Rooted in practice.
Rooted in purpose.
ABOUT ME
Yoga has been a passion of mine for over 20 years. I was first drawn to the physical benefits, and then discovered what it could do for my mind and overall wellbeing. Yoga has carried me through the ups and downs of life — I have shed tears on my mat, found joy and playfulness on my mat, and discovered a sense of mindfulness and inner peace that I carry with me every day.
My journey deepened when I moved to Northbrook, where I fell in love with a Saturday morning class taught by my mentor, Wendy Sadler. I loved the sense of community and the energy of practicing together. It wasn't long before I noticed that when I missed class, I felt "off" — and when I showed up consistently, I carried that calm and peace of mind home to my kids and into my work.
After many years of dreaming about teacher training, I took the plunge — earning my 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification in hatha yoga from Blue Sun Yoga in Spring of 2022. Since then, I've continued to grow through specialized training, including Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra, a deeply restorative guided meditation practice, and Kaiut Yoga, a method focused on joint mobility and accessibility for all bodies and ages. It is an honor to share this practice with others — helping students of all levels connect their mind, body, and breath on and off their mat.
Rooted in practice. Rooted in purpose.
My Approach to Teaching
Yoga isn't about the shape you can make with your body — it's not about how deep you can fold or how flexible you are. To me, it's about being rooted: connecting mind, body, and breath, taking time for yourself, listening to your body, and accepting where it is today.
I say this as someone living it. I have osteoarthritis in my left hip, and my mobility has changed over the past few years. Some days that's frustrating — I'm still working on acceptance, and on finding ways through my practice to maintain and improve what mobility I have. This is also why I love exploring mindfulness and relaxation through yoga nidra — a chance to slow down and reconnect with mind, body, and breath, whether we're moving or resting in stillness.
I think a lot about what it means to be rooted — like the trees I love, steady and strong from the ground up, even through storms. But rooted doesn't mean rigid. My dog Moose reminds me of that, usually by flopping onto my mat mid-practice demanding belly rubs. He's teaching me his own kind of yoga: how to let go and roll with the moment.
That's the practice I want to share with you — new or experienced, wherever your body is today. We meet it as it is, not as we wish it were. That's not a limitation. That's the practice.
Rooted in practice. Rooted in purpose.
Stay Connected
Want to stay connected? Sign up for updates and let yoga meet you where you are — on the mat and off. I'll share what I love most about this practice, from class offerings and tips to inspiration for your everyday life. Rooted in practice, rooted in purpose — always.
© 2026 Emily McGinnis Yoga