Our entire team is composed of certified yoga teachers who actively teach at our studio.
Get to know the team at 5KY!
Get to know the team at 5KY!
CO-OWNERS & YOGA SISTERS
MEET OUR DIRECTORS
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We found each other through our shared passion for bringing the gifts of yoga to students with intellectual, developmental and behavioral disabilities. Together, we have over 25 years of experience working with students of all ages and abilities.
We love making yoga work for you!
We love making yoga work for you!
STUDIO MANAGERS
RACHEL ASELTINE
Studio Manager |
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STUDIO INSTRUCTORS
RITA ALVIAR
Community Engagement Director
Certified Yoga Teacher & Licensed YAA Practitioner
Certified Yoga Teacher & Licensed YAA Practitioner
I was dealing with a tragic loss and my heart was broken. I was so sad that I had difficulty functioning in day to day life. The blessing came when my cousin, Janet, invited me to my first yoga class. I was lacking focus, direction and joy.
Yoga helped me navigate that sad season and take more care of myself - mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I found joy in the learning…the journey of yoga…”connecting” outside of myself…
My love of yoga expanded exponentially and the desire to share it with my students - the residents at Misericordia Home - led me to pursue the opportunity to become a yoga teacher. I didn’t know it at the time but this was the first step in eventually reaching a much wider community. I feel that I’ve become part of a lovely community of like minded yogis that continues to grow!
Finding the balance between supporting and encouraging my students is an on-going learning experience. Each class is a discovery into ourselves as teachers and how to connect to ourselves without judgment - only Love! This practice has helped me so much and I see such a need in our world today… Feeling sad and processing those feelings helped me understand the need to be compassionate with myself. That is a lesson I hope to pass onto my students in every single class I teach.
My mission as a yoga teacher is to teach the deeper meaning of yoga while simultaneously creating an environment in which anyone, and especially underserved populations, can experience its benefits. I want to offer an environment of peace to help my students overcome their challenges and connect to their highest selves - a true community.
Yoga helped me navigate that sad season and take more care of myself - mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I found joy in the learning…the journey of yoga…”connecting” outside of myself…
My love of yoga expanded exponentially and the desire to share it with my students - the residents at Misericordia Home - led me to pursue the opportunity to become a yoga teacher. I didn’t know it at the time but this was the first step in eventually reaching a much wider community. I feel that I’ve become part of a lovely community of like minded yogis that continues to grow!
Finding the balance between supporting and encouraging my students is an on-going learning experience. Each class is a discovery into ourselves as teachers and how to connect to ourselves without judgment - only Love! This practice has helped me so much and I see such a need in our world today… Feeling sad and processing those feelings helped me understand the need to be compassionate with myself. That is a lesson I hope to pass onto my students in every single class I teach.
My mission as a yoga teacher is to teach the deeper meaning of yoga while simultaneously creating an environment in which anyone, and especially underserved populations, can experience its benefits. I want to offer an environment of peace to help my students overcome their challenges and connect to their highest selves - a true community.
ERIN HADDOCK
Community Development Director
Certified Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist & Yoga Teacher Trainer
C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, RCYT, YACEP
YAA Part 1 Program Teacher & 200 Hr TT Co-Teacher
Certified Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist & Yoga Teacher Trainer
C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, RCYT, YACEP
YAA Part 1 Program Teacher & 200 Hr TT Co-Teacher
Anxious, stressed and living in my head, I began yoga to stay in shape for my acting career while recovering from surgery on my toe and living with osteoarthritis in my foot. Although such a small body part, the imbalance caused by this injury impacted my entire body and how I felt about myself mentally and spiritually as well. Committing to a regular yoga practice during my final year studying theater at Northwestern University improved my physical condition, helped recover some of my body’s balance and relaxed my racing mind. But it wasn’t until I met my inspiration, Sonia Sumar, that I finally understood what yoga was really about.
Studying with Sonia and her daughter, Renata Sumar Gaertner, taught me not only how to condition and better control my body, breath and mind. I’ve learned to live a life that is more “peaceful, easeful and useful.” This is the most precious gift I’ve ever received, aside from the gift of life. This mindset has helped me navigate the big challenges like grief, trauma and depression that are part of the human experience. I understand what it’s like to be uncomfortable in my body and emotionally on edge. I know what it’s like to feel that there must be something more to life than just getting through the day.
I teach yoga to share the gifts I’ve received from my yoga practice with others. Yoga can guide us to feel more comfortable and at ease in our body and mind. To live both more peacefully and more passionately. To live a life that is more authentic, productive and kind. I love guiding others seeking more integration in their lives. Yoga is the system I’ve found most effective and efficient at connecting my head and my heart. Practicing yoga feels good to me on every level and I’m honored that others entrust me to share that kind of experience with them.
Studying with Sonia and her daughter, Renata Sumar Gaertner, taught me not only how to condition and better control my body, breath and mind. I’ve learned to live a life that is more “peaceful, easeful and useful.” This is the most precious gift I’ve ever received, aside from the gift of life. This mindset has helped me navigate the big challenges like grief, trauma and depression that are part of the human experience. I understand what it’s like to be uncomfortable in my body and emotionally on edge. I know what it’s like to feel that there must be something more to life than just getting through the day.
I teach yoga to share the gifts I’ve received from my yoga practice with others. Yoga can guide us to feel more comfortable and at ease in our body and mind. To live both more peacefully and more passionately. To live a life that is more authentic, productive and kind. I love guiding others seeking more integration in their lives. Yoga is the system I’ve found most effective and efficient at connecting my head and my heart. Practicing yoga feels good to me on every level and I’m honored that others entrust me to share that kind of experience with them.
RACHEL ASELTINE
STUDIO MANAGER
Certified Yoga Teacher & YAA Trained
Trauma Informed Training
Certified Yoga Teacher & YAA Trained
Trauma Informed Training
Yoga changed my life in ways I didn’t know I needed and didn’t know were possible. Like many, I took my first yoga class hoping to learn how to do “cool poses” and maybe improve my flexibility. What I didn’t know at the time was that I was holding onto a boatload of unidentified, unresolved trauma. It had obscured my sense of self and deprived me of healthy or productive responses to stress. I had little to no connection with my body. I didn’t even know what a mind-body connection was, or how important it is to both mental and physical health. As I established my practice, I learned how to feel into and engage with my body. I was introduced to the concept of meditation through movement and how to use my breath as a tool for focus, calming and connection to my true self.
Yoga taught me – and continues to teach me – to be present and feel comfortable and confident in my body. Learning how to cultivate this mindfulness has provided me with powerful tools to meet challenges as they arise in my life. I’ve learned how marvelous, intelligent, resilient and elegant the human body and spirit are. By tapping into and fostering these qualities, we are capable of physical and spiritual growth and healing. I know this because I’ve experienced it myself, and there is a wealth of scientific research to support it. I want to share that experience with as many people as I can.
I am particularly passionate about introducing yoga to people who might never have thought they would be able to do it. Anyone can practice yoga because yoga is not a monolith. Different peoples’ practices may look drastically different, and everybody’s path is unique, but the heart of yoga leads to the same place for everyone. The only “right” way to do yoga is to honor the needs of your own body and mind. It might sound simple, but it requires connection, patience, practice, and presence, which are invaluable tools off the mat, too. Finding and developing these attributes might take a lifetime, but every time you do yoga, you get to tap into all of these things and take another step along your journey.
Yoga taught me – and continues to teach me – to be present and feel comfortable and confident in my body. Learning how to cultivate this mindfulness has provided me with powerful tools to meet challenges as they arise in my life. I’ve learned how marvelous, intelligent, resilient and elegant the human body and spirit are. By tapping into and fostering these qualities, we are capable of physical and spiritual growth and healing. I know this because I’ve experienced it myself, and there is a wealth of scientific research to support it. I want to share that experience with as many people as I can.
I am particularly passionate about introducing yoga to people who might never have thought they would be able to do it. Anyone can practice yoga because yoga is not a monolith. Different peoples’ practices may look drastically different, and everybody’s path is unique, but the heart of yoga leads to the same place for everyone. The only “right” way to do yoga is to honor the needs of your own body and mind. It might sound simple, but it requires connection, patience, practice, and presence, which are invaluable tools off the mat, too. Finding and developing these attributes might take a lifetime, but every time you do yoga, you get to tap into all of these things and take another step along your journey.
BRENNA CRAMER
ASSISTANT MANAGER
Certified Yoga Teacher
Certified Yoga Teacher
I was living with unmanaged anxiety and it grew increasingly worse when I embarked on the new journey of college life. I was struggling with my emotions, getting through daily tasks with a calm enough mind, and lacked joy and peace in so many aspects of my life. I found myself dealing with both mental and physical health challenges and needed something new to add in to my routine to help out.
Yoga was a new challenge, a new way to move my body and the first time I really connected with my breath. I had always been physically active and involved in sports, but I had never taken the time to slow down, and just be present in my body during a gentle yoga class. Yoga became time that was just carved out for me. I was able to calm my mind and body and better manage daily life stressors.
I felt better both physically and mentally. Yoga was not a magical solution to every single problem I faced - there was still great internal work to do - but it was a major step in the right direction for me. It was a consistent tool I could come back to on any given day when I needed to relieve stress, work through sadness, or tap into my strength. I built strength of both muscle and mind.
I aim to be a leader, a teacher, a guide, for all students I meet on the mat. I am not all-knowing, I am not the perfect yoga student myself, I am still learning and growing each day in my own yoga and life journey. I have been through my own struggles with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, chronic stress in my body and recovering from childhood traumas, and these have all contributed to whom I have become as a yoga teacher today. But no matter what you have or have not experienced, yoga can be a tool for relaxation, strength-building, and so much more.
I am passionate about helping students navigate life stressors and challenges because I have overcome challenging times myself, and for me, yoga was an essential tool in my toolbelt during those times. We all will face tough times in life at some point or another. There is no competition between who is dealing with the most stress or who “needs” yoga the most. We all deserve time to move our bodies, feel good in our bodies, and rest our bodies. I want to bring the benefits of yoga to people of all ages, abilities, and identities, because we all are worthy of feeling safe and at home in our minds and bodies.
I want to help people in any way that I can. I have found a pathway to help others through breath and movement. I enjoy connecting with others in communities around Chicago and beyond, and helping people feel more peaceful and joyful in their lives through yoga. If I can help at least one person each day feel safer in their bodies and more calm in their heart and mind, then I will have succeeded in my “why.”
Yoga was a new challenge, a new way to move my body and the first time I really connected with my breath. I had always been physically active and involved in sports, but I had never taken the time to slow down, and just be present in my body during a gentle yoga class. Yoga became time that was just carved out for me. I was able to calm my mind and body and better manage daily life stressors.
I felt better both physically and mentally. Yoga was not a magical solution to every single problem I faced - there was still great internal work to do - but it was a major step in the right direction for me. It was a consistent tool I could come back to on any given day when I needed to relieve stress, work through sadness, or tap into my strength. I built strength of both muscle and mind.
I aim to be a leader, a teacher, a guide, for all students I meet on the mat. I am not all-knowing, I am not the perfect yoga student myself, I am still learning and growing each day in my own yoga and life journey. I have been through my own struggles with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, chronic stress in my body and recovering from childhood traumas, and these have all contributed to whom I have become as a yoga teacher today. But no matter what you have or have not experienced, yoga can be a tool for relaxation, strength-building, and so much more.
I am passionate about helping students navigate life stressors and challenges because I have overcome challenging times myself, and for me, yoga was an essential tool in my toolbelt during those times. We all will face tough times in life at some point or another. There is no competition between who is dealing with the most stress or who “needs” yoga the most. We all deserve time to move our bodies, feel good in our bodies, and rest our bodies. I want to bring the benefits of yoga to people of all ages, abilities, and identities, because we all are worthy of feeling safe and at home in our minds and bodies.
I want to help people in any way that I can. I have found a pathway to help others through breath and movement. I enjoy connecting with others in communities around Chicago and beyond, and helping people feel more peaceful and joyful in their lives through yoga. If I can help at least one person each day feel safer in their bodies and more calm in their heart and mind, then I will have succeeded in my “why.”
AKIWELE BURAYIDI
ASSISTANT MANAGER
Certified Yoga Teacher, RYT-200
Certified Yoga Teacher, RYT-200
Before starting my yoga practice I felt anxious and disconnected from my body. Yoga helped me to connect with myself through finding my breath, meditating, and finding a meaningful connection to movement and my body.
Now I feel more grounded and better able to deal with life’s challenges when they come. I love sharing the tools and practices that have helped me with others who are also looking to connect more deeply with themselves.
I love getting to see the change in students’ energy from the beginning of a class to the end. It’s such a privilege to watch people find a sense of inner peace, as I have through my own practice. My intention in teaching yoga is to create safe spaces for people to explore themselves.
Now I feel more grounded and better able to deal with life’s challenges when they come. I love sharing the tools and practices that have helped me with others who are also looking to connect more deeply with themselves.
I love getting to see the change in students’ energy from the beginning of a class to the end. It’s such a privilege to watch people find a sense of inner peace, as I have through my own practice. My intention in teaching yoga is to create safe spaces for people to explore themselves.
AMY JENSEN
Studio Instructor
Certified Yoga Teacher
Certified Yoga Teacher
I began yoga in my late teens. After being introduced to yoga by a friend in high school I came back to it during my college years. Struggling with various mental health issues, yoga was a daily practice that grounded me in both mind and body. Both the asana and pranayama practices allowed me to ease anxiety mentally and physically stored in my body.
After noticing these benefits and building my own practice I wanted to share yoga with others. I believe that yoga is for everybody and can bring benefits to not only the body but the mind, and my mission is to continue sharing this practice and guiding others by teaching various styles both in person and virtually.
After noticing these benefits and building my own practice I wanted to share yoga with others. I believe that yoga is for everybody and can bring benefits to not only the body but the mind, and my mission is to continue sharing this practice and guiding others by teaching various styles both in person and virtually.
DEVYN KERPAN
STUDIO INSTRUCTOR
Certified Yoga Teacher
Certified Yoga Teacher
Movement is the essence of life, and it brings joy and vitality.
Having grown up in the competitive dance environment, however, I felt like I lacked natural flexibility and technique. I struggled with feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and imposter syndrome. Over the years, these feelings made me into a walking ball of anxiety. Despite these challenges, one thing remained clear – I loved to move. When I found myself in a flow state, I felt truly connected, as if I was reaching my highest potential and aligning with the universe.
Yoga offered me a welcoming, non-judgmental space in which to explore myself in the present moment. My flexibility and range of motion improved, perhaps because my body now feels more loved and accepted than ever before. Yoga, breathwork, and meditation are essential tools for calming my nervous system during times of anxiety, stress, or even just those "off days."
This deeply personal practice offers the freedom to be curious about your unique mind, body and soul. You can challenge your limits or simply be where you are, and both choices are not only accepted but encouraged. By guiding students through their practice, I wish to create space for individuals to experience the transformative power of movement, discover just how strong and capable they are, and feel connected to both themselves and the world around them.
Having grown up in the competitive dance environment, however, I felt like I lacked natural flexibility and technique. I struggled with feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and imposter syndrome. Over the years, these feelings made me into a walking ball of anxiety. Despite these challenges, one thing remained clear – I loved to move. When I found myself in a flow state, I felt truly connected, as if I was reaching my highest potential and aligning with the universe.
Yoga offered me a welcoming, non-judgmental space in which to explore myself in the present moment. My flexibility and range of motion improved, perhaps because my body now feels more loved and accepted than ever before. Yoga, breathwork, and meditation are essential tools for calming my nervous system during times of anxiety, stress, or even just those "off days."
This deeply personal practice offers the freedom to be curious about your unique mind, body and soul. You can challenge your limits or simply be where you are, and both choices are not only accepted but encouraged. By guiding students through their practice, I wish to create space for individuals to experience the transformative power of movement, discover just how strong and capable they are, and feel connected to both themselves and the world around them.
SAMANTHA SIERAKOWSKI
STUDIO INSTRUCTOR
Certified Yoga Teacher
Certified Yoga Teacher
Growing up, I had a difficult time finding safe ways to move and connect with my body. Sports, gym classes, and other group physical activities felt intimidating to me, and I never felt comfortable or adept when participating. I realized I needed to find a practice I could do by myself, away from crowds of people, and on my own terms. One day, I turned on my Nintendo Wii gaming console, and did my first ever sun salutation with a video game avatar as my guide. From there, I slowly broadened my horizons to trying out yoga videos, virtual classes, and eventually, in-person studio classes.
As I took more and more yoga classes, I started to feel more grounded and rooted in both mind and body. By syncing movement with breath, I was able to quiet all the chatter going on in my mind, tune out any distractions from the outside world, and focus on exploring my own inner wisdom and landscape. Yoga created this beautiful, safe space for me to learn more about myself, and gave me the strength, empowerment, and autonomy my inner child craved. In addition, it helped me shed off years worth of trauma and insecurities I never knew I was holding. Ultimately, yoga provided the foundation for me to create a mindful, reflective, and rooted practice beyond the physical asana, and taught me how important it is to take the time to slow down and care for yourself, especially in our fast paced society.
My own personal journey and experience has inspired me to share the gifts yoga has bestowed to me with others. As a yoga instructor, I believe people of all bodies and backgrounds can practice yoga, and I strive to create a safe environment for them to connect with their bodies and tune into their own inner landscape. When teaching, I create intentional sequences and flows that embody the philosophies of yoga all while empowering the mind, body, and spirit. I look forward to holding space for you to grow, explore, and transform, on the mat.
As I took more and more yoga classes, I started to feel more grounded and rooted in both mind and body. By syncing movement with breath, I was able to quiet all the chatter going on in my mind, tune out any distractions from the outside world, and focus on exploring my own inner wisdom and landscape. Yoga created this beautiful, safe space for me to learn more about myself, and gave me the strength, empowerment, and autonomy my inner child craved. In addition, it helped me shed off years worth of trauma and insecurities I never knew I was holding. Ultimately, yoga provided the foundation for me to create a mindful, reflective, and rooted practice beyond the physical asana, and taught me how important it is to take the time to slow down and care for yourself, especially in our fast paced society.
My own personal journey and experience has inspired me to share the gifts yoga has bestowed to me with others. As a yoga instructor, I believe people of all bodies and backgrounds can practice yoga, and I strive to create a safe environment for them to connect with their bodies and tune into their own inner landscape. When teaching, I create intentional sequences and flows that embody the philosophies of yoga all while empowering the mind, body, and spirit. I look forward to holding space for you to grow, explore, and transform, on the mat.
HELEN SPICA
STUDIO INSTRUCTOR
Certified Yoga Teacher
Certified Yoga Teacher
I came to yoga from ballet, looking for a physically healing practice after injury, and a way to more positively connect to my own body. Yoga quickly became the practice by which I learned to understand and honor the intuitive knowledge of the body, which I’d spent years denying and pushing past.
Through practice I have developed a deep gratitude and admiration for the ability of the body and the will of the mind, and as a teacher my goal always is to guide students towards the discovery and admiration of their own capabilities.
I am passionate about making yoga accessible to all bodies and abilities, and my classes focus on experiencing traditional yogic movement and postures guided by sensory feedback and personal intention. It is my honor and aim as a teacher to make yoga a welcoming and joyful practice for all of my students.
Through practice I have developed a deep gratitude and admiration for the ability of the body and the will of the mind, and as a teacher my goal always is to guide students towards the discovery and admiration of their own capabilities.
I am passionate about making yoga accessible to all bodies and abilities, and my classes focus on experiencing traditional yogic movement and postures guided by sensory feedback and personal intention. It is my honor and aim as a teacher to make yoga a welcoming and joyful practice for all of my students.
FIVE KEYS YOGA
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WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAYFive Keys is fantastic! The studio is lovely and soothing, and the teachers are very caring and attentive. |
I've ... probably been to 25 different yoga studios. This is one of the most welcoming, calming spaces with very talented instructors. |
I love this yoga studio. It's a great balance of a good workout and relaxation and feels like a real community. |
An ideal studio for someone new to yoga. |
Five Keys Yoga, LLC ∙ 1818 W. Belmont Ave. ∙ Chicago, IL 60657 ∙ (773) 857-1763 ∙ [email protected]