Our Teachers at Stardust Yoga Studio

Jenine Clevenger, RYT

Jenine loves sharing the transformative and healing practice of yoga with both kids and adults. Her intention is to help people feel strong and balanced during practice and out in the world. Her other passion is art. She has B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Jenine makes her kids’ yoga classes playful by incorporating art and yoga games in addition to asana, relaxation, and meditation. She teaches yoga and art workshops as well.

Jenine first learned techniques for sharing yoga with children and their families in 2012 from Global Family Yoga. In 2014 she obtained her 200 hour certificate in Hatha Yoga from Essencia Yoga. She completed a Therapeutic Yoga for Children training with Mira Binzen in 2017.

Bichthuy Nguyen

Bichthuy, or Bee for short, is a mother and a resident in LaGrange, Illinois. She completed her 95-hour Children's Yoga Teacher Training through Mission Propelle in April 2018, however she has been passionate about yoga for almost five years. Bee sought out her teaching certification not only because of her passion for yoga, but because she wanted to enrich the lives of children through this practice. Bee is always absorbing the world with an open heart, ready to help and empower all of her students through yoga. She has a palpable zest for life and wants to give all of her students the best opportunity to grow and learn from yoga. Bee has a foundation of skills and knowledge that she is excited to share with Stardust Yoga!

Jim Dietz, CYT

Jim began practicing yoga eight years ago looking for relief from injuries from years of running. He enjoyed the way his body felt after his practice and really loved how it made him feel mentally. He initially took classes at an Iyengar Yoga studio and, subsequently, studied Vinyasa, Ashtanga and restorative yoga styles as well. Jim received his 200 hour certification from Moksha Yoga Chicago in 2011, where he logged over 700 hours of study. He has been teaching in the Western suburbs since his certification. Jim believes that yoga is for everyone! His style incorporates Vinyasa flow at the beginning of the asana (physical) practice to warm up the body, then moves into an Iyengar-influenced style where poses are held for longer periods of time to help students build strength, focus and flexibility. He places great emphasis on alignment and an awareness of one’s physical being to ensure students’ safety in their practice. In his use of the many props available, Jim appreciates that students are well supported so that they may attain the maximum benefits of their poses. His teaching style encourages students to unite the body, breath and mind and to find that balance between sukha and stirdha (effort and ease). Jim works as a tax accountant and enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, gardening and educating himself on healthy living.

Jaci McCarty, CYT

Jaci began her yoga journey after a running injury. Jaci instantly noticed the benefits to her body however she did not expect the profound positive changes that would impact her thought patterns and habits. Through the practice of yoga Jaci discovered a deeper connection between her mind and body, as well as, she learned to cultivate the breath. Through breath awareness Jaci came to the realization that the breath could be used as a tool for creating positive changes in her own life. Once she discovered how yoga could be used for personal transformation, she wanted to share the benefits with others. Jaci completed her 200-hour teacher training at the Temple of Kriya Yoga Chicago, studying with Kim Schwartz and David Lipshutz and then went on to complete an advanced training at Prairie Yoga with Lori Gaspar. Jaci's teaching style is based on the Hatha Yoga tradition where she focuses on grounding and opening energy that helps her students to connect with their mind and body. Jaci enjoys teaching with the seasons and providing insight into everyday life. She has the intention of giving her students the tools to be able to take their yoga practice "off the mat" and use it in everyday life so they are able to live with intention and be the creator of their own life experience. Jaci is very passionate about sharing yoga with her students including middle school and high school aged children.

Alicia Buivis

Alicia Marie is a fun, loving and free spirit who has deep passion for Pilates, yoga, meditation and healing. She began her journey in 2016 to take her power back after experiencing a 2 year depression. She felt that there had to be something more to life than her daily routines and habits. She set out on a journey to seek fulfillment, creative expression and self love. Taking a risk she overcame her fear of public speaking and completed her Pilates certification in January of 2016. Shortly after falling in-love with teaching she traveled to the Heart Of Peru to attend her 300 Hour Teacher Training in July of 2016. She spent weeks studying the Native American Medicine Wheel and participated in several Indigenous Ceremonies. She feels a calling to continue to better herself, others and our Earths severely damaged environment. Through the willingness to grow she has transformed her life using these powerful tools. Her motto is to live a life beyond your wildest dreams. Fire up your imagination and ask yourself, “What are you here to create?”

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Kate DeMatteo

Kate is a wife, mother of two and local Brookfield Resident. She has been a virtual health and fitness coach for just under two years helping men and women transform their lives in exercise, nutrition and health. "PiYo was the program that changed my life. The flow of the music against the dynamic movements make your body come alive and feel so good. I loved this format so much I decided to get certified. I'm excited to be teaching my first classes at Stardust yoga!". Piyo is Sweating, stretching, and strengthening—all in one workout—with a low-impact, high-intensity fusion of Pilates and yoga-inspired class.

Antonia Wang, RYT

Antonia discovered yoga in 2004 while living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2016, just before her 40th birthday. Delving deeper into the practice she loves and sharing it with others is her gift.

Antonia's classes are an exploration of safe alignment, right effort, and fluidity, drawing from an Iyengar-based training and traditional Hatha and Vinyasa practices. She encourages students to honor their bodies and adapt their practice to their needs through the use of props and modifications. Prior experience with Modern Dance influences her quest for grace in movement and sequencing. Antonia has a background in Marketing Communications, Project Management, and Education. She is a graduate of Prairie Yoga's 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Lori Gaspar and completed Sadie Nardini's Rockstar Teacher Training, with a focus on the anatomy of the core. A native of the Dominican Republic, Antonia is bilingual in English and Spanish. She enjoys cooking, traveling and writing poetry.