Step out of routine and into the living lineage of yoga and Vivekananda’s vision. 

Join Komal Bhonagiri and Julia Jonson for a one-day immersive retreat experience exploring the life, teachings, and enduring impact of Swami Vivekananda—a visionary who helped bring yoga philosophy to the West.

Our journey begins at The Home of Harmony on Chicago’s northside where we set the tone for a meaningful day of reflection and connection. We will practice yoga asana, pranayama, and meditation, sound bath, a light lunch, and learn much more about Vivekananda’s vision of harmony and oneness. 

We will then travel as a group to the Art Institute of Chicago, where we will visit this iconic site and stand in the vicinity of where Swami Vivekananda delivered his historic 1893 address at the World’s Parliament of Religions—a defining moment that helped reshape global understanding of yoga and spirituality.

This journey is centered around two powerful spaces in Chicago—The Home of Harmony and The Art Institute of Chicago, the historic site of Vivekananda’s 1893 address.

This is not just a yoga workshop—it’s a guided pilgrimage + cultural immersion. This is a rare opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Swami Vivekananda and experience yoga not just as practice, but as living philosophy—where history, devotion, and self-inquiry meet. 

Price

Early registration (first 10 participants) $400 – regular pricing $425. Use promo code: EARLYBIRD

In the spirit of Swami Vivekananda and the practice of selfless service, a portion of the retreat proceeds will support community nourishment and giving-back initiatives. A portion of our proceeds will go to feed those in need through I LOVE SAI

What’s Included

• Yoga class (asana, pranayama, meditation, philosophy) + sound healing 
• Teachings at the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago
• Light lunch served at The Home of Harmony (dietary restrictions considered!)
• Transportation from The Home of Harmony to The Art Institute of Chicago
• Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago
• Guided historical and philosophical explorations

Not Included in Price

• Travel to The Home of Harmony and return transportation from the retreat

• Return travel from The Art Institute of Chicago back home

• Optional dinner or additional meals not listed in the retreat program

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Inner peace isn't something we stumble upon—it's something we practice.

In yoga, this steady commitment is called sādhanā: a consistent practice that gradually transforms how we respond to life's challenges. Rather than eliminating stress, sādhanā teaches us to meet it with greater steadiness, clarity, and ease.

In this three-hour workshop, you'll discover how the wall ropes become an extraordinary tool for cultivating that inner stability. The ropes provide intelligent support, helping you refine alignment, deepen awareness, and release unnecessary tension. As the body becomes more balanced, the breath steadies, the nervous system settles, and the mind naturally grows quieter.

Whether you're new to the ropes or have practiced with them before, you'll leave with a deeper understanding of how skillful, consistent practice builds strength, confidence, and resilience—not only in your yoga, but in daily life.

Because peace isn't found by waiting for life to calm down. It's developed through practice, one breath, one posture, and one moment of awareness at a time.

Learn more about Julia

Register Here

Breathe life back into your practice and leave feeling renewed. We can’t wait to guide you on this empowering journey of breath and mindfulness!

This workshop is good for all levels, whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner. It’s a fantastic opportunity to refresh your practice, deepen your connection with your breath, and leave you feeling centered, re-energized, and more attuned to your body.

What we’ll explore:

• Stress management and relaxation
• Emotional balance and calmness
• A deeper connection to your body and breath
• Improved focus and clarity of mind
• Enhanced physical health and lung capacity

Learn more about Julia

Register Here

Please note that registration and the event location are hosted at The Yoga Effect. 

This workshop is proudly co-hosted by TBY Yoga and The Yoga Effect.

Yoga means union and offers four distinct paths that discipline the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our human potential. Join renowned master yoga teacher Gabriel Halpern for an illuminating evening exploring practical ways to understand ourselves, navigate our lives, and cultivate greater balance, meaning, and connection.

What to Expect

This engaging talk bridges timeless yogic philosophy with modern living. During the evening, you will explore:

• The ways of action, study, devotion, and contemplation to understand the Yogi as servant, devotee, sage, and mystic.
• The traditional scriptural underpinnings behind the four primary paths of yoga.
• Actionable insights on how to actualize and integrate these philosophical paths into daily life.
• Techniques to bring yoga off the mat to deepen self-awareness and spiritual connection.

About Gabriel

Gabriel Halpern, a masterful and renowned teacher of more than fifty years, brings yoga philosophy off the page and into everyday life, encouraging us not only to understand the teachings, but to live them.

Register Here

You don’t need to be an artist—just come as you are and allow yourself to create.

This special fall Mandala Art Meditation Workshop is an invitation to slow down, turn inward, and let your creativity become a pathway to self-discovery. As you work with shapes, patterns, and the rich colors of autumn, allow your subconscious mind to guide you. Your mandala may reveal emotions, intentions, dreams, or inner experiences that are waiting to be expressed.

Through the meditative process of creating your mandala, you’ll have an opportunity to release what no longer serves you, connect with what you truly desire, and consciously plant seeds of intention for the season ahead.

We’ll then move into a deeply relaxing Yoga Nidra practice, allowing the body and mind to integrate the experience before surrendering into a soothing Sound Bath.

Learn more about Komal

Register Here

Breathe life back into your practice and leave feeling renewed. We can’t wait to guide you on this empowering journey of breath and mindfulness!

This workshop is good for all levels, whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner. It’s a fantastic opportunity to refresh your practice, deepen your connection with your breath, and leave you feeling centered, re-energized, and more attuned to your body.

What we’ll explore:

• Stress management and relaxation
• Emotional balance and calmness
• A deeper connection to your body and breath
• Improved focus and clarity of mind
• Enhanced physical health and lung capacity

Learn more about Julia

Register Here

Are you struggling with difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, racing thoughts, or feeling exhausted despite getting enough hours in bed?

Join Ayurveda Doctor Swati Jadhav for an interactive workshop exploring sleep through the lens of Ayurveda. Learn how stress, lifestyle habits, digestion, and doshic imbalances affect sleep quality and discover simple, natural tools to support deeper, more restorative rest.

During this 2-hour workshop, you will learn:

• The Ayurvedic understanding of sleep (Nidra) and its role in overall health
• Common root causes of sleep deprivation and insomnia
• How Vata, Pitta, and Kapha imbalances affect sleep patterns
• Evening routines to calm the nervous system and prepare for restful sleep
• Ayurvedic nutrition and herbs that support healthy sleep
• Breathwork, self-care rituals, and lifestyle practices for better rest
• Simple personalized recommendations you can start immediately

Participants will leave with practical tools to help create sustainable sleep habits and improve overall well-being.

Perfect for anyone experiencing stress, burnout, restless sleep, or seeking a more holistic approach to health and wellness.

Learn more about Dr. Swati

Register Here

Breathe life back into your practice and leave feeling renewed. We can’t wait to guide you on this empowering journey of breath and mindfulness!

This workshop is good for all levels, whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner. It’s a fantastic opportunity to refresh your practice, deepen your connection with your breath, and leave you feeling centered, re-energized, and more attuned to your body.

What we’ll explore:

• Stress management and relaxation
• Emotional balance and calmness
• A deeper connection to your body and breath
• Improved focus and clarity of mind
• Enhanced physical health and lung capacity

Learn more about Julia

Register Here

Gabriel Halpern, a masterful and renowned teacher, brings yoga philosophy off the page and into everyday life, encouraging us not only to understand the teachings, but to live them.

As might be expected, practice plays a decisive role in all yogic endeavors. The texts are precise and unanimous about this: nothing can be obtained without practice. Success comes to one who practices, not to one who does not.

If you want to fly in Yoga, Abhyasa teaches you the importance of returning to the mat again and again. If you want to stay grounded at the same time, Vairagya teaches you how to let go of distractions—and anything you’d be better off without.

Together, Abhyasa (practice) and Vairagya (non-attachment) become two essential wings of the yogic bird: one helps us cultivate what matters, while the other teaches us what to release.

It’s really very simple:

Do Yoga a little, change a little.
Do Yoga a lot, change a lot.

It’s up to you.

Join Gabriel Halpern for one of his signature dharma talks, where yoga philosophy comes alive through music, poetry, storytelling, humor, and practical wisdom.

About Gabriel

Gabriel Halpern is a renowned yoga teacher, philosopher, and founder of the Yoga Circle in Chicago. He was named among the Most Influential Yoga Teachers by Yoga Journal and Sonima. He holds a BA in Philosophy and an MA in Health Psychology and trained at the Iyengar Yoga Institutes in San Francisco and Pune, India.

Gabriel has practiced yoga since 1970 and has taught workshops nationally. He founded the Yoga Circle in Chicago in 1985 and served for more than twenty years as core performance faculty in DePaul University’s Theater Department. In 2011, he received the Elder/Mentor of the Year award from the Mankind Project.

Under his guidance, the Yoga Circle was named Chicago magazine’s “Best Traditional Hatha Studio” in 2016. His teaching reflects decades of dedicated study and practice, bringing together the science, art, philosophy, lifestyle, and deeper dimensions of yoga.

At TBY Yoga, Gabriel contributes to our Yoga Teacher Training program as a Guest Teacher.

Register Here

Come join Komal Bhonagiri for a fun, playful Open Heart Partner Yoga Workshop designed to explore trust, connection, surrender—and plenty of laughter! ❤️

Bring a partner, friend, spouse, or loved one to share this experience with. And if you’d rather come on your own, that’s absolutely fine too—I’ll happily pair you with someone or partner with you myself.

The yoga poses will be simple, accessible, and interactive, allowing you to discover how the support of another person can help you move deeper, feel more grounded, and sometimes do so much more than you imagined possible. Through giving and receiving support, you’ll experience the beauty of trust, community, connection, and surrender.

We’ll close our practice with a soothing sound bath, followed by some homemade treats as we gather together and celebrate the warmth and joy of the Christmas season. 

Come with an open heart—and leave with a little more connection, laughter, and joy.

Learn more about Komal

Register Here

Breathe life back into your practice and leave feeling renewed. We can’t wait to guide you on this empowering journey of breath and mindfulness!

This workshop is good for all levels, whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner. It’s a fantastic opportunity to refresh your practice, deepen your connection with your breath, and leave you feeling centered, re-energized, and more attuned to your body.

What we’ll explore:

• Stress management and relaxation
• Emotional balance and calmness
• A deeper connection to your body and breath
• Improved focus and clarity of mind
• Enhanced physical health and lung capacity

Learn more about Julia

Register Here