About Us
Lorena Mancilla, PhD | Founder and Instructor
Dr. Mancilla is an educator at heart. With over twenty years of experience in the field of education, she is highly skilled at designing and facilitating engaging learning opportunities for diverse audiences. Her experience as a bilingual educator includes teaching youth, graduate-level courses, and facilitating workshops for school leaders, teachers, and parents in English and Spanish. She creates spaces for learning that promote equity and foster a sense of belonging. Lorena has been recognized for her ability to make learning fun! Through Kinam Chicago, she now brings her passion for teaching and learning and vast experience in education to the wellness space.
In 2024, Lorena made a commitment to herself to live what she lovingly refers to as “la vida fit” – a healthy lifestyle. Through this commitment she unknowingly embarked on her journey into the wellness space. She joined fitness studios where she engaged in cardio dance classes and boxing. An unexpected benefit of these early experiences was gaining confidence in moving her body in new ways. This led her to practice mindful movement through yoga and Aztec danza. She enjoys time on her yoga mat and pausing to connect with her breath, mind, and body. The educator in her also enjoys finding ways to modify yoga poses to make them accessible to her body. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants that takes great pride in her cultural heritage, she was drawn to Aztec danza, a traditional practice that aims to keep Mexico’s indigenous roots alive through dance, songs, symbols, and ceremony. She is a member of Teotlecuilli, a danza group based in Schaumburg, IL. Through danza, Lorena found a culturally sustaining practice that cultivates a mind-body-spirit connection and nourishes her Mexican raíces.
Her journey has now led her to Kinam®, a mindful movement practice rooted in ancient Mexico. In 2025, she joined Instituto Kinam’s 5a Generación (5th Cohort) and completed the certification to become a Kinam® instructor. She founded Kinam Chicago to help bring this unique practice to the Chicagoland area. She is the first, certified Kinam® instructor in the Midwest to offer classes open to all.