Teacher Feature: Theresa Mikuls

Focus Yoga instructor Theresa Mikuls offers time each week to a very special group in the LaGrange area struggling with homelessness. Here, she tells us a bit about her journey and the work she does.

FY: Tell us about your interest in teaching this special population.

Theresa: Since starting my yoga journey it has been a dream of mine to  teach yoga to the homeless. I started a class about 5 months ago called Karma Yoga that meets in a church in La Grange.  The class meets one hour a week and I teach a combination of meditation breathing and asana.

FY: What made you interested in this? 

Theresa: I came from a family of 7. I was nearly homeless when my father died and my mother lost her mind. My siblings and I were divided up between both sides of the family. Eventually my maternal grandmother gathered us together and we lived with our grandmother and grandfather on their farm. I have always been grateful to her for providing us with a home. So 14 years ago I began working as volunteer with a local homeless program.

FY: What is class like?

Theresa: I bring soothing music, light incense and start with the students sitting in chairs. We practice lots of stretching and then stand and do simple asana using the chair for balance. Eventually I bring them onto their backs for stretching and twisting. Depending on previous injury sometimes the most I can do for them is to have them lie on their backs with their legs on a chair. They are amazed how good this can feel.


FY: Are your students consistent?


Theresa: I have a small group that return each week. New people join and some people leave during the sessions. One person left literature on how yoga comes from the devil.


FY: How do you bring the “mind” aspect to class?

Theresa: I avoid any counseling, social work, or religious preaching. Instead, I talk about their true selves as they are wise, kind, and loving spirits.  I ask them 3 questions: Who are you? What do you want? How can you serve?
     Then, I break down the concept of who you are (mother, brother, child etc). I instruct them to ask the Universe for something.
     I conclude with knowing who we really are allows us to find out what we are truly good at and then we can serve others, fulfilling our dharma.
     Life, again is very messy. After class many of my students can be seen outside sharing a smoke!

FY: Theresa, thank you so much for sharing with us!