meet jen

Jen is a Certified Dog Trainer through Catch Academy and a 200H Certified Yoga Instructor (pursuing an additional 300Hs in 2026-2027), and Certified Mat Pilates Instructor.

As a young girl, Jen rode horses, and competed in hunter/jumper shows around Illinois with her horse, “Tae”. Growing up, Jen always had dogs, and enjoyed the comfort they provided when going through life’s journey.

After riding was over, the need to exercise persisted on, therefore she became a personal trainer when living in the city of Chicago. After moving to the suburbs, finding a gym that checked all the boxes nearby was the challenge, and the journey into Yoga began. Once achieving her first certification as a 200H instructor, she realized how expansive the yoga journey can become. Recently becoming certified in Mat Pilates, and continuing to pursue an additional 300H in Yoga Training in 2026-

When Charlie, a beagle/bulldog mix, came into Jen’s life her journey into dogs began. All she wanted to do was figure out what goes on in a dogs mind, and how can we create a secret language to communicate with them. That’s when she pursued her journey into dog training through CATCH Academy in 2018. Through their two-year mentorship program, she as able to complete her certification as a dog trainer.

Working with a variety of breeds, she has learned that most dogs are extremely responsive to training, when they are given clear and precise communication on when they are doing the right behaviors and when they are doing the wrong ones. Of course, timing is key in marking these signals, but that’s where Jen finds the joy in the journey. When dogs finally understand the cue, and when they offer the look of “Yes, I got it!” satisfaction.

From her experience as a yoga and pilates instructor, Jen has realized the most fulfilling part of life is being able to help others find peace within themselves. Through teaching yoga, Jen has found her passion for enhancing the human experience, both internally through yoga and externally through the love of a canine companion. Dogs are a great catalyst to social interactions, and with the societal isolation we are prone to fall victim; dogs can really help us get out of our shell and open ourselves to new experiences, relationships, and possibly a more fulfilled life.

That is why creating Dog Yoga classes, where we coordinate your yoga practice with your dog’s trained skills, and teach the dogs new skills to continue incorporating their learned skills with our practice! Join us on the mat, and don’t forget your treat bag :).