 15 min before class

• Please arrive early enough to set up and get settled before class begins

• We recommend bringing your own water/water bottle and wearing clothes in which you can move! We provide yoga mats and yoga props though you are also welcome to bring your own. 

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**Pre-Registration Required. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to start of event. 

YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Fran Lonergan (She/Her)began her yoga journey right here at Chi-Town Shakti back in 2011 and they haven’t been able to get rid of her yet! :) She completed her 200-Hour teacher training in 2012 and later completed her Level 2 (2015), Level 3 (2018) and Pre-natal (2015) teacher trainings. She has been teaching at Chi-Town Shakti since 2015. Fran firmly believes that yoga is for everyone, that it is a great asset for your physical and mental health, and that you should have fun while you’re doing it.  Fran has always loved puzzles and finds the way our bodies move can be just like a puzzle -- she loves helping her students find out how best to move within their own bodies to strengthen their mind/body connection.

A Heart-Warming Summer 2024 Sound Immersion experience. 

Allow yourself to decompress and experience a unique inward journey for your body, mind and spirit. Physical sound vibrations entrain the brain to move from beta to alpha-theta waves, bringing about a deep, meditative state. Jitka and John will weave a tapestry of magical sounds using gongs, crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes and other instruments. 

Join us on Saturday, July 27th from 7 to 830 pm at Chi-Town Shakti Yoga + Meditation for a deeply relaxing 90-min Sound Magic Immersion with John and Jitka Yost. Bolsters, blankets, and cushions will be provided for your comfort. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own cozy comforts with you (pjs, soft blankets, eye masks, etc!). This Event is in-person in studio. Space is limited, so sign up soon! 

$38 if registered by July 6th

$44 if registered after July 6th

BIO:

Sound Magic is composed of John and Jitka Yost. John has been using music to connect people to themselves and their communities worldwide for over 30 years. John is a degreed percussionist, a Village Music Global Trainer and a Remo endorsee. John has studied and performed with many gong, djembe and taiko masters.

Jitka has been a massage therapist for over two decades. She blends bodywork, energy work and sound immersion techniques to facilitate deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

Sign Up!

***Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Non-refundable after 24 hours prior to event start.

Have you ever found yourself waking frequently between 1 and 3 am during a period of heightened stress in your life? Or have you noticed that illness quickly follows a long period of grief or worry? Perhaps you've experienced a string of seemingly endless emotions during meditation, like you’re flipping through TV channels, from happy to sad, worry to shame, peacefulness to anger?

In this 90 min minute workshop, we will explore:

·      What is the role of emotions in the human experience?

·      How are emotions and disease interrelated according to Chinese Medicine?

·      What acupressure points help with strong emotions?

·      How can we build the inner capacity to be with a wider range of emotions?

You will leave with a foundational understanding of the link between our emotions and physical bodies from a Chinese medical perspective. There will be a hands-on exploration of acupressure points to use with different emotions. We will finish with a guided meditation to increase our capacity to be with a wider range of emotions and arrive fully in our lives. 

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BIO:

Amisha Robin Banyasz (She/Her)

Amisha’s deep wish to heal physically and grow spiritually led her first to Chinese Medicine and then to Shambhavananda Yoga®️. After finding physical healing with an acupuncturist, Amisha began a decade of personal meditation practice and training in yoga and meditation, followed by five years of formal training in Chinese Medicine. Along the way, she discovered that the traditions of yoga and Chinese medical theory go hand in hand. With her patients, Amisha finds the greatest healing happens when body and spirit are treated together. She is committed to providing space for patients to realign imbalances in the body while offering mindfulness practices and lifestyle changes to help them live life to their fullest potential in presence and love. 

Amisha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2001) and a Master’s Degree in Education (2002), both from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training from the Shambhavananda School of Yoga (2017) as well as the 30-hour Meditation Teacher Training (2020). More recently, Amisha finished a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture with a Specialization in Chinese Herbal Medicine (2022) from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine in Austin, Texas. 

**Pre-Registration Required. Nonrefundable after 24 hours prior to event's start