Mercedes Gomez, CYT

Mercedes L. Gomez was born in El Salvador, raised in Nevada and has been residing in the city of Chicago for almost a decade. Her early interest in dance and music led her to pursue professional training in the movement arts. She began her career as a massage therapist in 1999 followed by her national certification for therapeutic massage and bodywork in 2001.

In 2002 she received certification as a Thai Yoga practitioner, as a student of Paul Weitz, and in 2005 she became a Certified Yoga Instructor from Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago.

In May of 2007 Mercedes completed a Teacher Training with Eric and Lisa Paskel at Yoga Shelter in Michigan. After having attended a workshop on Yoga for Addiction at Moksha Yoga with Eric Paskel in 2004 Mercedes’ interests were sparked to the psychological effects of Yoga on behavior.
Last December, after beginning to work with Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) Mercedes opened all of her Yoga classes to any veterans free of charge.

In April 2008 Mercedes completed her most recent teacher training with Richard Miller in Yoga Nidra/ Integrative Restoration. Integrative Restoration is a modern adaptation of Yoga Nidra, the ancient form of yogic meditation. Integrative Restoration helps you break free of self-limiting patterns, emotions and beliefs so that you may live a contented life, free of conflict, anxiety and suffering.

Richard Miller’s work has received much recognition from the Walter Reed Army Hospital in helping soldiers heal from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Mercedes is continuing this work here in Chicago by donating public and private classes to service members returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mercedes personal practice includes Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, and Hatha Yoga. Some of her inspirations are teachers such as Tias Little, Suddha Weixler, Sean Corn, Suzanne Sterling and Laura Henke of Moksha Yoga.

Mercedes is currently pursuing a path of service and gratitude through her ongoing study of Yoga, Hoop dance, Fair Trade and Fire dancing. She is also the founder of Chicago Hoop Dance and Blaze Chicago, the city’s newest Fire Dancing Troupe.