Founder, Teacher, Teacher Trainer

I began meditating in 1972 and although it made me feel better, I struggled to establish a consistent meditation practice.  Each year my new year’s resolutions included “Meditate!” in the top three (vying with lose weight and exercise for #1).

During the 80’s and 90’s as I juggled career, family, and eventually became a stay-at-home-mom to our four kids, I continued to study different traditions and techniques but I didn’t want to be identified as a Buddhist or a Yogi or an anything. I just wanted to feel less angry, and frustrated. I wanted my vision of who I was and the reality of how I was acting to align.

Teaches Yoga Classes for Meditators

Agnieszka, affectionately known to her students as, Mishka, has been teaching HATHA YOGA since 2001. Not only does she teach her own students, she also teaches teachers.  She has been leading the Hatha Teacher Training Program at the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago for the last 6 years.

Agnieszka’s teaching style balances gentle strength with inner softness. She combines an emphasis on alignment, with slow, mindful movement, and awareness of the breath, to help you release unnecessary tension in the body and bring calmness to your mind. 

Teaches: Beginning Meditation

Kelsey is a mental health counselor based in Portland, Oregon. Her interest in meditation began during grad school when her anxiety became overwhelming. Kelsey was seeking a way to find inner calm and was able to find it through meditation. She studied under various instructors and her go-to meditation techniques include sipping breath, the Ee mantra, and alternate nostril breathing. Kelsey wants to teach anyone who is curious about the journey of meditation and learning new ways of engaging with oneself through it.

Teaches: Beginning Meditation for Young Adults

Via (she/they)’s meditation journey began at the start of COVID after her cousin recommended Caren’s class. She didn’t realize how much anxiety had been affecting her day-to-day life until she started meditating and began to feel less anxious and more grounded. After a couple of years on the cushion, Via found that her go-to technique is Hong Sau, which she can do anywhere, anytime. Via is especially passionate about teaching young adults who are curious about meditation, a practice that she sees as an opportunity to quell the inner critic and reconnect with one’s true self in this busy digital age.

Teaches: Beginning Meditation

Ramon discovered meditation at the age of 40 when he felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction with his life. Seeking purpose, joy, and presence, he turned to meditation and found a sense of peace and serenity that was previously absent. Ramon has been meditating for 13 years and has studied with Eric Huffman, Caren Prentice, and Rev. Andrew Shykofsky. He enjoys experimenting with different meditation techniques but tends to lean towards mindfulness, mantra, and loving-kindness meditations.

Teaches: Beginning Meditation

April (she/her) is a spiritual seeker and an experienced meditator with over 12 years of practice. She discovered meditation when a friend invited her to a class led by Caren Prentice, and she knew it was exactly what she had been looking for. April had grown up in a cult and was searching for spirituality without religion. She found what she was seeking when she realized that everything she needed was already inside her. This awareness changed her life profoundly, as a mother, a partner, and an advocate for herself. She wants to share this transformative practice with others who are struggling to find their way.

Teaches: Beginning Meditation

Janet was seeking peace and calm in her life and she knew she’d found it when tears began to flow during a meditation, signaling a release of emotions. The grounding and increased calmness she experiences keeps her meditation practice regular. Janet has been practicing meditation for about 8 years and earned her certificate to teach meditation through Hamsa Meditation Center. In her teaching, she hopes to impart that meditation is a practice, and there’s no wrong way to do it. Janet’s go-to meditation technique is following the breath; it’s a constant companion, always present. She has studied with Deepak Chopra, the Art of Living teachers trained by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and currently with Caren Prentice.

Teaches: Beginning Meditation

Gena began searching for peace, community, and a different way to approach life following the unexpected passing of her husband. She started taking yoga classes and exploring meditation under Jan Engels-Smith at Lightsong School of Shamanic Studies. Gena stumbled upon group meditation classes offered by Caren Prentice, which soon became her refuge where she found love, acceptance, and belonging with the sangha. Her dedication to meditation has continued over the last 12 years, learning techniques to stay present and to show up for her life JUST as it is. Among her go-to techniques are the 3-part breath, Hong Sau, and alternate nostril breathing which help her stay in the present moment.