Our Team

Kjerstine is an artist, a mom, and a fan of strong women. She is very happy to join the Hip Circle family. Raised in Evanston, she is happy to return to Evanston to raise her own daughter here. Kjerstine uses the pronouns she/her/hers.

Laura takes big problems and breaks them down into manageable chunks while brainstorming, collaborating, and delivering solutions. Her passion is enabling teachers to feel confident and supported so they are able to stay in the classroom and bring more continuity and dynamic teaching strategies to our students. From teaching, coaching, leading a school, and working in the education technology start-up world, she has grown her skills in identifying issues and then working tirelessly with students, teachers, school leaders, and software engineers to promote positive and sustainable solutions that continue challenging students and bringing teachers joy.

Malik Turley is a passionate and highly capable woman who, when she does something, goes all in. Perhaps surprisingly, her first career was IT. The experience of attending the home-birth of her friend’s child led to her becoming a Doula, which led to the discovery of belly dancing as a beneficial pregnancy exercise. This changed the course of her life. Belly dancing as exercise–and its impact on women–fully activated Malik’s interest in physical health. This propelled her through a procession of certifications and levels of instruction: Certified Datura Style™ Belly Dance Instructor (the only one in the Midwest); Licensed Zumba and Zumba Gold Instructor, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach. When we say your physical health is in good hands with Malik, you can believe it.   Her fitness instruction took her to facilities all over Chicago and the suburbs. What she found was a lot of dissatisfied women: women who felt uncomfortable in the typical health club, who didn’t want a co-ed space, who wanted more personal attention and guidance. Essentially, women who wanted to be seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are. Hip Circle was created for those women. As she worked closely with women and girls at Hip Circle, she observed a link between self-worth and body image that she didn’t herself have. She was compelled to unpack these two ideas and work with women to help them see that they ALL have worth above, beyond, and independent of their physical shape. She continues to explore and foster that philosophy at Hip Circle and has codified it in the Empowering through Movement™ teacher training program.

Susan is an information management specialist and technologist who seeks all forms of physical movement to offset her computer-focused career. With experience working at companies ranging in size from a one-room startup to an enormous global tech company, Susan enjoys working in small groups best and finds the Hip Circle vision and mission as well as the challenges of providing quality services to local communities inspiring. Susan moved to Evanston in 1996, left and then returned in 1999 and through Hip Circle has committed to being a positive influence through action to bring access to the special empowerment services of Hip Circle to more women.

Stephanie Draus, ND, RYT-500 is a naturopathic doctor, a yoga and meditation instructor, and a lifelong defender of the right of all women to speak our minds, control our own bodies, own our power, and take up space. A native of Chicago and a graduate of Loyola University, she is proud to support Hip Circle's mission to empower women all over the world from her current home in Mystic, Connecticut, USA. Stephanie is certified in Embodyoga, Mindful Yoga Therapy, and as a Grief Movement Guide. Her meditation instruction is based in Vipassana practice as taught in the Shambhala tradition. Her teaching focuses on a rooted experience of body, which connects breath, mind, and spirit to bone, muscle, and fascia. She finds joy in movement and in the marvels of the body (anatomy is power!) and finds peace in the connection of breath to movement and body to mind. Breathe, laugh, honor your skeleton!

Daina is a lover of languages, which she gets to use daily as a professional translator of German and Latvian. Her translation business has been going strong for nearly two decades now. An ETHS grad and long-time Evanston resident, she is also the mom of two feminist daughters. When she is not taking fitness classes and co-working at Hip Circle, Daina enjoys her dog and cat, reading, bullet journaling, listening to podcasts, and traveling, hiking and camping with her husband.

Tiffany Gorman is a poet, doula, and yogi. She went to Fisk University for undergraduate school and Johnson & Wales University for culinary school. After years in professional kitchens, having her daughter caused Tiffany to change careers to early childhood education. She has a Master's degree from Erikson Institute in early childhood development. Tiffany aims to project love and pride for her people by utilizing all of the wellness techniques available to her.

My pronouns are she/her/hers. My moving life started with tree climbing, roller skating, bike riding in Saginaw, MI and eventually, dancing. I studied various forms of dance and was able to work professionally with a number of ballet companies up until the age of 30. Out of necessity, came Pilates. I’ve been an instructor for over 20 years and have trained teachers for the past 6. My classes will leave you feeling capable and curious. Outside of this work, my husband and I are parents to two amazing humans, and two loving canines 😉 Life is full.

Gicela is a positive and energetic person that has a love for learning, connecting with others and empowering them. A native from Chicago, she obtained her BA in Psychology from DePaul University. Her professional experience in Human Resources has focused on Training and Development and Employee Engagement. Gicela has led various initiatives around culture, leadership, communication, teamwork and wellness. She has also coached and trained a diverse workforce through one-on-one and group sessions. Gicela’s passion for health and wellness shines through her daily habits and hobbies and has led her to pursue a Functional Medicine Health Coach Certification. She enjoys a variety of fitness activities, whether that be cycling indoors, bike riding through a forest preserve, boxing or having a dance party. Her daily walking ritual gives her the pleasure of connecting with nature and refilling her cup. Meditation has become a regular part of her routine and she finds excitement in exploring new mind-body techniques. As a foodie, cooking serves as her favorite creative outlet as she blends up a new green smoothie, experiments with new foods and finds interesting ways to whip up a new meal. I wonder what she’ll be cooking up next!

Hello Hip Circle Community. My name is Luisa Ortegon and I am very excited to join you. I was born in Colombia, South America. I have been in the United States for the last 15 years. I will be supporting Hip Circle as a center admin. I am currently going to school for data science. I’m passionate about learning new skills,so right now besides school I am learning my 3rd language (japanese). I love playing the piano and reading. Meditating is a must in my daily life, but also doing yoga, pole sport and hiking. My background experience is in networking, sales, outreach and business growth. I am very happy to be here and be part of this powerful and beautiful organization.