Saint Charles, Illinois 60174, United States
Meet Felicia
Credentials | Training
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Felicia is proud to represent Banyan Botanicals as a Living Creator Affiliate. She has used their products for over 10 years personally and in her Ayurveda Practice. Click here to check them out. There is no obligation necessary, but if you like what you see, as a THANK YOU BONUS for your support, use the one-time Code FELICIA for an additional 15% off.
To read about Felicia being featured in Yoga Chicago Magazine, click here and here
Read about her love of the Yoga Trapeze as a top instructor here
ABOUT FELICIA:
Felicia Schmid,, 500 E-RYT, YACEP, C-IAYT, CAP, YB is an Experienced Certified & Registered Yoga Teacher at the Senior Advanced Level and a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider, a Certified Integrative Yoga Therapist, Certified Ayurveda Practitioner and Health Educator, Certified Marma & Pulse Therapist, Certified Yoga Trapeze and Certified SUPYoga Instructor. She is recognized through the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the National Ayurveda Medical Association. She became a Committed Student of Yoga in 1998 and an Instructor in 2002. Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) can be earned by attending her Classes, Retreats, Events & Workshops (YACEP).
Her background studies are diverse, rich and deep. She always approaches practice with a beginner's mind and resonates with the mantra that Knowledge is Power and there is always something and more to learn.
She became a Certified Yoga Teacher through Lotus Yoga Centre, a Registered Yoga Alliance School (RYS) in the Himalayan Tradition. There, she was trained at both the 200 (2003) and 500 (2007) levels by Yogiraj. Sarla Walter, a direct disciple of Swami Rama (the founder of the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy). She has also studied therapeutics & posture alignment extensively with many Master Instructors, most notably Gabriel Halpern of the Iyengar lineage. She began her practice of Yoga Therapy in 2003 and In 2008, after much commitment and dedication, she received an Integrative Yoga Therapy Certification from Joseph LePage's Integrative Yoga Therapy Program.
Felicia began teaching Yoga in 2002 and proudly opened and operated Asanas & MORE Yoga Studio in the far western suburbs from 2003-2008. She now offers her services in a private home studio overlooking wetlands and nature.
She spearheaded w/ Gabriel Halpern the first and now well-renowned Yoga: Good for What Ails You Series held throughout the suburbs of Chicago. This was the first informal Yoga Therapy training offered in Illinois.
She graduated in 2013 as a Certified Level II & III Clinical Ayurveda Practitioner and Health Educator out of Bhavana Yoga & Ayurveda Institute, studying under the guidance of the Late-Patricia Layton,
in 2012, she received her Level I Ayurveda Practitioner for Self Health Care Certification under the guidance of Indu Arora and Poonam Gupta.
She has continued studying in various modalities that interest her and loves sharing this knowledge regularly with her students in her classes.
In 2016, she became Certified as a Marma & Pulse Therapist with the Late-Vaidya Mishra and in 2017 began digging deeper into Ayurvedic Dietetics & Nutrition.
In 2020, she became a Certified Yoga Trapeze Instructor with Lucas Rockwood's YOGABODY Yoga Teachers College.
In 2021, she became Certified as a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Yoga Instructor with Jess Amendola of SUP Yoga Center to 'yoke' her joy of water, stand up paddleboarding and all things Yog-ahhh! It has been a dream come true for her. She set the goal to be able to 'balance' on her feet/board again when she seriously herniated her back in 3 places and dislocated 2 of her discs (spondylisthesis) in 2019; which left her with nerve impingements at both the sensory and motor levels. This has continued to cause her severe neuropathy and the lingering effects of a dropped foot and pelvic floor that 'flips.' She had to re-learn how to walk and stand on her two feet again. It has been a very difficult journey back to being able to functionally move again. This certification is her husband's favorite one to date for her.
In 2022, she studied Advanced Pranayama & Mudras in-depth with Joseph LePage's Integrative Yoga Therapy Program and dug deeper with Dr. Vasant Lad's Ayurvedic Institute in Ayurveda and Yoga for Harnessing the Sun- Morning Salutations (Surya Namaskar), Harnessing the Moon- Evening Salutations (Chandra Namaskar) and a Balanced Being - Dosha Focused Yoga Immersions.
Currently, she is studying Aerial Yoga with Jessi Rae. Her plan is to fuse Yoga Trapeze and Aerial Arts into an accessible format for all to gain mobility through stability and ability.
She will forever honor and be grateful to her first yoga teacher, Lori Lane, for leading her to her Dharma.
Teaching Style
"Yoga can become quite personal. As you open the layers of the body that are blocked or constricted where heaviness & darkness lie, vulnerability comes to the surface. Ask yourself--How can ’I’ get through this without fleeing? How can ‘I’ create lightness and ease in discomfort? Yoga has taught me to not run—to breathe in a moment of vulnerability or tightness so that freedom, clarity and acceptance can come. My job as a teacher is to help plant the seed that the student will continue to water so that all their beauty will blossom, grow and shine.”
Whether in a private setting or in all of her group classes, Felicia teaches customized and individualized Integrative Yoga & Ayurveda Therapy Wellness sessions based on those lessons learned. She believes that yoga is a wellness modality and compassionately guides her students on the journey of Yoga in a nurturing, compassionate, and safe environment. You can expect a focused, challenging, and eclectic yoga class that revolves around strength through softness and softness through strength. Longer holds fused with slow flow and safe alignment cues and prop use are stressed to give the student that "OMmmmm" feeling!. Skillful hands-on adjustments are optional.
How It Began
Felicia resides in St. Charles with her husband and has two wonderful sons, a dog, Sadie, and a turtle, Roadie, too! It is because of the continued support and encouragement of her family that she is able to bring the joy of yoga to her community. She has always had an interest in Yoga ever since she was a young child walking in on her dad's first cousins practicing yoga. That memory stayed with her until she found herself in her first yoga class in 1998. After her first Shavasana (Corpse Pose) she 'knew' this Practice was quite special.
Felicia began her path of Yoga while pregnant with her second son. She was told to refrain from all physical activity as she was a high risk pregnancy due to a congenital heart defect...and back then, doctors weren't interested in expectant mothers 'working out' (let alone 'working in') while pregnant...times have since changed for the better!!!. As she personally began experiencing the true healing benefits of yoga & wellness, Felicia soon realized Yoga & Ayurveda were her Dharma and helping others heal and deal with the ebbs and flow of Life was her calling.
As a young adult working in the corporate world managing lawyers and working as a Legal Administrator to the General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources, Felicia began experiencing extreme fatigue throughout here whole body. She developed a facial rash that left her questioning what was going on to make her feel so very sick. She was told she was stressed and it was in her head. She later realized she had undiagnosed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. CFS was not a diagnosis at this time in the medical field. From there, she delved more deeply to gain tools to aid her health and well-being
Her expertise lies in helping others break through the barriers of pain, whether physical or emotional. She uses the Kosha system based on Samkhya Philosophy as well as other modalities that have helped her personally heal or deal from the inside out. Her approach is concise and alignment based. She is very organized and cares deeply.
Her experience ranges from working with emotional well-being disorders, sensory processing disorders to disc herniations and everything in between. As an Integrative Yoga & Ayurveda Therapist, her toolbox is full and knowledge is diverse.
Announcement
I am happily looking to add another weekly Hatha and Intro to Yoga Trapeze Play class. Send me your wishes and thanxs for stopping by.