Prairie Yoga

Prairie Yoga The Midwest's premier yoga instructor institute providing teacher trainings and certifications. Slowing Down
We do not teach fast-paced yoga!

Prairie Yoga is the Midwest's premier yoga institute for yoga teacher training certification, continuing education workshops and studio classes. We have been called the “Yale of Yoga,” and the "Harvard of Yoga Teacher Training”— the destination for dedicated students of yoga. Our students come from as near as Naperville and other Chicago suburbs* and as far as Central Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan. What Draws Students to Prairie Yoga?
• Our highly respected 250 Hour Foundation and 300 Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Certification Programs, taught by our senior faculty, prepare yoga instructors and serious yoga students in the modern application of traditional yoga.
• Our workshops, taught by leading international yoga experts, provide in-depth yoga immersions as well as the latest in yoga research and techniques.
• Our studio classes, which allow you to experience the full range and authentic practice of yoga. We Are Known For:
• Producing the Midwest’s very best and most sought after yoga instructors, skilled in adapting the practice of yoga to all body types.
• Our passionate and skilled teaching staff are considered some of the most highly-trained and experienced faculty in the Chicago area.
• Offering multi-style yoga with a strong emphasis on aligning the body, breath and mind – Align Your Self®
• Teaching all 8 limbs of yoga, not just the physical postures (asana).
• Welcoming and supporting students of all abilities, whether novice or experienced.
• Our state-of-the-art yoga center, loaded with yoga props and wall rope system.
• Our small class sizes that allow for individualized attention. A Modern Practice Built on a Traditional Foundation
We are committed to helping students understand and practice yoga in its most authentic forms. We offer a contemporary approach deeply rooted in the ancient wisdom of traditional yoga. Our multi-style teaching integrates techniques from: alignment-based yoga (Iyengar), vinyasa flow (Astanga), restorative yoga, Ayurveda and yoga therapy. We use props as a teaching tool, and provide intelligent sequencing to safely guide you to deep levels of awareness. Students are often amazed at what they can safely experience in class and how good they feel afterwards. What to Expect from our Training, Workshops and Classes
• To learn from senior teachers who have been trained in well-respected methods of yoga, anatomy and yoga philosophy.
• To be challenged and guided to deep levels of awareness.
• To practice in a safe, supportive environment. • To be provided with clear and individualized instruction.
• To explore all 8 limbs of yoga • To discover the transformative power of a comprehensive yoga practice.
• And if you are studying to become a yoga teacher, to develop strong teaching skills, deep wisdom and be well equipt to share your knowledge with others. Yoga for Everyone
• We believe that yoga is for everyone– the young and the old, the stiff and the flexible, the novice and the experienced. We engage you at an appropriate level, whether it is making pose yoga more accessible or taking the pose your practice to the next level. Our highly skilled faculty adapts the yoga practice to your individual needs, whether you are:
• A dedicated yoga student looking to become a certified yoga teacher.
• An experienced yoga practitioner seeking to take your practice to the next level.
• A yoga instructor looking to expand your teaching skills.
• A beginning student looking to improve your overall health.
• An athlete who wants to improve your game.
• A new student dealing with a chronic illness or injury. Align Your Self®
Our yoga instruction classes emphasizes moving with mindfulness. When you align your body, breath and mind, yoga has tremendous power to heal and transform. Moving fast only reinforces bad habits. If you want to transform yourself into a healthy, vibrant being, you need to slow down, pay attention, align your self® and establish new and healthy habits. By challenging your own body and moving with intelligence, you generate the inner heat that creates long-term change and optimal health. The 8 Limbs of Classical Yoga
Yama: social ethics to live in harmony with others
Niyama: personal ethics to live a balanced life
Asana: postures to build strength and flexibility so energy can flow freely
Pranayama: breath control to cleanse and strengthen the nervous system and increase your vital energy
Pratyahara: internalizing the senses to reduce external stimulation
Dharana: developing concentration and focus
Dhyana: sustaining one’s focus to enter into meditation
Samadhi: uniting with your Higher Self

Prairie Yoga
4701 Auvergne Avenue, Suite 203
Lisle , IL 60532
(630) 968-3216
prairieyoga@comcast.net

Yoga is good for your heart!A lower resting heart rate is positively associated with lower mortality. A meta analysis of...
01/23/2026

Yoga is good for your heart!

A lower resting heart rate is positively associated with lower mortality. A meta analysis of 191 studies shows that practicing Yoga helps lower your resting heart rate. All forms of exercise are beneficial but yoga and endurance training were most effective.

The study doesn't get into the details of why Yoga would be so beneficial but I believe the variety of movements/shapes we practice help keep our vascular system elastic and calming pranayamas, restorative yoga and savasana down regulate our nervous system.

My resting heart rate is on the low side - whether it's many years of practicing Yoga or genetic I can't say.

Are you a long time yoga practitioner? Do you have a lower resting heart rate?

Resting heart rate (RHR) is positively related with mortality. Regular exercise causes a reduction in RHR. The aim of the systematic review was to assess whether regular exercise or sports have an impact on the RHR in healthy subjects by taking different types of sports into account. A systematic li...

Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen are two brilliant yoga teachers we used to host at Prairie Yoga back when we had a physi...
01/20/2026

Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen are two brilliant yoga teachers we used to host at Prairie Yoga back when we had a physical studio. Their teaching is deeply rooted in yoga history and many decades of practice. They have co-written a book on Savasana and are seeking funds to help them self-publish it. If you are interested in supporting this much needed book, consider donating to their kickstarter. I did!

A How-To for the Final Pose Written by Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen

Diversity is a strength in your yoga practice. Vary your practice to emphasize different types of asanas, pranayamas, me...
01/20/2026

Diversity is a strength in your yoga practice. Vary your practice to emphasize different types of asanas, pranayamas, meditations and intentions on different days of the week. Your physical and mental health will benefit.

“Diversity makes the prairie resilient.”~ Paul Gruchow
01/20/2026

“Diversity makes the prairie resilient.”
~ Paul Gruchow

“The prairie teaches us that our strength is in our neighbors.” — Paul Gruchow
01/20/2026

“The prairie teaches us that our strength is in our neighbors.” — Paul Gruchow

01/09/2026

Stretching Toward Serenity 🐕 In this moment, Aloka looks exactly like a professional yoga instructor.
He reminds us that a good stretch might be the perfect way to start the day, keeping both the body and the mind flexible for the journey ahead. A special thank you to Mai Duong for capturing this wonderful moment!

May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 🙏

"Studies of regular yoga practitioners have found that they consume up to 15 per cent less energy at rest than non-pract...
01/03/2026

"Studies of regular yoga practitioners have found that they consume up to 15 per cent less energy at rest than non-practitioners and have lower resting heart rate and blood pressure and lower levels of circulating stress hormones."

"As to what exact mechanism is behind the effect, Crosswell and her colleagues speculate that one thing these interventions have in common is – by accident or design – that they tend to involve slow, deep breathing. Deep breathing, particularly at or around 6 breaths per minute, activates stretch-sensitive sensors in the chest, which activate parasympathetic activity in the vagus nerve (see “Breathing your way to deep rest“, below). The parasympathetic nervous system controls the so-called rest-and-digest response, which is the polar opposite of fight or flight. When parasympathetic activity is high, heart rate, blood pressure and other signs of arousal are low, and the body gets on with all the internal housekeeping that it has been keeping on hold.

With prayer and mindfulness and other deep rest practices, you’re moving your mind away from worrying about the future into this present moment.

The shift to parasympathetic dominance, combined with the meditative element of these practices, might be enough to persuade the brain that there is no longer any threat, and to stand down, says Crosswell. “With prayer and mindfulness and other deep rest practices, you’re moving your mind away from worrying about the future into this present moment,” she says. Assuming that the here and now feels safe, this adds a second positive signal for the brain to factor into its budgeting – what Crosswell calls a “present moment sufficiency mindset” or “that right now, I have all the energy I need”."

There is a state of relaxation that few of us spend much time in, but which comes with profound well-being benefits. With healthier ageing, reduced risk of disease and feeling more energised all on offer, here's how to get there

01/01/2026
Merry Christmas!
12/25/2025

Merry Christmas!

The practice of yoga connects us to our inherent wisdom, goodness and wholeness.
12/22/2025

The practice of yoga connects us to our inherent wisdom, goodness and wholeness.

Happy Winter Solstice!
12/21/2025

Happy Winter Solstice!

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Glen Ellyn, IL
60137

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