About Amala School of Yoga
Amala School of Yoga, LLC was founded in 2014 in Evanston, IL by Lela Beem and Cassie Rodgers, and is now finding new life with yoga teachers & former Amala trainees, Kristen Simons (LCPC, PMH-C E-RYT), Dana Podell (DPT, E-RYT), and Cami Codell (E-RYT). Kristen, Dana, and Cami met in the creation of the pre/postnatal yoga program at Grateful Yoga of Evanston, and connected over their shared love of serving this population. Their vision is to provide training, mentorship and support to other yoga teachers who want to work with pregnancy, birth, & postpartum, as well as to expand the network of perinatal professionals in the Chicago area.
Our Team
Cami Codell
CO-OWNER, LEAD TEACHER
Cami Codell (E-RYT) became a certified Kripalu yoga teacher in 2017 and specializes in trauma-informed therapeutic yoga for pregnancy/postpartum, children/families, and mental health. She has taught in various settings in North America, Europe, & Asia, including studios, schools, outpatient and residential psychiatric treatment, senior care facilities, and more. Cami’s aim is to lovingly support people’s total well-being using the practice of yoga, starting with our youngest generation.
Kristen Simons
CO-OWNER, LEAD TEACHER
Kristen Simons (LCPC, PMH-C, RYT) is a licensed mental health and certified perinatal therapist, yoga teacher, and mom of two. She specializes in supporting women across the lifespan who experience high-functioning anxiety, burnout, and identity distress with a special focus on the pre- and postnatal period. In her Evanston private practice, Kristen offers individual therapy and yoga therapy to help clients reconnect with their inner resilience and calm.
Dana Podell
LEAD TEACHER, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Dana Podell (DPT, E-RYT) is a licensed physical therapist and a certified yoga therapist specializing in women's health. She owns a private practice in Evanston, IL where she offers individualized treatments for pelvic health and pain care management as well as weekly yoga classes and workshops for the community. Dana is passionate about helping women connect to their body, heal pain, and embody health through the integration of physical therapy and yoga.
Lela Beem
CO-FOUNDER, GUEST FACULTY
Lela Beem (SEP, E-RYT, C-IAYT), an Evanston mom of two, co-founded Amala School of Yoga with Cassie Rodgers and served as co-lead teacher from 2014 to 2023. She co-owns and teaches at Grateful Yoga, a studio in Evanston with her husband, Nick. Lela has been teaching yoga since 2005 and is now a certified Yoga Therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. She specializes in working with individuals suffering from nervous system dysregulation after traumatic or stressful life events. To learn more about Lela's private practice, visit this page.
Cassie Rodgers
CO-FOUNDER
Cassie Rodgers, an Evanston mom of two, co-founded Amala School of Yoga with Lela Beem and served as co-lead teacher from 2014 to 2023. After many years of teaching yoga and training teachers, Cassie has delved into her work as an artist, her mediums including pottery and photography. She is part of the founding team at Stuart Rodgers Photography, and you and view and purchase her beautiful, handmade ceramics at crceramics.com.