Yirser Ra Hotep (Elvrid Lawrence), is an innovator in the field of Yoga, Mediation, Stress Management and Holistic Health. He is the founder and owner of Kemetic YogaSkills LLC which specializes in Yoga Teacher Training and Certification for people in the Chicago area and across the globe. YogaSkills School of Kemetic Yoga operates the largest Black owned Yoga teacher training program in the world with over 12,000 graduates.

Yirser started his journey with Yoga from an African and Black perspective almost 50 years ago. Kemetic Yoga is based upon ancient African principles and designed to alleviate the stress and trauma specifically experienced by Black people in America, throughout the diaspora and Africa.

As a Social Worker with a master’s degree in social service administration he has designed Yoga based programs for populations with substance abuse problems, at risk youth, violence prevention and has facilitated research projects at Cook County Jail in Chicago. Yirser sponsors the Soul Yoga Fest, a free Yoga and Wellness event in Chicago annually. He also sponsors cultural heritage tours to Egypt, Ghana, Brazil and Jamaica annually.