Diana Oppenheim

Diana’s first yoga class was a two-hour ashtanga class back in 2004. Even though she couldn’t touch her toes, had no clue what downward-facing-dog was, and despite being sore for four days straight, she knew she had found her path. Since then, Diana has had a committed yoga practice that has transformed her life. It has allowed her to be open to ideas within herself she likely would not have faced or challenged without the safety of her mat and warmth of the yoga community.

She completed a 200-hour yoga certification in the summer of 2009. “Yoga gives me the strength and stability to be myself and to love myself. Yoga is not just the physical asana practice, it is in everything I do. It’s how I interact with people, it’s how I deal with stress, it’s how I cultivate fun and peace in my life.” In addition to yoga, Diana is a community activist and musician. She has completed her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and environmental economic policy and has a master’s degree in urban planning and community development. She believes that everything and everyone is connected and is able to connect on some level or another. She brings that belief with her to each and every class. Expect to have fun and be challenged.

Veronica Rottman

Veronica encountered yoga as a young toddler whilst trying to imitate her mother as she practiced. She soon became a very somatically-conscious person with a strong passion for dance, movement, and connection to rhythm. She danced for several years all the while dabbling in yoga and its various styles. Veronica has practiced all over the city of Chicago, spending most of her yoga hours learning vinyasa, bikram, hatha, yin, and more. After graduating with a degree in Hispanic Linguistics and French, Veronica soon found herself returning to the mat daily. Her passion for language and movement seemed to converge in yoga as well as her perspective regarding the union in everything. Veronica believes that yoga has the power to both center as well as reveal aspects within a person both physically and mindfully. She hopes to provide a grounding experience for students which also challenges them to explore personal boundaries. She utilizes breathe- infused movement for students and encourages a strong yoga community.

Stacy Levy

Stacy Levy has been an avid yoga practitioner for over 10 years, and her approach to yoga is continually evolving through dedicated study and self-reflection. Her passion for teaching yoga is rooted in her strong spiritual foundation, love of movement and holistic lifestyle. Stacy brings her positive energy to her teaching as she nurtures and respects the individuality of each student. Stacy’s teaching philosophy embodies a focus on healthy and safe alignment, and balancing strength, endurance and flexibility while using the breath to connect the mind, body and spirit. Stacy’s soulful Vinyasa yoga classes blend mindful poses into eclectic sequences that are set to uplifting and contemporary music, ranging from Classic Rock to Regage to Pop and Hip Hop. Music is a strong component of her class experience, as she utilizes the power of sound to motivate students to further deepen into the poses and themselves. Stacy has studied and been influenced by Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga, Hatha, Anusara, Iyengar, Hot Yoga, Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga, and fuses these styles to create a unique energizing, yet grounding flow. Stacy inspires her students to live consciously and consistently seek to find balance. Supported by her own personal experience, Stacy strongly believes in the therapeutic nature and healing power of yoga, as well as the ability of the practice to awaken and transform. She feels blessed and honored to assist others on their journey to wellness and witness profound transformations each and everyday. Stacy completed her yoga teacher training at Yogaview, and has deep gratitude for her teachers Claire Mark, Geri Bleier, Quinn Kearney, and Tom Quinn. She also offers loving thanks to her family, friends and students for supporting and inspiring her on her own journey. Currently, Stacy teaches group and private classes for people of all ages and provides corporate yoga and wellness education and instruction. She is
currently pursuing her certification as a Holistic Health Coach, focusing on integrative nutrition and total mind-body-spirit wellness.

 

Whitney Webster

Whitney began her yoga practice in January of 2006, on seemingly normal evening a friend invited her to a yoga class. She was instantly amazed at the peace she felt in her mind and body. A consistent practice followed and she found not only a calmness come over her but overall awesomeness. Everything in life was better because of yoga! Whitney began to notice that the more she practiced the more she felt centered and connected. Yoga took a hold because it wasn’t only physical practice, it began to embody her as whole.

Whitney completed level 1 of Baron Baptiste Yoga Teacher Training in August 2009 and Assistant Training with Gregor Singleton in September 2009. She also completed Seane Corn’s training in September 2010.

When not practicing yoga, Whitney enjoys her life in Chicago spending alot of time with her lovable puppy, Bodhi. She also enjoys traveling, letting life’s journey expand her everyday.

Whitney is extremely excited to be apart of the Vessel community and will bring excitement and love to each and every class.

 

Jill Frank

Jill experienced her first yoga class in Santa Monica with college friends in 2000, and was instantly drawn to the physical practice and its benefits. She experimented with different styles for years, eventually finding vinyasa (flow) and connecting to the rhythmic movement. Once Vessel opened its doors in the West Loop, she dedicated herself to a consistent personal practice and completed a 200-hour teacher certification in 2011.

Yoga gives Jill focus and clarity, and she sees yoga as a compliment to her personal spiritual growth and development. Off the mat, Jill’s a writer and producer who enjoys traveling, the great outdoors and nutritional and holistic health and wellness.

Jill considers herself to be a student of yoga first and a teacher second, and believes yoga is a transformational tool for living a healthier, more mindful life with intention and purpose.