Meet the instructors!
Our instructors bring a wealth of experience and diverse backgrounds to their teaching, creating a welcoming space for all students. With expertise in alignment, breathwork, meditation, and mindful movement, they offer thoughtful guidance tailored to each individual.
MURIEL QUINN
Meet Muriel
Muriel Quinn came to yoga in 2000, seeking healing from physical injury, and discovered a transformative path to wellness. She maintains a full personal practice and continues to be an enthusiastic learner of the eight limbs of yoga. Muriel believes everyone can benefit from a yoga practice and offers modifications and hands-on adjustments to her students.
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Muriel's educational background includes an AM in Social Service Administration (MSW) from the University of Chicago and an MA in Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union. She studied Hatha Yoga at The Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago and also in the Anusara lineage. Additionally, Muriel received Green Tara transmission in the Tara Mandala tradition.
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Her journey in yoga began under the guidance of her first teacher, Mary Samano, with whom she studied privately for many years. Muriel's teaching is influenced by Jim Bennitt's Tantric Hatha, the playful yoga of Sarah Starnes, and wells of knowledge gained from Gabriel Halpern. Her practice continues to evolve with the grace and wisdom of Sally Kempton, who transitioned in 2023.
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Muriel resides in Oak Park, IL, with her husband, where they raised their four children, a dog, and backyard chickens.
Instructor's classes
Muriel (Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday) is an enthusiastic learner of the eight limbs of yoga, and her classes focus on breathing and physical alignment in a non-competitive atmosphere. She believes everyone can benefit from a yoga practice and offers modifications and hands-on adjustments to her students, from beginners to advanced. Muriel encourages and supports students of any experience level in exploring the eight limbs of yoga in class, retreats, and private sessions.
JAMES SULLIVAN
Meet James
James Sullivan came to yoga practice following a long background in Zen Buddhist meditation and study. He continues his formal Buddhist studies with Roshi Robert Althouse and was ordained as a Soto Zen priest in 2024. He received his 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training from the Temple of Kriya Yoga and is further studying with our very own Muriel Quinn. He lives in Oak Park with his partner, Sharada, and his 13-year-old daughter, Elspeth.
Instructor's classes
James' (Monday and Tuesday) classes are alignment-based, meditative, and community-focused. Most importantly, he creates a safe space in which students can work to connect their emotional and physical energies with a like-minded community.
JULIE CARRIGAN
Meet Julie
Julie Carrigan came to her yoga practice following many years as an athlete driven by a need to stretch and prevent injury. As she deepened her practice, she appreciated the deep connection between the asana practice of yoga, how we hold things in our body, our minds, and the power of mindfulness and meditation.
Julie’s lived experience of the mind and body connection through yoga was interesting and powerful as it is for so many people. In addition, Julie’s training as a licensed clinical social worker afforded her another lens to look at and connect with the interplay of all these facets and she was curious to learn more.
Julie studied Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at Northwestern’s Religious and Spiritual Life department in 2019, and she completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in October 2024 at Purnam Yoga. She looks forward to continuing her studies with Muriel Quinn and others as she continues on the path.
Julie lives with her husband in Glenview, IL where they raised their three children.
Instructor's classes
Julie’s (Tuesday) yoga class is an alignment-focused yoga class practiced within a safe and supportive space. The class begins with centering to focus within oneself, connect with the body, and ground into the present moment. You’ll be carefully guided through poses with mindful movement that supports proper alignment allowing you to explore your body’s natural range while creating stability, strength, and balance.
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Julie’s Gentle Yoga (Wednesday evening) class offers a quiet and grounding practice. It is an alignment-focused class practiced in a safe and supportive space. The class begins with centering to focus within oneself, connect with the body, and ground into the present moment. Intentional movement and supported poses will allow the body and mind to release as you prepare for the day's end. ​​