Meet the Team

OUR TRAINERS

Our Yoga Alliance Registered Team Members

Sara Curtin

Founder, Owner, Operating Director

Sara, founder and owner of Flower of Life Yoga & Wellness Center, has devoted her career to teaching yoga full-time. Her passion for teaching was sparked in 2016 by her first training in power yoga, which led her to obtain her RYT 200 and Children’s Yoga teaching certifications in Costa Rica the following year. During her time in Costa Rica, Sara began exploring transformative healing practices such as OSHOS Dynamic Meditation, Quantum Light Breathwork, and Kundalini Yoga, which have become an integral part of her healing journey.

She earned her E-RYT by teaching thousands of hours in diverse yoga formats, including Hot Yoga, Restorative, Vinyasa, and Yoga Strength, and co-facilitated teacher training’s for the Power Yoga community, where she had previously held a leadership role for seven years. Drawing from her life-changing experiences, she established Flower of Life Yoga and Wellness Center center dedicated to guiding individuals in rediscovering their inner resilience, overcoming trauma, and achieving comprehensive wellness.

Sara offers a genuine and expert balance of traditional wisdom and strength-based approaches to yoga, tailoring her teaching to each student’s needs. With a background in traditional yoga, power yoga, and weightlifting, her goal is to create a safe and effective class that emphasizes proper alignment and helps students discover and develop their full potential.

When not on her mat, she enjoys waking up early, spending time with her family outdoors and just recently began exploring the healing arts and benefits of Tai Chi.

Amanda Geddes

Operating Manager, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master Teacher

Amanda became a yoga instructor and Reiki Master to spread the love, joy and peace, yoga and energy healing brought into her life.

Her training is extensive, initially drawn to the physical aspects of yoga, she earned her 200hr certification in Power Yoga, then added Hot and Vinyasa certifications. Later she became passionate about sharing the benefits of meditation, breath work, yoga philosophy and hands on assistance with her clients, which lead her to become certified in Restorative, Yin and Meditation. She believes yoga is a life long study and she is a student for life.

She aspires to guide you to a place of peace and harmony within, by leading an inspiring class, that leaves you feeling connected, nourished and empowered, through the perfect balance of movement, breath, meditation, hands on assistance and yoga philosophy.

Amanda is also a certified Reiki Master, after witnessing the healing benefits of hands on assistance during her restorative classes and her own experience with energy healing, she felt called to integrate Reiki into her classes and private sessions, further supporting her community in stress reduction, relaxation and healing.

When she is not at the studio, you will find her with her family in nature, camping, hiking, biking and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Mike McGuigan

In-House Sound Healer, Reiki Master Teacher

Mike McGuigan brings over 20 years of experience as a multi-instrumentalist, playing music professionally both as a live performer and as a recording studio artist. Mike and music have been synonymous since a very young age. An outstanding Music Program at Batavia (IL) High School helped earn Mike a music scholarship to Western Illinois University.

After college, Mike continued performing professionally in various Jazz Ensembles and Rock & Roll bands in suburban Chicago. In 2013, Mike’s Yoga practice led him to discover the Crystal Bowls. His life would never be the same. In 2015, Mike started his own Holistic Health company, focusing on Sound Therapy, Crystal Singing Bowls, Sound Healing, and Reiki.

Mike is a Reiki Professional, for both humans and animals, and has grown a very successful practice as a Reiki Professional for Vitality Animal Chiropractic, in Aurora, IL. Mike is passionate and committed to help educate and raise the general public’s overall awareness and facts regarding Sound, Holistic, Natural Medicine and Healing methods, and is very excited about its future.

Sarah Amedeo

Yoga Teacher, Transformational Guide

Sarah’s practice began lying still, holding to the moment, breathing through distractions, and temptations, joyfully embracing the thoughts and seamlessly, allowing them to fade. Her meditation practice has been a strong foundation which has brought stillness, confidence, clarity, and ultimately, yoga.
After finding yoga, she soon discovered how these practices overlap: they happen at once and constantly. Upon that realization, she wanted to share her findings through teaching and inspiring others to be more mindful, deliberate, and calm.

Sarah has dedicated more than 20 years to researching the brain and its physiology, neuroscience, mental illness, and human behavior. In addition to teaching yoga and meditation, she is a transformational guide for one of the top personal development gurus in the world and is committed to helping others learn how to achieve self-mastery to create their best life. Her clear and distinct style “takes you into the present moment, the only place where life exists.”

Polly Deardorff

Yoga Teacher

Polly was initially drawn into yoga for its powerful relaxation effects after her first class in 1982. The first 15 years of her practice were Iyengar-based. In 1999 she also began to practice various flow styles such as vinyyoga and vinyasa yoga. For four decades, yoga and meditation practice have been a significant part of Polly’s life. She is a 500 hour certified yoga instructor (2010) and has had many hours of training in addition to that certification. She taught yoga classes for college credit through the PE dept at COD for 14 years, and also taught at Prairie Yoga, Wheaton Sport Center and out of her home.

Her teaching style is a fun eclectic blend of all she has learned so far. Her passion is inspiring students to slow down, tune in, and connect with the Love, Light & Wisdom within them to expand their own well-being and and thus extend well-being into the world. She believes that yoga philosophy contains profound wisdom and insights that can help guide us as we collectively move to release the old paradigms of fear/conditioned thinking, and shift more fully into our Love-based Being that is at the heart of our Divine essence.

Some of her hobbies are dance, regenerative gardening/permaculture, and holistic health. A former RN, she maintains her license as a nurse with a passion for natural health solutions. She is also a Bellanina Natural Facelift massage practitioner.

Jack Erwin

Yoga Teacher, Veteran, VFW Post Commander

Jack discovered yoga from a friend in 2009. After serving as a US Army officer, including 3 deployments, he retired from the Army in 2010. Over time, Jack discovered the healing powers and health benefits of yoga, breath work and meditation, leading him to become certified in Bikram and Vinyasa, with additional training in breath work, yoga for military personal and Yin.
Jack has a passion for community service and helping other veterans. He is actively involved as the St. Charles VFW Post Commander, Team Red, White & Blue Chapter Captain and is connected with Patrol Base Abbate, Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans and Merging Vets & Players.

In his civilian life, Jack serves as a middle school teacher in Wheaton, teaching history and math to students with special needs. When not at the studio, he enjoys visiting with his daughters, going on outdoor adventures and is always on a quest to find the best cup of coffee.

Emily Weiberg

Yoga Teacher, Energy Worker, Licensed Massage Therapist

Emily Weiberg began her yoga practice over 10 years ago. While the asana (poses) drew her in, it was the lifestyle that yoga provided which changed her life. The way her life transformed through practicing the mindful movements and philosophies of yoga opened her eyes to a whole new world of healing. This journey led her to becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist, Energy Worker, and Yoga Instructor so she could share these healing gifts with others.

While not teaching yoga, Emily loves spending time in nature with her husband Nick and German Shepherd Raven. She also loves making macrame and cuddling with her orange tabby cat Chi. And in exciting news, Emily and Nick have welcomed their baby girl earth side last August!

Mark Gillono

Tai Chi Teacher

Mark Gillono has been practicing Taiji for 16 years, teaching for 13 years and believes it to be an excellent complement to yoga class.

Tai Chi (also known as Taiji) is the ancient Chinese practice of conscious flowing gentle movements which was originally created as a martial art but also has physical health and mindfulness benefits.

Taiji has been described as “moving meditation” and incorporates balance, breathing and relaxation executed through a sequence of continuously connected movements called forms.