Kathryn Katsaros Lesher
(Pilates, Yoga)
Chicago is my home. I was born and raised in Old Irving Park, and moved back to my childhood neighborhood in 2018.
I began practicing yoga and Pilates 20 years ago as a young dancer, in an effort to heal chronic back pain and have returned to these practices time and again to relieve pain, rebalance my body, and refocus my mind.
My connection to my Pilates and yoga practices further deepened after the birth of my two boys. The mental and physical strength gained through these practices were vital in preparation for birth and were invaluable in my recovery. I am passionate about working with moms-to-be as they prepare for their own births as well as new moms trying to navigate the sometimes challenging postpartum period.
As an Occupational Therapist with over a decade of acute care experience I also see the tremendous value these disciplines have for improved health, wellness and injury prevention. I look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your own fitness and wellness goals!
Background:
Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, 2021
Occupational Therapist: University of Chicago Medicine, 2011-2022
M.S. in Occupational Therapy: University of Illinois at Chicago, 2011
B.S. in Movement and Rehabilitation Studies: Indiana University, Bloomington 2008
STOTT Pilates Comprehensive Certification: 2009
Yoga Certification: OM Yoga Center: 2006
Joni Wall
(Yoga)
Joni first learned of yoga at a very young age when she and her Dad would practice Simhasana, or Lion’s Pose, each weekend before Saturday morning cartoons. This ritual was fun and uplifting, but Joni also recognized early on the healing effects yoga can have. It would be a couple more decades before she rekindled her love, appreciation, and curiosity for yoga and began her own journey through and to herself. She has since found yoga to be an extraordinarily transformative force in her own life and is in pursuit of happiness through sharing movement and meditation with others.
After her home practice became more consistent, Joni began to feel the positive effects of yoga rippling through all parts of her life, eventually leading her to Bloom Yoga Studio where she completed her 200-Hour Teacher Certification in April of 2023. Joni’s respect of the philosophy, function, and form of yoga runs deep, and she hopes to share this by encouraging her students to freely explore, to learn, and to truly grow in their own practice.
Joni’s classes are accessible to all levels and aim to harness the inner light we all carry, connecting body and breath with movement to encourage a deeper, stronger, more loving bond with our divine selves and the world around us. With a light-hearted approach, Joni holds safe space in a no judgment, all-inclusive environment, and believes that health is wealth and yoga is for everyBODY.
Rachel Parker
(Yoga)
Since 2004, Rachel has taught group and private yoga classes to more than 20,000 students. She is a teacher who believes no matter a person’s limitations or abilities that movement is the medicine. A Michigan girl by birth, Rachel enjoys people and meeting them where they are along their path. Her classes are infused with challenge, humor, and playlists that sometimes include a small bit of jazz.
For Rachel, her yoga mat is a magic carpet. On it, she gets to be youthfully curious about all the shapes she can make with her body and grow equanimity around the things she can and cannot do. It is her sincere aim to inspire her students to take a similar interior journey when coming to class.
Rachel’s training includes 200 hours in Hatha Vinyasa, 100 hours in Breath-Centered Yoga, and 500 hours studying with Dharma Mittra (Restorative, Levels I through IV) - all certifications earned in New York City. In Los Angeles, Rachel studied for four years under Anna Delury, a senior Iyengar teacher who’s been studying directly with the Iyengar family in Pune, India since 1982.
Bailey Rapavi
(Yoga)
My love of yoga and meditation started in my late teens as a way to combat the anxiety and depression I was experiencing. Not only did it help me move through those dense thoughts and emotions, but I found the tools to really get to the root cause of my suffering and rise to new heights.
I continued to practice, and through hard work and dedication, I witnessed myself transform into a peaceful, strong individual capable of experiencing true joy and appreciating this beautiful life. I wanted to share this gift with anyone who would listen. That’s when I decided to get certified, so I could teach these tools to others. I completed my 200hr YTT at Yogaview Chicago with a mission of spreading the knowledge of yoga & breath in hopes of helping others the same way it helped me. My favorite style to teach is a gentle vinyasa with breath work, perfect for beginners and those wanting to take things slow. In this busy, fast paced society we live in where we’re constantly “doing”, it’s crucial we find time to slow down, relax, and just be. More than anything, I love connecting with community and creating a space that allows others to connect more with themselves.