Aileen Hansen, R.N., is a Certified Yoga Instructor, registered with the national Yoga Alliance association at the 500-hour level and has been teaching yoga since 1983.

As founder of Contemporary Yoga Inc. in 1986, one of the pioneer yoga studios in Chicago, she has trained teachers and taught yoga to thousands of students. Over the past 26 years, she has also established yoga programs in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, schools, corporations, and recreational centers.

After 18 years of instructing yoga in the Chicagoland area, Aileen relocated to Houston in 2001, where she currently teaches. Her instruction ranges from helping adept students improve their headstands to creating modifications for senior citizens with medical limitations.

Being a Registered Nurse, Aileen has extensive knowledge about the body and health. Nearly two decades of operating room and intensive care nursing experience enhance her expertise in fitness and wellness. Combining her skills, she speaks to various organizations about the ancient philosophy and multifaceted health benefits of yoga. Also a writer, Aileen Hansen has published over 25 educational and inspirational articles on yoga and wellness.

Aileen was initially trained to teach yoga in 1982 at the Chicago Yoga Institute, where she served as Assistant Director. Her original yoga training was in Swami Rama's  Himalayan Institute style.  After meeting Sri BKS Iyengar in l984, she studied and taught his form of yoga for several years.

Since 1988 to the present, Aileen has been studying with Kripalu Yoga/ Amrit Yoga originator, Gurudev Sri Amritji (Yogi Amrit Desai), an internationally renowned master, who has most significantly influenced her teaching and personal yoga practice. She received a more recent yoga teaching certification in 2004 for Level I and Level II of Amrit Yoga. In January 2006 she traveled on a pilgrimage to India with a group of yoga practitioners and Yogi Desai to study the spiritual heritage of yoga.

Aileen was also initiated in Paramahansa Yogananda's Kriya Yoga in 2000 by Swami Anilananda. Additionally, she completed a 6-year raja yoga study with Paramahansa Yogananda's organization,  the Self Realization Fellowship.

As a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Yoga Teachers Association of Houston, she currently serves on the Advisory Board after having served as President and Secretary.