Kula Yoga & Wellness Teachers

Becky Petersen

Owner/ Yoga Instructor

If you could do one thing in the world what would it be?
Spend my days giving money and my time to things I believe in and support. Philanthropy sounds like an awesome “job”.

If you could meet anyone in the world who would it be and why?
I’d love to meet some of my favorite musicians – Shawn Colvin for sure!

What is your idea of a good time?
Netflix and Yorkies! Spending time with family and the rescue animals really recharges my batteries.

CERTIFICATIONS

E-RYT 500, Member of Yoga Alliance, continuing education through Baptiste Power Yoga, Children’s Yoga Certification (Karma Kids), Unnata® Aerial Yoga Level 2 Certification, Aircat Aerial Yoga Certification. 200hr completed with Baron Baptiste and 500hr completed with RajaHatha School of Yoga.

Amy Pearce-Hayden

Yoga Instructor & Director of Education & Teacher Training

If you could meet anyone in the world who would it be and why?
My parents at 20. Because at 20, a good part of who we are is right there; and I would love to see “them” at the surface and know the essence of them then.

What is your favorite quote?
I’ve decided to stick with love; hate’s too heavy a burden to bear.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

What is your idea of a good time?
A good time is laughter. Laughter that makes you totally let go. That and spending time in the Ocean.

CERTIFICATIONS

E-RYT 500, Founder: RajaHatha School of Yoga, 2004

Amy Unitan

Instructor

If you could do one thing in the world what would it be?
Transform peoples lives.

What is one secret ambition of yours?
Being a doctor.

What is your favorite style of yoga?
A style that I am not familiar with so I can continue to learn and experience something outside of my comfort zone. It’s good for my ego.

CERTIFICATIONS

200 hr. RYT Raja Hatha School of Yoga. Member of Yoga Alliance.

Erin O’Brien

Instructor

What is one secret ambition of yours?
Becoming a music supervisor/editor for film. I love when a perfect moment is accentuated by a perfect song.

If you could do one thing in the world what would it be?
Travel, and then travel some more. Followed by traveling.

What is your favorite quote?
A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. ~ Oscar Wilde

CERTIFICATIONS

Alignment Yoga 200hr and 500 hr programs, Unnata® Aerial Yoga, Prenatal yoga through yoga view Chicago and Adaptive Yoga Levels 1 & 2 through MindBody Solutions/Matthew Sanford.

Erin O’Connell

Yoga Instructor

What is your idea of a good time?
Spending all day outside: hiking, paddle boarding, swimming, and soaking up as much fresh air and sunshine as I can. Then ending the day with good music, good company, and good food!

If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
So many options! But currently Diana Beresford-Kroeger. She is a famous Irish Botanish that wrote To Speak For the Trees and I would love to pick her brain on the magic of forest ecosystems!

If you could do one thing in the world, what would it be?
Travel and explore as much of the world as possible.

CERTIFICATIONS

200 RYT Raja Hatha school of yoga

Heidi O’Toole (Dal Raj Kaur)

Yoga Instructor

If you could do one thing in the world what would it be?
If I could do one thing in the world, it would be to travel and see all of the world. Along the way, I would love to experience the cultures and engross myself within them. I would love to be able to spend time in each place and help in some way.

Tell us something no one else knows about you.
I was a singer for the USO and have sang in over 26 different countries.

CERTIFICATIONS

Level 1 – Kundalini Yoga Certified, 200 hours, 2014; Level 2 – Lifestyles and Life Cycles, Kundalini Yoga, 50 hours, 2015; Level 2 – Authentic Relationships, Kundalini Yoga, 50 hours, 2016; Level 1 – Yoga Tune Up, 70 hours, 2016; The Roll Model Method – Science of Rolling 8, hours, 2016; The Roll Model Method – Ball Sequencing and Innovation, 8 hours, 2016; Breathe and Bliss Immersion, 18 hours, 2017; Restorative Yoga Training, JennStar Yoga, 6 hours, 2020; Hip Immersion, 18 hours, 2020.
Currently working on 200 hr Vinyasa Teacher Training.

Holly Buchholz

Yoga Instructor

If you could meet anyone in the world who would it be and why?
Margret Mead captivated me in late teens and early 20’s. Anthropology still catches my attention.

What is your idea of a good time?
Mornings studying reflecting watching morning light with coffee.

What is one secret ambition of yours?
Live fearlessly and embody kindness.

CERTIFICATIONS

200 RYT Raja Hatha school of yoga; Yoga Anatomy: Principles with Leslie Kaminoff

Jennifer French

Yoga Instructor

If you could do one thing in the world what would it be?
I would travel to every continent and have the joy of practicing yoga wherever I go

What is your idea of a good time?
Anything that involves an adventure and laughing. I love learning new things, meeting new people and having a good laugh.

Tell me something that no one else knows about you.
I hold the top score for every song on Dance Central! My kids can’t beat me!!

CERTIFICATIONS

200 RYT (Mound Street Yoga, Alignment), Unnata® Aerial Yoga Certification. 500hr completed with RajaHatha School of Yoga

Marina Koyen

Yoga Instructor

If you could do one thing in the world what would it be?
End Poverty.

What is your favorite quote?
I have three:

“Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

“The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing.”

Tell me something that no one else knows about you.
I lived in the secluded cabin in the mountains for six months in near solitude.

CERTIFICATIONS

E-RYT® 500, YACEP®, Studies include: Yin Yoga with Paul Grilley and Paulie Zink, Yoga Therapy with Gary Kraftsoff, Prana Vinyasa with Shiva Rea, Universal Yoga with Andrew Lappa

Ryan Petersen

Husband, I.T., Plumber, Electrician, Bouncer……….

Ryan wears MANY hats…..

You may not see a lot of Ryan around the studio, though he will pop in for a class from time to time. What you don’t see is the support he lends to kula….. daily. He makes sure all the tech works, the lights turn on/off the toilet flushes and anything and everything else I need him to do to keep the kula doors open. He didn’t exactly sign up for these duties, but he’s my support to keep kula running smoothly. He may also be the reason I need yoga from time to time, but that works both ways!

CERTIFICATIONS

Deerfield 6-12 Band Director – 27 years and going strong, Dad to 2 amazing kiddos (Miles and Melody), Husband-Of-The-Year for the past 24 years and likely to hold that title for many more.

Penny, Sparky & Percy

Kula “Mascots”

Penny Lane:

The single member of the “un-welcome committee”. Coming from a puppy mill and a lot of trauma has left tiny Penny with work to do toward healing. Slowly, she is learning to trust (but never a male….). She’s not perfect, and a great reminder to us all that it’s okay that we aren’t perfect either.

Sparky:

Sparky loves everyone and leads with his tongue. He is a simple fella with simple loves: Attention, naps in the sun on a heated blanket, and raw carrots. He’s the best “greeter” and will always be happy to say “Hi”.

Percy:

Though the biggest of the pack at almost 8 pounds ;-), he’s a bit of a shy guy. He’s happy to see you… from a distance and is more of a back-of-the-house dude. He’s named after Percy Grainger – a famous composer, but “Percy Mercy” is more fitting due to his lack of manners.