Press Kit

Kerry and Zach Maiorca, both Chicago area natives, are the husband and wife tag team be-hind Bloom Yoga Studio, voted Best Yoga Studio in Chicago 6 times in its 8 years of opera-tion. The idea for Bloom was born out of a desire to create a community where the pursuit of health and happiness is a normal part of daily life.

As a yoga practitioner and a teacher for nearly a decade, Kerry knew she had found her calling but had not yet found a yoga community that felt like home. Kerry wanted nothing more than to share the transformative practice of yoga with family and friends, so she was discouraged when they said yoga they weren’t fit or flexible enough for yoga, or when they asked if yoga had to involve incense or chanting. Having spent years in the world of non-profits and yoga studios, Kerry also lamented at the lack of professionalism and clarity that often went along with good causes and inspiring communities.

Zach began his career in the software industry and as a real estate entrepreneur. He was well-versed in the business world and enjoyed its high level of professionalism, but he felt there was often a lack of purpose, connection, and community in that context.

Kerry and Zach decided to combine their years of experience and passion to create the community they were seeking that would make wellness accessible for people of all ages and stages. Bloom opened in 2004 in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood with 25 yoga classes a week, and has since grown to offer 65 yoga classes a week as well as massage therapy, specialty workshops, classes for kids and families, yoga teacher training, retreats. Bloom specializes in working with people of all levels of experience and fitness, and with over 100 years of combined experience, our teachers are highly skilled at providing safe and individualized instruction.

Consistent with our mission and vision, we specialize in bringing yoga and massage outside of our studio to corporate clients. Our welcoming and accessible approach is particularly suited to the workplace, and we’re passionate about bringing the stress-reducing benefits of yoga to clients in a way that is convenient, fun, and completely unintimidating.

We’re passionate about inspiring

people to live happier and

healthier lives.

Our Story

photos credited to: Jill Liebhaber

www.jookiekids.com

Bios

Kerry Maiorca,Founder and Director

Passionate about yoga, writing, and creativity in general, Kerry is the Founder and Director of Bloom Yoga Studio. Kerry has completed over 700 hours of yoga teacher training and is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500-hour level through Yoga Alliance. She received an MFA in Writing from University of San Francisco and is the author of the Thinking Yogi blog that examines the intersection of yoga and everyday life. Kerry also volunteers for Yoga Alliance and serves as the chairperson for its Ethics sub-committee.

Kerry enjoys exploring the individual nature of yoga and encourages students to make the practice their own. Her down-to-earth teaching style emphasizes healthy alignment, mindfulness, and an exploration of conscious breath and movement. As a recovering past- and future-thinking junkie, she loves the way consistent yoga practice teaches us to live in the now so we may enjoy all of life’s richness.

Inspired at the transformation that occurs when yoga principles are incor-porated into the workday, Kerry is committed to bringing yoga to corporate clients to provide tools for wellbeing and stress relief to people who may never have set foot in a traditional yoga class.

Our Mission: Inspiring people to be healthier

and happier in daily life through a welcoming

and accessible approach to yoga.

Bios

As the co-owner of Bloom, Zach has worn many hats over the years. From helping out behind the front desk, to technology troubleshooting, to strategic planning and analysis, Zach is an essential part of the backend operations of the studio. He has built on his passion for technology and problem-solving through his career in the software world.

Zach is also a real estate entrepreneur, having worked on sustainable devel-opment, renovations, and property management. He earned his BA in Eco-nomics from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Outside of work, Zach enjoys a good game of basketball, building and repair jobs around the house, and tackling the random backyard project.

Zach Maiorca,Co-Owner

Anna Stefanski,Studio Manager

Anna began attending yoga classes regularly at Bloom in 2005 as a way to

relieve the physical and mental strains of her busy life as a corporate office

manager. As she discovered both a practice and a community she loved, she

left the corporate world and began studying yoga in earnest.

Anna has been a part of the Bloom team for seven years, first as a work-study

student, then as Front Desk Manager. As Studio Manager, she oversees

Bloom’s daily operations, blending her business skills with her passion for yoga

and wellness. Anna received her BS from University of Illinois, Champaign-

Urbana and is a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour level.

StudioOfferings

Yoga & massage for all ages and stages

Yoga Classes

GentleLevel 1Level 1-2Level 2

PrenatalMom & BabyParent & Tot

Storytime YogaKid’s Yoga (5-7)Tween Yoga (8-12)

Bloom offers 65 yoga classes each week on a drop-in basis. Welcoming students of all ages, stages of life, and levels of experience with yoga, our knowledgeable instructors are highly trained in working with beginners and people who may be coming to yoga with limitations.

Specialty Workshops

Free Intro to YogaYoga 101Yin YogaRestorative YogaFamily Yoga

Therapeutic Yoga for Back & Neck Care Candlelight YogaMeditation for Everyday LivingAdvance your AsanaAnatomy on the Mat

For those new to yoga, Bloom offers a monthly Free Intro to Yoga and a 4-week comprehensive Yoga 101 workshop. We also offer specialty workshops to support our students in exploring the depth and breadth of yoga as a lifelong practice.

Massage Therapy

Wellness Prenatal Postpartum

ThaiShiatsu Neuromuscular

Regular massage is essential in these increasingly stress-filled times. Massage may help improve circulation, boost immune system functioning, and release old stress patterns. We offer a variety of modalities to customize the treatment for each individual client’s needs.

200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher TrainingProgram OverviewWith a solid foundation in alignment, yogic philosophy, and practical teaching skills, Bloom’s 200-hour teacher training empowers aspiring teachers to find their unique voice and teaching style.

Whether a student is interested in sharing yoga with others or simply looking for a deeper experience in their personal practice, this training provides a clear understanding of yoga’s rich tradition and history in a welcoming and accessible context for today’s student.

Bloom is a Registered Yoga School through Yoga Alliance. Graduates of our Teacher Training Program will be eligible to become Registered Yoga Teachers at the 200-hour level through Yoga Alliance.

Training

“Bloom’s teacher training

was a fabulous experi-

ence and exceeded my

expectations. Kerry,

Sharon, and the other

instructors managed to

convey an incredible

amount of information

and made it easy to

understand in an

engaging, caring, and

fun environment. I have

been given the skills to

lead a safe class on many

different levels, and my

personal practice has

refined and grown. I have

bloomed at Bloom!”

- Jennifer Butzen DoughertyTeacher Training Class of 2012

“I think Bloom provides just an excellent community to pursue

yoga and to feel very comfortable and safe doing that.

There are many other great places to go, but I keep coming back

here because this is the most consistently satisfying place

to do yoga.” – Steve Van Bever

“I have had nothing by great experiences at Bloom.

It’s just a gem in the neighborhood. It’s a great place

for people of all ages.” – Jessie Novak

“ …one of the best massages I have ever had. I felt like a whole

new person walking out of there. It was just the right combination

of relaxation and really working the knots out.” – Yelp Reviewer

Awards and Reviews

Chicago ReaderBest Yoga Studio2012, 2011, 2010

CitySearchBest Yoga Studio2011, 2009, 2007

Voted Best Yoga Studio in Chicago

Thinking Yogi

A graduate of University of San Francisco’s MFA in Writing program, I have loved writing since Kindergarten when I crafted a tale about a journey two friends and I made to the moon in which a monster was featured and my char-acter yelled that she was hungry. The accompanying drawings featured a lot of red and purple and were very passionate.

Yoga became an integral part of my daily life in 1996 and I began teaching in 1998. I’ve been continuously amazed over the years at how my yoga practice has influenced my experience of daily life. Time on my mat brings perspective; the process of using the body to find clarity, truth in alignment, and a balance of effort and ease in each pose naturally translates into the pursuit of clear communication in relationships, a strong commitment to honesty and com-passion, and dedication to caring for my body and mind.

I’m all about making yoga more accessible and yet also have deep respect for the origins from which yoga emerged. My goal as a practitioner and teacher is to find ways to delve into the philosophy and traditions of yoga in a way that can be clearly understood today.

Thinking Yogi is one small step toward that goal.

My husband and I live in Lincoln Square with our two children, and we are co-owners of Bloom Yoga Studio. You may read my full bio on Bloom’s website.

Happy Thinking, Yogis!thinkingyogi.com

Thinking Yogi is the intersection of

two of my loves: yoga and writing.

THINKING YOGI musings from the mat

Thinking Yogi

Some days it sneaks up on you, like the slow rise of a thermometer on a summer after-noon. Other days it hits all at once. However it arrives, stress is an unpleasant, obtrusive, and all-too-frequent visitor that leaves you feeling physically tense and mentally unsettled. This past week has been particularly stressful for me. I have no fewer than five unfinished time-sensitive projects to deal with at work, my kids have been home sick from school, and it looks like a tornado blew through our house (how did that sock get on the ceiling fan, anyway?). Pressed for time, I’ve been pushing myself to the limit in an attempt to be hyper-pro-ductive and somehow catch up and conquer my workload. I’ve been staying up late, working on weekends, neglecting to make adequate time for both activity and rest, and just generally sucking all enjoyment out of my daily existence. Today I’d finally had enough. During a quiet moment when no one was needing my attention, I inched to the front edge of my chair, sat up straight, rolled my shoulders a few time, placed my hands in my lap, and closed my eyes. As soon as my eyelids closed, I felt a shift. I took a deeper breath and felt some of my shoulder and neck tension release. Without the visual stimulus of the stress-ors around me – my computer, the stack of papers I needed to address, the pile of mail that had to go out – my nagging to-do list seemed a little less important and I could

see that in the big scheme of things it didn’t really matter if my house was a disaster for a few busy days. Things will settle down eventually – the projects will be done, the kids will go back to school – there is always enough time. I just have to choose to make space instead of stress. I don’t like fancy labels, so if you asked me what I was doing I’d say I was just paying attention and tuning in. Meditating? Nah…..I was being present, I was taking care of myself. Meditation is something a yogi does under a tree at an ashram in some beautiful remote setting. How can I call this ‘meditation’ when it’s likely that the phone will ring at any mo-ment? What if I don’t have more than two min-utes to sit calmly and quietly? That can’t still be meditation, can it? Meditation, mindfulness, being present – it doesn’t matter what you call it, or how long you spend on it. The practice of getting quiet can profoundly impact your stress levels and can be a key component of your daily stress-management toolbox. It’s amazingly simple and easy and it doesn’t take long to be effective. Start by just closing your eyes, observ-ing your breath, and noticing how you feel. And stay tuned for some specific ideas and techniques for how to incorporate medita-tion into your workday.

Stress and the ‘M’ wordFebruary 15, 2013 by Kerry Maiorca

WorkplaceWellness

“The future of healthcare is

self-care” - Jeffrey Greeson

Duke Integrative Medicine

Bloom Workplace Wellness As studies supporting the benefits of yoga and meditation accumulate, forward-thinking companies are realizing that healthy employees are more productive and better equipped to navigate the challenges of their workday.

Bloom Workplace Wellness brings our studio’s unique and welcoming approach into the workplace. Our friendly and professional staff contribute years of expertise and passion for their work, and customize their offerings based on the organization’s needs. Whether it’s a lunchtime yoga series at the office, chair massage for employees, or simply a one-time yoga class, Bloom Workplace Wellness programs promote well-being and stress relief, resulting in healthier and happier employees.

Bloom Workplace Wellness programs benefit companies as well as individual employees. Companies may save money and improve office culture simply by promoting an environment of health and wellbeing in the workplace. From reducing workers’ compensation claims, to encouraging employee loyalty, and even lowering health insurance costs, Bloom Workplace Wellness programs provide both immediate and long-term benefits to companies and their employees.

WorkplaceWellness

Program Offerings“Bloom Yoga Studio

provided a tailor-made

program that was a

perfect fit for our au-

dience. The faces of

participants in the first

yoga class said it all

– this was a transfor-

mative moment. Very

highly recommended!”

- Art Institute of Chicago

Stress Less at Your Desk – Yoga and meditation customized for the desk worker, providing tools to ease repeti-tive strain and promote stress relief

Yoga on the Mat – A yoga class for all levels of experience designed to promote physical wellbeing while relieving stress

Chair massage – A quick and effective way to address common areas of discomfort resulting from long hours spent at a desk

Wellness Day – Yoga and chair massage for team-building events or retreats. A perfect taste of health and relaxation that will complement any group event.

Selected Client List Art Institute of ChicagoMcDonald's CorporationCity of ChicagoAvon Walk for Breast CancerYelp.comFleet FeetLincoln Square Chamber of

CommerceRavenswood RunYMCA of ChicagoLocke Lord Bissell & LiddellSavings.com Vetro Condo Building McAlpine Consulting

Kickin' Maternity Active Moms Club KidsWork Chicago The Latin School Waters Elementary School

Contact

Lawrence Ave

Wilson AveRockwell Western

(brown line)

Welles Park

Sunnyside Ave

Montrose Ave

Leland AveBloom Yoga Studio

Rockwell St

Western Ave

Lincoln Ave

M M

4663 N. Rockwell, Chicago, IL 60625 | 773-463-YOGA (9642) | bloomyogastudio.com

For more information contact Anna Stefanski, Studio Manager astefanski@bloomyogastudio.com