What’s Ahimsa?
Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word that means non-violence or non-harming in thought or deed. It’s one of the first pieces of yoga philosophy.
Our vision is to become a yoga sanctuary where you can find classes all day long, trainings to further your growth, special events and workshops, trainings, retreats, ethically sourced products and instruments, and more.
We aspire to be a place where you feel safe, special, and at peace. We hope you feel at home here.
Welcome to the Ahimsa Family.
Our Values
Community - connection, service, friendship, and family
Compassion - respect, kindness, belonging, caring, and giving back
Harmony - balance, gratitude, vision, and health
Integrity - honesty, ethics, authenticity, and safety
Excellence - sustainability, clarity, collaboration, organization, adaptability, and innovation
Ahimsa’s History
Ahimsa’s journey from the beginning is long and complex. It began with a story about how Kelly Merydith worked at a financial trading company in Chicago and discovered that it was causing a lot of stress and anxiety.
Kelly and her father, Chuck Merydith, worked tirelessly to open Ahimsa Oak Park in May of 2011. Shortly after, Chuck was pulled to his newfound purpose - to teach yoga and share the practice that helped him so much. 9 years later, multiple yoga trainings, hundreds of yoga classes, and dozens of sound baths later, he recently moved down South.
Ahimsa Berwyn was born in 2015 from Masin Ouksel’s idea to leave the taxing rat race and live a life of meaningful purpose. Since then, Masin and Kelly have worked together to bring Ahimsa to the Western suburbs of Chicago.
Ahimsa’s team now consists of Kelly’s mom Carol, and her sister, Ashley, Christiane Broihier, Ahimsa’s events manager, Ahimsa’s Elmhurst manager Reneé Mitchell, and Ahimsa Evanston’s manager Madison Dillenbeck.
Now we offer 4 beautiful studios - Oak Park, Berwyn, Evanston, Elmhurst, and a Sound School nestled in the lobbies of Ahimsa Oak Park and Evanston, with events at all locations.