Shhhh…. I’ve something to share with you that is so intimate and special, it’s best shared in a quiet space - A space where anything is possible and the very thought of these possibilities causes one to pause in profound silence.

This is the experience I share every Tuesday morning with my 9-month-old son, Ben, and our yoga teacher Yoli Maya Yeh. Yoli is the kind of yoga teacher you search the globe for and then find a few blocks from where you live. Her’s is the kind of class you never want to miss and will walk to in the rain or snow or sunshine.

Yoli teaches numerous yoga classes for every age of childhood - from prenatal - to baby - to full-grown kids yoga. The special class I attend is for mommy and baby. It’s Ben’s first yoga class of his new life and my first in my new life as a mother. Motherhood feels like a new lifetime for me and so my yoga studies begin again anew.

We live in a small apartment in Evanston where babydom now rules with hardly enough room for our baby, Benny, to crawl let alone do yoga poses with mommy and daddy. Nonetheless, we try our best, but coming to Yoli’s class where nothing has to be moved to make yoga space is a relief onto itself. Add on top of this, to be taught by such a gifted teacher, Benny and I feel like we are in yoga heaven! Of course, babies are so close to heaven already, so doing yoga with Benny just makes me feel a bit closer too.

Yoli teaches at Boocoo Café (1823 Church St), a cafe Ben and I happened upon on one of our daily buggy strolls. Whether you have a baby or not, I highly recommend a stroll through Evanston. The charming character in the established homes and beautifully manicured lawns create an invigorating walk. Boocoo fits well into this unique landscape. The café is filled with the hustle bustle of local residents and students coming by to savor a special class and/or some of the delectable and affordable vegetarian and organic fare, such as Homemade Curried Lentil Soup or Portobello sandwiches or Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothies.

When we first met our teacher, Yoli, her presence told us she was someone who was living her teachings. Her graceful stature and sense of joy radiated a kind warmth we immediately felt and were grateful for. You may wonder how one teaches yoga to a baby? Well, it’s quite intuitive, for the baby often leads the class, and Yoli expertly takes the cues and creatively leads us into heartfelt poses of bonding and nourishment for our souls. Although there is no rush, cobra pose can quickly flip into boat pose through the rubbery limbs of a child. Yoli’s watchful eye safely oversees these movements, while encouraging mom to join along in ways that are empowering to these harder adult bones.

So, thank you, Yoli, for such inspiring classes and for introducing Benny into this wonderful world of yoga. You have given us magnificent gifts to enter this New Year - intertwining us in yoga postures of love and peace. Cheers to heaven on earth!