ABOUT US
Kaizen House is a Soul-Centered healing studio located in Evanston Illinois. Our teachers offer a wide variety of classes and events in the spirit of community where people can come together to learn, grow and heal. The Kaizen approach to holistic health believes that taking small, meaningful steps will lead to substantial, transformative growth. We welcome you in becoming a part of our healing family.
LAURIE PERKINS
Laurie Perkins is an Intuitive Energy Medicine therapist at her private practice Raven Healing, and is also co-founder of GriefEnergetics™ and Kaizen House. She helps her clients align, harmonize and transform their whole health (physical, mental, emotional & spiritual) using Jin Shin Jyutsu, Evolutionary And Medical Astrology, Usui Reiki/Reiki Phowa, Sound & Crystal Vibrational Healing, Shamanic/Pagan Ritual, and Past Life Regression Therapy. She is also trained as an end of life doula and feels honored to have sat at many sacred deathbeds. Laurie has studied with many western & indigenous teachers and brings these wisdom teachings to each of her client healing sessions and workshops. Laurie can be found at www.ravenhealing.com
JULIE SEGALL
Julie Segall has been a practitioner of Oriental Medicine for over 24 years. She is the co-founder of Kaizen House and Grief Energetics™. In her private practice, Healing Ground, Julie incorporates Acupuncture, Jin Shin Jyutsu, herbal medicine, Bodywork, essential oils and more to restore the balance, wellbeing, and health of her clients. Julie can be found at www.healinggroundtcm.com
RACHEL COPPOLA
I began dancing at the age of 3, performing professionally by age 18, and practicing Yoga at age 26. After dancing on Broadway and throughout the world, I felt a sense of fulfillment and wondered what else was out there. How could I contribute my talents in a new and positive way? Thus began my study of yoga to both heal me and provide a new creative outlet for my body, mind and heart.
As a 500hr RYT, I have studied Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative and Kundalini Yoga, meditation, mantra, breathwork, subtle body energetics, philosophy (Sutras, Bhagavad Gita & The Tao), Qi Gong, and the 5 Element Theory.
My teaching is a unique blend of what I know of the body from dancing all my life and what I have and continue to learn through the practice and in depth study of yoga philosophy and energetics. In my classes I aim to create a safe, inclusive space that cultivates physical and psychological awareness through attention to alignment, breathwork, mediation, and self-inquiry. Rachel can be found at www.rachelcoppolayoga.com
COURTNEY WINKLER
While living and traveling in India and Nepal in 1990, Courtney was fascinated to experience yoga in its birthplace. She has been a lifelong student and teacher of many different styles of yoga since that time.
Courtney has taught students from all walks of life and of all different ages and abilities throughout the years. From pre-schoolers to ninety-year-old students, Courtney believes that yoga is for everybody and every-type-of-body. It is a functional toolbox of practices that can bring strength, balance, and respite to the mind, body, and spirit.
As a practicing astrologer and educator, Courtney looks to the daily planetary alignments to inspire her yoga classes. She has studied beginning astrology with Debra Silverman, is certified in Intermediate Astrology through Rebecca Gordon, and is currently working towards becoming a Master Astrologer through the Forrest Center for Evolutionary Astrology. (She also reads people’s natal charts and teaches for Debra Silverman Astrology.)
When Courtney is not studying or teaching, she enjoys travelling the world, live music, and spending time with her hubby and 4 (adult) children. Her personal life mission is to “spread love and self-acceptance one person at a time.” Courtney can be found at www.chartyourheart.com
MICHAEL MCGINN
My hope and intention is to promote greater trust in our intuition, imagination and deepest natural sense of balance and well-being.
I’ve had a passionate relationship with movement ever since I can remember, before I knew how to name it. I’ve danced, played sports, practiced yoga, wrestled and studied various martial arts, informally and formally working mind-body-spirit movement into a way of life.
As a freshman at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago, I attended an exhibition of calligraphy, painting and martial arts at The Chinese Cultural Academy in Evanston, IL, given by Professor Huo Chi Kwang and Nganga Mfundishi Y.T. Tolo Naa (aka Master Ray Cooper). I was blown away by the powerful yet gentle spirit and virtuosity demonstrated; I had found a formal pathway for my passion.
At 21 years old, after demonstrating a commitment to rigorous training, I was introduced to Master Chang Guo Chung, whom I studied with privately for three years at his home outside of Taipei, Taiwan.
After returning home, I attended and graduated from The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago in 1986. I’ve taught an integration of Tai Chi, martial arts, dance, yoga, other movement modalities and meditation at the college and privately ever since, always tailoring my teaching to the individual goals and abilities of those who join my classes.