Yoga Loft in River North has made a business out of not only transforming people’s bodies, but also their minds.
The studio, located at 15 W. Hubbard St. opened three years ago, the creation of Tim Ceurvorst and Jill Jerome. Ceurvorst and Jerome had a goal of not only practicing an art about which they are passionate, but also bringing a benefit to the neighborhood.
“The community is outstanding. They keep us very motivated,” Ceurvorst said.
Ceurvorst, who has over 25 years of experience in resistance training and aerobic conditioning takes pride in seeing people under his care reach their goals and said it is a huge accomplishment.
“I’ve been training my whole life,” Ceurvorst said. “The body has the ability to transform itself.”
Jerome said she started practicing yoga 10 to 15 years ago because of knee, hip and foot pain from running. She said she was hooked after her first class.
After practicing for about six years Jerome decided to get deeper into the practice, and she took a training program to become a yoga instructor.
“I just have a real passion for [yoga],” Jerome said. “I think anyone can benefit from it; the world’s young, underweight, overweight it doesn’t really matter as long as you can get on your mat.”
Jerome said yoga has become popular because of the “mind-body connection” and can help people meditate, become more flexible and improve athleticism.
A wide age range of customers come to Yoga Loft, from mid 20s to mid 60s.
The important thing is the customers, whose ages range from their 20s to 60s, feel welcome and comfortable, Ceurvorst said.
Olivia Taylor, 23, has been practicing yoga for almost 10 years, introduced to it by her high school soccer coach, who held yoga sessions before school.
Taylor said the sessions helped her relax and stay focused throughout the entire day.
“[Yoga] is definitely a good way to let the stress of the day go … but it also helps your body,” Taylor said. “Living in Chicago you have to walk all over the place so it helps your body to be able to be rested for that.”
For Taylor, the challenge with yoga is calming the mind.
“When I’m in class or when I’m doing it at my house I’m always like thinking of a million different things that I have to get done,” Taylor said. “So it really takes a lot of patience and perseverance to be able to totally clear my mind.”
Taylor learned to clear her mind when taking a yoga class at Columbia College, where she is a student.
Taylor said her instructor would remind her that while doing yoga, she needs to focus on herself and give herself that hour to restore her body.