Mary Rivas
Mary Rivas (RYT500) signed up for her first in-studio yoga class (at Thrive!) 5 years ago to help relieve prenatal issues during her second pregnancy. After having the most amazing experience, she couldn’t wait to be back after the baby was born. Mary loves coming into the studio for class, especially now that her 3 children are a bit older, but she never misses a chance to open her mat up at home. She says that the time spent playing on her mat at home helps bring inspiration to her fun vinyasa sequencing.
Mary’s prenatal classes are focused on four main elements: anatomy, connection with baby, self-love, and community. Her teaching style is designed to provide mothers the tools and techniques to tap into the power and strength they already possess.
Her vinyasa classes have been influenced by former years of ballet and a natural love for being upside down. Which means expect a strong dynamic flow with some advanced posture play. Like her prenatal class, she aims to bring body awareness and empowerment to all students ranging from a curious beginner to a seasoned yogi.
Lalita Vayavananda
Lalita completed her 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training in 2016 at The Tree Yoga Cooperative in Los Angeles, CA. Continuing her education, she has completed certifications in Yoga Therapy Level 1 at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles (CA), Sound Healing Practitioner at Reiki Wellbeing in West Covina (CA), Professional Thai Massage Therapy Level 5 at TMC Thai Massage School in Chiang Mai (Thailand), and Pre/Postnatal Yoga at Nature Yoga Sanctuary in Chicago (IL). She is currently earning a diploma as a Maternal Child Health Specialist at Midwest Maternal Child Institute and served as an on-call birth doula for a volunteer doula organization in Chicago.
She is a mother to an infant and a toddler and used prenatal yoga to help her achieve her own goal of natural births without drugs or intervention in a birth center and at home. Her love for yoga began over a decade ago way before pregnancy when she realized it was helping her to achieve strength, flexibility, and balance not only on the mat but in her everyday life as well. And with this, she continues to renew and transform while holding space for others to do the same. Her practice allows her to find equilibrium and be mindful in caring for her children. Her favorite pose is Standing Forward Fold and when she is not taking care of her babies she loves to travel, garden, sew, be by water and nature and learn new things.
