COLLECTIVE
Meet our teachers
Amy S.
Amy’s love of yoga began when Revival first opened in Palos Heights. She walked into the studio looking for a way to stretch & cross train, but she found so much more than improved flexibility & strength. Practicing yoga helped her cultivate mindfulness and connect to her authentic self. Always a student, she sought to deepen her practice. She earned her RYT 200 with Revival and more recently added TS Sculpt & CorePower HPF 50hr certificates. Amy is excited to share what she has learned, offering a welcoming environment that invites all students to be present on their mats to breathe, to move & to grow together.
Amy W.
Amy is a 500-hour certified yoga teacher with over a decade of experience guiding students through a wide variety of yoga styles. Known for her inclusive, down-to-earth approach, she encourages students to show up exactly as they are—no expectations, no judgment, just presence. Her classes blend thoughtful sequencing with mindful movement, rooted in deep knowledge and years of dedicated practice. Whether it’s vinyasa, yin, restorative, or a music-infused flow, she creates an environment where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered. A passionate lover of music, she often weaves carefully curated playlists into her classes, using sound as a tool for connection, rhythm, and release. At the heart of her teaching is the belief that yoga is for everyone—and that showing up, just as you are, is more than enough.
Brenna
Brenna has been teaching group fitness since 2008 and brings energy, expertise, and heart to every class. She is AFAA Group Fitness certified and an E-RYT 200-hour Yoga Instructor, with additional training in Yoga Sculpt, Aerial Yoga, Trigger Point, Mat Pilates, Barre, chakra balance, and sound healing. What began as cross-training during her master’s program at Hawaii Pacific University quickly became a lifelong passion. You’ll find Brenna leading Sculpt, Pilates, and Vinyasa Flow classes designed to challenge your body, calm your mind, and leave you feeling strong and empowered on and off your mat. Outside the studio, she works full-time as a Training Design and Developer in the airline operation center and enjoys traveling, yoga, reading, and taking lessons in music, language and art.
"Strength isn't always what we see on the outside, often you find it in the moments you want to give up, so enjoy every step of your journey.".
Carrie
Carrie Pokorney-Matkaitis is a RYT 200 yoga teacher who has been practicing for nearly two decades. Drawn early on to yoga’s ability to shift energy and create space, her approach is rooted in presence, connection, and intentional movement. Carrie trained for two years at the Moksha School of Yoga, studying Ashtanga, Iyengar, trauma informed yoga, Forrest Yoga, yin, restorative, and somatic practices. She is also a certified prenatal yoga teacher with a deep passion for empowering women through all stages of life. Her classes weave together breathwork, mindful movement, heart opening postures, meditation, and mantra, inviting students to slow down, turn inward, and leave feeling grounded, open, and renewed.
Jaime
Jaime began her yoga journey in 2017 to gain flexibility in both body and mind. After years of struggling with anxiety she quickly realized how consistent yoga practice brought a sense of inner peace and has continued ever since. She completed 200hr teacher training through Revival in 2022 and finally found her voice. With an emphasis on intentional breathing and listening to the body, she now hopes to spread that same joyous calm one breath at a time.
Jen
Feeling linked in with her higher self, she is so excited to be at Revival teaching Pilates. She feels aligned with the Aura and good vibes that surround and embodies the instructors and members of this community. She has been passionate about fitness and helping others nearly her entire life and became a Group Certified Fitness instructor at the young age of 18 and has taught classes all over the Southside of Chicago for 20 years. The variety of classes includes Kickboxing, 'Buts and Guts ', Abs Attack, Sculpt and Tone, Barre, Pilates, Hot Pilates and Chair Yoga and Yoga Sculpt. With comprehensive training in all Pilates apparatuses and 500hr Pilates certified, she is eager to share her knowledge.
Jessie
Jessie has always had a very active lifestyle. Her hobbies include long distance running, snowboarding, paddle boarding, and kickboxing to name a few. Jessie found yoga while preparing for her first half marathon. Looking for a new and fun way to strengthen and challenge her body, Jessie took her first heated yoga class. She found that regular practice made her long-distance running and other activities even more enjoyable! Jessie loves the physical benefits that yoga offers and the peace and clarity that yoga provides. Jessie completed her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification through CorePower Yoga to become an instructor and share yoga’s many amazing benefits with you!
Juliette
Yoga’s power to transform darkness into light guides Juliette’s yoga philosophy and her enthusiasm for yoga knows no bounds. Her free-spirited approach to being on the mat is unique and liberating. Juliette’s passion for the healing power of yoga is evident especially in her dedication for adaptive yoga outreach. Juliette’s goal is to have students leave her class better than they began in body, mind and spirit. You will find an encouraging and energetic atmosphere, upbeat musical vibes and effervescent attitude.
Meditation, Yoga and Exercise have been a healing force in every stage of her life. She loves sharing this life journey with our community here at Revival! Juliette’s certifications include: RYT 200, RYT 200 Meditation- Radiance Sutras School of Meditation, CorePower Yoga Sculpt, Yoga to Transform Trauma Certification, Restorative Yoga -30 HR, Aerial Yoga Level I and Restorative/Yin Aerial.
Kelly
Kelly (Durnell) Knapczyk is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor by day and has always had an interest in exercise and how it impacts mental & physical health. Kelly became a regular at Revival Yoga Studio in September 2017. Kelly completed Yoga Sculpt training in March 2022 with Heather Stanley. Kelly has completed her 200 RYT, Yin & restorative yoga certifications since then.
Kelsey
As a former collegiate athlete, Kelsey has used Yoga Sculpt as a great way to share her passion for fitness, strength training, and cardio endurance. Kelsey loves to share yoga sculpt with her family and friends, who originally got her into doing Yoga Sculpt. She loves to provide a good playlist for every class to keep everyone motivated and having fun. She completed her 50 hour Yoga Sculpt Training at Tone it Studio.
Liz
After experiencing the life transforming benefits of yoga, Liz signed up for Lifepower’s 200hr teaching training with the desire to learn how to share and give the same to others. Upon graduation, she let the universe and her heart guide her. There she found herself in a space still in the buildout stage that would become Revival Yoga Studio. After six years of teaching from the heart, a desire to expand her teaching skills by enrolling in a 300hr Lifepower teaching training. With this expanded knowledge, she guides students in both grounding meditative and strengthening energetic classes.
Marg
RYT 200 with nearly a decade of teaching experience, Marg specializes in Yin and Hatha yoga. Her classes focus on mindful movement, breath, and creating space for students to slow down, soften, and reconnect. She aims to create a grounded, welcoming environment where stillness is just as powerful as movement, and each practice supports both physical ease and inner awareness.
Maura
An educator by profession, Maura loves to learn and help others. She is an experienced RYT200 Hatha instructor, Yin Yoga enthusiast, and grief advocate with additional specialized training in Restorative Yoga and Traditional Yoga Nidra Meditation (Yogic Sleep). Maura's classes & special events will leave you feeling revitalized, grounded and balanced in mind, body & spirit.
Meg
Meg Shaklee, mother of three, small business owner and 200HR RYT. She has been teaching since early 2019. Yoga fills her with deep joy, and she loves the sense of freedom she finds moving on her mat while connecting mind, body and spirit. Always excited to share her fun-loving energy as she supports and guides you along your yoga journey.
Nancy
Nacy has been in the fitness industry for over 20 years. Nancy has certifications in several formats cycle, TRX, group fitness and is a personal trainer. Her interest in yoga after taking community sculpt class with Heather at Revival. Nancy completed her sculpt certification under Heather Stanley. class. Her love for fitness keeps her learning most recently completing her Pilates certification and beginning her 200hr Yoga training this spring. When not teaching fitness, she is a special education teacher. She has a husband, 3 daughters and 4 dogs.
Nicole
Nicole Schneider is a full-time traveling yoga teacher, 500HR RYT, 200HR E-RYT, with training in multiple Hatha styles. Along with her full teaching schedule, Nicole leads private and corporate yoga sessions, supports community efforts through yoga fundraising events, and shares her teachings in yoga workshops and training across the Chicagoland area. Nicole has developed her own 30HR Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Program and is passionate about training other teachers and students. With a global finance background and Northwestern MBA, Nicole understands the stress of corporate life and enjoys helping others cultivate their own peace and balance through yoga and meditation. Visit www.justbewithnicole.com to learn more about Nicole and her yoga offerings including virtual classes, private sessions, restorative yoga training and workshops.