Founder, Teacher, Teacher Trainer

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.

Darcey (she/her) found her way out of anxiety and depression through mindfulness practices. Her meditation journey has evolved into a spiritual practice that brings her both contentment and opportunities for self-exploration. After learning and practicing mindfulness for a few years, Darcey began studying with Caren Prentice in 2018. Sharing what she has learned about these ancient teaching and techniques — that are still having a profound impact today — is both compelling and rewarding.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Laura is a dedicated mother of two who, like many working moms, was seeking a bit of refuge and assurance that she was doing a good job. Her confidence began to grow in 2015 when she discovered meditation with Caren Prentice in her hometown of Houston, Texas.  By focusing on her breath, her practice taught her that there’s no perfect way to meditate and that things are actually okay in her life even when they don’t always feel that way.

Brenda began exploring spiritual paths while trying to find genuine connections with other moms in her area. In October 2014, she found a mom’s meditation class taught by Caren Prentice and through that, she discovered a community that has seen her through some of her best and worst times as a parent.

Liisa started meditating as a last-ditch effort to relieve anxiety and depression, which made her daily life difficult and her role as a wife and mom to her two elementary-aged children nearly impossible. She sought relief from her ruthless inner critic, worry, fear, panic, anger, overwhelm, and grief. Initially, she didn’t believe she could experience calmness and joy regularly.