Cara Jepsen

CARA'S TEACHING SCHEDULE

MONDAY

-5:30-6:20PM Intro to Yoga (1/26-2/23), DePaul Univ. (pre-registration required; use link)
-6:45-8PM Ashtanga Basics+ (1/12-3/3), DePaul Univ. (pre-registration required; use link)

TUESDAY
-9:30-11AM Ashtanga Primary Series, Yoga Trek
-5:30-7PM Ashtanga Primary Series, LPAC

WEDNESDAY
-6:30-8AM Mysore-style Ashtanga, YogaNow
-7:30-9PM Ashtanga Half Primary Series, Cgo Yoga

THURSDAY
-6-7:30AM Ashtanga Basics, LPAC
-7:30-9AM Dharma Mittra Level I/II, LPAC
-9:30-11AM Ashtanga Half Primary Series, Yoga Trek


FRIDAY
-6:30-8AM Mysore-style Ashtanga, YogaNow


SUNDAY
-10-11:30AM Dharma Mittra Level I-III, Cgo Yoga
-4-5:30PM Ashtanga Half Primary Series, East Bank Club (every other Sunday).

Ashtanga Yoga is a challenging and dynamic series of poses linked together through coordinated breath and movement to create energy flow and an internal purifying heat. The rigorous sequence calms the mind and develops strength, balance, concentration and flexibility. In Mysore-style self-practice, students move through the various sequences at their own pace -- making it suitable for all levels.

Mysore-style Ashtanga is a self-practice class in which students move through the poses of the primary and intermediate series at their own pace.

Dharma Mittra's Level I/II is a classical style of hatha yoga that is suitable for students of all levels. Students are guided through the sequence according to their needs and abilities, and the emphasis is on practicing in a relaxed manner and feeling content. Each class concludes with a simple breathing exercise and brief meditation.

Dharma Mittra Level II+ is for intermediate and ongoing students. Most poses are repeated, and variations for each level are given. Each class concludes with a simple breathing exercise and brief meditation.

ABOUT CARA

Cara teaches traditional ashtanga vinyasa yoga, vinyasa flow, and Dharma Mittra yoga. She is a direct student of Sri Dharma Mittra and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

She is available for private and group lessons as well as workplace instruction, and will tailor the classes to your needs. Please e-mail her at carajepsen@yahoo.com for rates.

A former triathlete, she began practicing yoga after her mother died. She believes that regular practice can help people weather rough patches with dignity and grace - and keep them grounded when things are going well. A vegetarian since 1987, she began teaching yoga in 1998.

She has firsthand experience working with injuries to the back, wrist, hamstrings, shoulders, knees and S-I joint.

Since 2002, she has made five trips to Mysore, South India, where she has spent over ten months studying with ashtanga vinyasa guru Pattabhi Jois and his daugther, Saraswati Rangaswamy, and grandson Sharath Rangaswamy.

She also completed 200-hour and 500-hour advanced teacher trainings with Dharma Mittra in New York City, where she learned a classical style that is accessible to everyone. In addition, she has done teacher trainings with Suddha Weixler and Manju Pattabhi Jois.

She's also studied with ashtanga teachers Eric Powell, Lino Miele, Dena Kingsberg, Annie Pace, Karen Haberman, Eddie Stern, Tim Miller, David Swenson, Richard Freeman, David Roche, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty, as well as with teachers from other traditions, including Judith Lasater, Srivatsa Ramaswamy, Paul Grilley and Tias Little. Her articles about these experiences are archived at the Yoga Chicago website. Yoga Chicago is also where her restaurant reviews, India diaries and her cartoon "On the Mat" can be found.

Cara divides her time between Chicago and India.