Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) - Julia Jonson, Lead Instructor & Sally Gill, Co-Instructor

September 2025 - May 2026
Hosted at The Yoga Effect

Deepen Knowledge, Gain Wisdom While Becoming a Light for Others

Yoga provides us with an opportunity to get to know ourselves from the inside out. So when someone says YES to embarking on training, they open up a whole new path of learning and growth for themselves. YTT is an opportunity to work through self-limiting beliefs and build confidence. It’s an opportunity to awaken the higher Self and shine like never before. And importantly, it’s an opportunity to guide others in their journey of self-discovery and help make a real difference in the world.

APRIL 2025

Cultivating Self-Compassion: A Restorative Yoga and Journaling Workshop with Sarah Lill

Sunday, April 13,  2025  3:00-4:30pm • $35 

In a world that often demands perfection, self-doubt can quietly take hold. This workshop creates a nurturing space to release those doubts, build self-compassion, and reconnect with your authentic self. Self-love is not indulgent or luxurious—it’s an essential part of daily life.

Through gentle yoga, guided journaling, and restorative meditation, you'll cultivate a calm, healing environment to restore your inner balance and embrace self-kindness.

In this supportive workshop, you will:

• Release tension and self-criticism through gentle, restorative yoga poses.
• Cultivate self-awareness and compassion with journaling prompts designed for self-reflection and growth.
• Find inner stillness with guided meditations to soothe the mind and nourish your heart.
• Walk away with practical tools to integrate self-compassion into your daily life.

Perfect for all levels, this workshop offers the time and space to pause, reflect, and embrace the incredible person you already are. Reserve your spot today and give yourself the gift of healing and renewal.

  
Please note:  as a courtesy to our teachers and guest presenters who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are not refundable if less than 24 hrs' cancellation notice is given. Thank you

Overcoming Obstacles: A Weekend with Desiree Rumbaugh 

Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27, 2025 

Friday, April 25, 2025 • 6:00pm-8:30pm • Session 1

Saturday, April 26, 2025 • 10:00am-12:30pm • Session 2

Saturday, April 26, 2025 • 2:00pm-4:30pm • Session 3

Sunday, April 27, 2025 • 10:00am-12:30pm • Session 4

$250/WEEKEND OR $70/SESSION

HOSTED AT  THE YOGA EFFECT
1134 E. WASHINGTON STREET, GRAYSLAKE, IL 60030 


We are excited to welcome back Desirée Rumbaugh for another weekend of joyful learning.  With over four decades of experience, her teaching goes beyond physical practice.
She embodies the strength and resilience that yoga can bring, having used it to navigate personal tragedy and physical pain over the years, both in her body and mind.

Whether you’ve been practicing for years or you’re just starting out, Desirée will offer you powerful insights that go beyond the mat. Her teaching will help unlock your potential, guiding you toward a deeper understanding of yourself and your practice.

5,000 years ago, people faced many of the same challenges we're navigating today. Life has always been unpredictable, messy, and full of chaos. And that’s why practices like yoga were created—to help us find peace in the midst of it all.

Every obstacle we face presents an opportunity. These challenges teach us important life lessons and help us develop qualities like determination, patience, and adaptability. They force us to examine our beliefs, clarify what matters most to us, and approach problems in new, creative ways. Even though we would prefer an easier, smoother road, we all know that we grow stronger in facing life’s challenges.

In this workshop, we will explore yoga as a practice of flexibility and strength. When we think of yoga, we often picture poses that demand flexibility—but strength is at the core of it all. And isn’t that just like life? Those who are most vulnerable who lack inner and outer strength, are often the ones who suffer most—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

• Friday 6:00PM-8:30PM — Stronger: Hip Mobility and Lower Back Freedom
• Saturday 10:00AM-12:30PM — Power: Core Strength For Your Spine
• Saturday 2:00PM-4:30PM — Ignite: The Key to More Powerful Twists 
• Sunday 10:00AM-12:30PM — Everything, Everywhere, All At Once

The classes in this workshop are thoughtfully designed to build on each other, giving you a rich, comprehensive experience. Because of that, we’ll first open enrollment for the entire weekend, ensuring everyone can benefit fully. Starting April 1, single-session registration will become available for those who prefer to join for just one session.You are encouraged to sign up for the entire weekend as the learning is a cumulative experience.

Cancellations will not be accepted after 4/1/25 unless space can be filled by another student on the waiting list.

Learn more about Desiree Rumbaugh

Monthly Livestream Meditation with Bhante Sujatha

Sunday, April 27, 2025 • 7:30-8:30pm • $15

Please join Bhante Sujatha from the comfort of your own home for this livestream meditation practice. The value of a consistent, ongoing contemplative practice is measurable. Joy becomes more constant, emotions become sturdy, and the ability to navigate life’s situations becomes easier.

All proceeds of these monthly meditations will be donated to Bhante’s Pregnant Women & Baby Project in Sri Lanka.

Please note: as a courtesy to our teachers who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are not refundable if less than 24 hours of cancellation notice is given. Thank you

This workshop will be offered via Zoom.
A link will be sent out following registration. 

 MAY 2025

Yoga During Menopause with Ruth Ann Grant

Saturday, May 17, 2025 • 2:00-3:30pm • $35

Yoga During Menopause - with Ruth Ann Grant
Yoga can be a supportive practice to have at your disposal through all sorts of life’s ups and downs as well as transitions and changes. This is especially true of how helpful yoga can be to manage menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, joint pain, stomach and digestive upset,
fluctuating emotions, mental fogginess, and sleep disruptions to name a few. Join Ruth Ann to learn how to use certain yoga poses to get relief from the myriad menopausal changes your body is experiencing.

About Ruth Ann:
Ruth Ann received her initial 200 hours Hatha yoga training at Global Yoga in Chicago more than 20 years ago. She loves that yoga has truly given her the ability to connect her physical fitness with her mental fitness, which allows her to fully accept her body for its achievements as
well as its limitations. She uses various principals and techniques to practice living yoga in her daily life off the mat and hopes to share that gift with her students. Her initial yoga training as well as her continued education and experience has exposed Ruth Ann to teachers of several
styles of yoga, including, Hatha, Anusara, Kripalu, Ashtanga, Bikram, and Kundalini. As the owner of Singing Bowl Yoga, LLC, Ruth Ann currently works with private yoga clients, including individuals, small groups, and corporations, to share yoga and meditation skills and tools that help people of all abilities and yoga-experience levels to enjoy more freedom in their bodies and lives. In addition to the practices of yoga and meditation, Ruth Ann enjoys walking her dogs, biking, knitting, and cooking as other healthful activities she can share with her family and
friends. Join her in her journey to live a life of more ease, peace, and balance.

 Please note:  as a courtesy to our teachers and guest presenters who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are not refundable if less than 24 hours cancellation notice is given. Thank you

Yoga Teacher Training:
Free Informational Meeting
with Julia Jonson and Sally Gill

Saturday May 24, 2024 • 2:00-4:00pm 

Would you like to deepen your Yoga knowledge and gain wisdom while becoming a light for others? Join us for opportunities to learn more about our Teacher Training Program. Created and led by Julia Jonson of TBY Yoga and hosted at The Yoga Effect, this program will run from September 2025 to May 2026. Sally Gill will partner to assist Julia and guest teachers Gabriel Halpern, Andrew Gurvey, Bhante Sujatha, and Anitha Bellary.
Yoga allows us to get to know ourselves from the inside out. So, when someone says YES to embarking on training, they open a whole new path of learning and growth for themselves. Yoga Teacher Training is an opportunity to work through self-limiting beliefs and build confidence. It’s an opportunity to awaken the higher Self and shine like never before. And importantly, it’s an opportunity to guide others in their journey of self-discovery and help make a real difference in the world. 

 JUNE 2025

The Yoga Effect presents:
A Blue Zones Inspired
Yoga & Meditation Retreat

Hackmatack Retreat Richmond, IL
Saturday, June 28 | Sunday, June 29, 2025
9:00am - 5:00pm Daily

 $475/Person
  Includes both dates

Led by Anna Ottolino & Stacy Wheeler
Special Guest Bhante Rahula from The Blue Lotus Temple

Immerse yourself in a restorative retreat inspired by the Blue Zones regions, where people live the longest, healthiest lives. Blending yoga, meditation, mindful movement, and nourishing food, we’ll explore simple yet powerful ways to cultivate longevity, vitality, and inner peace.

Day 1:  Saturday, June 28 | 9:00am – 5:00pm

Introductions: 9:00am -9:30am

• 9:30am - 10:30am | All-Levels Flow with Stacy
    A revitalizing practice to awaken energy and restore balance. 

• 10:30am - 11:00am |  Let’s Talk About the Blue Zones
   How to incorporate Blue Zones' wisdom into daily life. 

• 11:00 am - 1:30 pm | Homemade Minestrone Cooking
    Class & Meal 
    A plant-based, nutrient-rich, and heart-warming
    Blue Zones classic. 

• 1:45pm - 2:30pm | Walking Meditation & Journaling 
    Stroll the beautiful grounds or relax in a hammock
    for mindful reflection. 

• 2:45pm - 3:15pm | Breathing Techniques & Somatic Movement 
   Tools to relieve anxiety and enhance well-being. 

• 3:30pm - 4:45pm | Restorative Yoga with Yoga Nidra with Anna
    A deeply relaxing practice to close the day. 

•  4:45pm - 5:00pm  Question & Answer Session

Day 2:  Sunday, June 29 | 9:00am – 5:00pm

Introductions: 9:00am -9:30am

• 9:30am - 10:30am |  Gentle Yoga with Anna
   A slower, nourishing practice to promote balance and longevity. 

• 10:30am - 11:00am |  More about the Blue Zones
    Practical ways to integrate their wisdom into daily life. 

• 11:00 am - 1:30pm | Handmade Pasta Cooking Class & Meal 
   Experience the joy of making fresh pasta from scratch and enjoy a       meal together. 

• 1:45pm - 2:15pm | Walking Meditation & Journaling 
   Connect with nature or find a cozy spot for self-reflection. 

• 2:30pm 3:30pm | Slow Flow with Stacy   
   Slow and mindful movement connecting breath to movement.

•  4:00pm - 5:00pm | Metta Sound Healing with Bhante Rahula 
    A transformative closing practice of deep relaxation & healing. 

For those looking for overnight accommodations, we recommend exploring Lake Geneva, which is only 20 minutes away from the retreat center.

Please email Anna with any questions at:  [email protected]

Read more about Hackmatack Retreat