Meet the Team

Our commitment to excellence in yoga practice is grounded in a rich tradition of teaching that emphasizes both physical and mental well-being. With a team of experienced instructors, we offer a diverse range of classes designed to enhance health and inspire a lifelong journey of mindfulness.

  • Lead Instructor

    Laura Black is a dedicated and experienced yoga instructor known not only for her grounding and empowering classes, but also for her deep compassion and commitment to supporting others. With over seven years of personal practice and a 200-hour RYT certification from the College of Lake County, Laura brings both heart and skill to every class she leads. She has been a registered Yoga Alliance teacher since 2020 and has continued to evolve her teaching with a blend of Hatha and Vinyasa styles that promote balance, strength, and self-awareness.

    With a background in teaching college-level English for over a decade, Laura naturally brings clarity, creativity, and inclusivity to her yoga instruction. Her journey into yoga began as a way to manage anxiety and reconnect with her body, and she now shares these healing tools with others in a welcoming and accessible way.

    In class, Laura encourages students to listen to their bodies, honor their breath, and practice from a place of self-compassion. Her calm presence, thoughtful cues, and grounding energy help students of all levels feel seen and supported.

    Beyond the mat, Laura is truly the heart of the studio. While not formally titled as an office manager, she serves in that role with grace and generosity—supporting the studio manager, fellow instructors, and every student who walks through the door. Her warmth, reliability, and willingness to go above and beyond make her an invaluable part of the community.

    Whether she’s teaching a class or helping behind the scenes, Laura leads with presence, purpose, and a genuine desire to help others feel more at home—in their bodies, their minds, and in the studio itself.

  • Meet Tracei Walker
    Owner & Founder of Nurture Yoga & Massage

    Tracei Walker is an experienced and compassionate yoga instructor and the founder of Nurture Yoga & Massage. She has been practicing yoga since 2005 and teaching since 2010, blending years of dedicated study with a deep passion for healing and connection.

    For Tracei, yoga is more than a physical practice—it’s a form of self-care, a spiritual path, and a personal lifeline. It is her therapy. The community she has cultivated at Nurture Yoga & Massage continues to inspire and ground her as a teacher, guide, and human being.

    Tracei received her foundational yoga training through the Himalayan Yoga & Meditation Center in 2009 and completed her 300-hour advanced teacher training through Essencia Yoga under the mentorship of Jeannine Busch Clinton (ERYT-500). She has also studied alignment and therapeutic techniques extensively with Gabriel Halpern in the Iyengar Yoga tradition.

    She holds certifications in Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Pre-Natal, Hot Yoga, Himalayan Yoga, and trauma-sensitive yoga. Tracei is also a Reiki Master and trained in Thai Massage under Jessi Rae. Her classes reflect a wide range of influences and are known for their balance of strength, stillness, and compassionate presence.

    In addition to her yoga training, Tracei holds a master’s degree in clinical counseling with a specialization in trauma, which brings depth and sensitivity to her teaching.

    Through every class and interaction, Tracei invites students to come home to themselves—to move with intention, breathe with awareness, and nurture the spirit from the inside out.

  • Lori Hanson
    Veteran Yoga Instructor & Reiki Master Teacher

    Lori is a seasoned and compassionate yoga instructor with over a decade of experience guiding students through mindful movement, breath, and inner stillness. A 200-hour Certified Yoga Instructor trained in the Himalayan tradition of Hatha Yoga & Meditation through the Lotus Yoga Center, Lori brings both wisdom and heart to her teaching.

    She is also a Certified Reiki Master Teacher, offering energy healing and instruction that supports deep relaxation and personal growth. With roots in the teachings of Swami Rama, Paul Grilley, Bryan Kest, Anna Forrest, Shakta Kaur, and the Sivananda lineage, Lori’s approach blends traditional grounding with intuitive insight.

    Known for her kind heart and gentle spirit, Lori is a guiding light to her students—always encouraging, inclusive, and grounded. Her love for animals and deep respect for nature inform her calm presence and nurturing style, both on and off the mat.

    “Yoga has been a refuge during stressful times,” Lori says. “My wish is to make yoga accessible to all. Mindful awareness of breath and body begins to calm the mind and lift the spirit. As simple as becoming aware of yourself on the mat is giving self-love. We then have that much more love to give.”

    Join Lori on the mat for Mindful Hatha Flow every Monday at 9:30 AM—a space to reset, reconnect, and receive.