About Aida

I am passionate and experienced in the areas of mindfulness, fitness, recreation, and performing arts. I founded my newest venture, Aspire to Harmony, LLC, in August 2020 to focus on creating rituals for cycle of life celebrations, well-being and workshops to support mindful solutions for living your best life.

 
I have a passion for learning about, hearing and sharing a good story and engaging with people. My experiences as a performer, fitness, yoga and meditation instructor and workshop leader have helped me develop an ability to listen deeply to my clients. Creating celebrations through ritual, connection and personal stories are meaningful and powerful expressions that can be used to grow and enrich our lives.  Ceremonies provide signposts for our lives by celebrating our past, present and future. As a Life-Cycle Celebrant my mission is to assist communities, organizations, families, couples, and individuals create ceremonies and celebrations that authentically represent milestones and lived experiences. 

My classes have been highlighted in the New York Post, Essence Magazine, Chicago Tribune, and Miami Herald, and on CNN and “Windy City Live.” For seven years I served as Director of Group Exercise at Chicago’s East Bank Club. During the pandemic, I facilitated virtual programming with livestreaming. Earlier, I created the design and was project manager for renovation of the club’s 70-bike indoor facility. I am a RYT 200-hour yoga teacher, registered with Yoga Alliance, and I maintain several other fitness certifications. I have been a professional dancer, soldier, cheerleader for the Chicago Bulls, Director of Student Recreation at California State University Northridge, and Special Events Coordinator for Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago. I have also trained and performed student improv at The Second City in Chicago and along with my husband provide workshops to organizations of all types using the tools of improvisation and storytelling to improve leadership and communication within work teams.