Heather's Zen Den | Yoga Studio in East Alton, IL

95 Eastgate Shopping Center | East Alton, IL | 618-373-9099

Our Team

HEATHER GARRIGUS - studio owner

Heather, our studio owner, originally started her yoga journey in 2010. She had more free time and decided to try something new. It was at this time she fell absolutely in love with Yoga. It was in September of 2016 when she graduated from Jane’s House of Well Being with a 200-hour certification and began her teaching journey.

After working in her community and sharing her knowledge with students as to all the many benefits of yoga she decided to further her individual growth. She continued her education and received numerous certifications in Yin, Restorative, Deep Buti and Yoga for all.

She received her 500-hour yoga certification in May 2021. She joined the River Bend Growth Association Ambassador Committee in 2023. She received her Kundalini Yoga certification August 2023. She also received her Mindful Healing Practitioner and Ayurvedic Nutritionist Certification in 2023.

Her passion has always been beginners. She loves to offer classes that are fun, lighthearted, and not so serious. She is always joking around while teaching classes.

She decided to open Heather’s Zen Den Yoga Studio as an outlet to share her love of yoga with the community while offering various classes at an affordable price. She wants students to feel comfortable while attending classes because yoga really is for everyone.

When not at the studio, she likes to spend her free time with her loving husband, Jason. She also has three cats named Sam, Dean, and Maggie. She loves learning new things and meeting new people.

CHANDRA

Chandra's love and appreciation for movement and dance are limitless. She has been dancing since a young child and has always wanted to find a way to share her love for it. The practice of Yoga presented itself in her college years and she was immediately hooked.

Once she heard of Buti Yoga in 2018 she was compelled to become certified and learn more about the practice. This practice combines her personality and passion for yoga and movement and her hope is to uplift others to be the best version of themselves while encouraging that deep and positive connection with the self and others. Buti Yoga is a practice of going within to discover your true power and full potential.

It’s more than just a workout. It is a combination of dynamic yoga fused with primal movement and deep abdominal engagement. It is cardio intensive allowing you to tap in and sweat with intention while transforming your mind, body, and soul.

She recently earned her 200 hour yoga certification and continues to find herself on her own mat daily. She believes being a student helps her to be a better teacher. Chandra also teaches high school graphic design courses. COME JOIN OUR TRIBE...WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU!

ANDREA

Andrea found yoga in 2008 after two balance related injuries within 6 months. Interested in finding balance in a low impact way Andrea started taking yoga classes. After a while yoga offered more benefits than the physical balance she was looking for.

Intrigued to find out more she attended West East Yoga in 2018 for her 200 hour certification. In 2019 she continued her yoga journey and obtained her 300 hour certification. In 2023, Andrea received her 220hr Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Certificate.

Andrea likes to focus on using props and a low and slow approach. “The great thing about yoga is you do what your body can do and practice makes progress.”

SHEENA

Sheena’s curiosity brought her to yoga. With a passion for understanding and finding something in yoga that drives her.

As she continued to find out more, the more she wanted to know.

Graduating from Yoga Teacher Training she is excited to start at Heather’s Zen Den to come full circle from starting on the mat to teaching,

NANCY

Nancy started a beginner yoga class in 2013 to manage her work/life balance. Before her first class, she thought yoga was more of a religion, and the poses she had seen seemed extreme.

Following this class series, she wanted to learn more about the history of yoga philosophy. Thus, she began her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training through West East Yoga in St. Louis. She started teaching locally in Alton, but it was difficult to devote the time to this with her full-time nursing job as a transplant coordinator at Barnes Hospital.

She resumed teaching yoga following her retirement in 2022. Her focus is to encourage others to practice “self-care” and remain physically and mentally active throughout life. Her favorite classes are Restorative, Vinyasa Flow, and Ashtanga. Nancy’s restorative class is unique because she provides individual attention to each student, enabling them to achieve a deep, restful state.
Her favorite things in life are anything related to nature, honeybees and pollinators, birds, wildlife, herbs, and flowers. She likes upcycling old wood and repurposing old furniture. She loves spending time with her husband, John and her best boxer boy, Hank!