Manager
A friend introduced Michael to yoga seven years ago with a Rodney Yee video. After a summer of Rodney’s “Namastes,” Michael finally attended an actual class and has been practicing regularly ever since. In 2003 Michael moved from Chicago to Madison and soon tried his first Bikram yoga classes with Inner Fire Yoga’s Darlene Vander Hoop and Marit Sathrum. Michael loves the class’ unique mix of heat, focus and stretching along with the instructor’s inspiring insights. Also, Michael earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Chicago in 1999 and worked many years with persons with developmental disabilities. In addition to his new managerial role at IFY, he draws portraits of friends and relatives, reads obsessively about music, and travels regularly to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with his wife, Mary.

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Yoga Instructor
Alex left his engineering career in January of 2004 to start a new one helping others eliminate their pain through yoga and hands on therapy.  Having struggled with lower back pain for years, Alex gave up on his mystified doctors, PT's, & Sports Medicine Specialists and finally found his calling in Yoga and Integral Bodywork™,  (a form of hands on therapy that manipulates the body's fascia, muscles, & other connective tissues in order to reshape and balance its structure - he says its "like yoga on crack") receiving certifications in both in 2004.  

Alex's teaching focuses heavily on Alignment, Breath, Action, & Attitude to target full detoxification of the body (physically, emotionally, & mentally).  The result is a class meant to push one's spiritual edge from struggle to ease; from intensity to peace; and from madness to clarity.  "The trick," he says, "is to eliminate the blocks that keep one's body from its alignment with Nature.  From there comes action without stress which heals even certain serious ailments such as the bulging discs I once had.  Align with Nature and there is great flow."

Alex has recently added Thai / Yoga Body Therapy to his healing repertoire.  For more information, check out his website at www.integralnest.com.

Description of Alex's flow class

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Yoga Instructor
Angie Carlson began her yoga journey almost ten years ago and immediately witnessed its transformative power. While she started practicing yoga for its physical benefits, she quickly noticed that the practice permeated every aspect of her life, opening her heart to new experiences and ridding her mind of unhealthy patterns.  Since her first class, Angie has worked to increase yoga’s presence in her life by practicing frequently and taking as many classes and workshops as she can, many with internationally-known teachers. Her passion for yoga led her to study with Jaqueline Heisel at Frog Lotus Yoga in western Massachusetts, where she completed her 200 hour teacher training in vinyasa flow yoga in 2005. She is continuing her training with Shiva Rea, whose energetic, fluid approach has greatly influenced Angie’s practice and teaching.

Description of Angie's class

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Yoga Instructor
Jackie came home from Baron Baptise’s Level 2 teaching training in Montana feeling very humbled and ready to teach and live her life with her heart wide open. She feels blessed to be part of Baron’s Level 2 teachers. It has been an amazing journey, and Jackie feels it is her karma to spread the light of this powerful yoga, and is honored to do so.

After her first Baptiste Flow class with Baron, Jackie knew she had found the style of yoga that fit her. Having been a physical fitness and nutritional enthusiast for many years, Jackie remembers her first Baptiste flow class as a mind-blowing experience. It was an amazingly powerful physical challenge, yet, at the same time, the practice fostered an immense feeling of gratitude, peace, and joy, that she had never felt before. Coming to her mat each day, Jackie feels it is a sanctuary to strengthen her physical body, awaken her spiritual being, and open her heart and mind to all the possibilities. Jackie helps to create an environment that allows her students to do the same during her classes.

Jackie is a level 2 Baron Baptiste Power Vinyasa Flow trained instructor, completing level 2 in September 2007. Jackie completed Baron Baptiste’s Power Vinyasa Flow Level 1 teacher training in 2004. In addition to her Baptiste training, Jackie has attended workshops with Bryan Kest, Gregor Singleton, Seanne Corn, and Krishna Das.

Besides teaching yoga, and spending time with her family, Jackie has been a practicing RN for over 24 years. She feels that nursing and teaching yoga go hand in hand. Jackie loves to be part of peoples’ lives no matter how they got to be where they are. She believes that each time a person comes to their mat, it is an opportunity to “clean the slate” and open up to whatever awaits them. She invites you to come and experience the magic.

Description of Jackie's class

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Yoga Instructor

It’s all about balance.

As a 10-year fitness professional, I sought yoga looking for new routes to strength, power and flexibility. The benefits quickly surpassed my every notion. Yoga helped me temper my over exuberance, add grace and fluidity to my movement, and open my mind and heart to new ways of thinking, believing and living. I learned mindfulness, intuition and awareness.

I completed my 200hr teacher training program through Feel Your Best Yoga, a style which integrates Viniyoga, Iyengar, and Ashtanga. My purpose is to connect my students with the method that will help them discover their physical, mental and spiritual potential. From beginner to athlete I empower. Challenge. Guide. Give energy. Give joy.

I teach with the firm belief that all people can benefit from a regular yoga practice, and approach each class with the keen responsibility of giving every individual the opportunity to discover their personal best. As I teach, I too am able to learn.

I am honored to share my passion for Yoga, and grateful to be a part of others’ journey toward overall health and awareness.

Description of Julie's class

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I hope to teach yoga that is challenging to students endeavoring to learn more and extend their boundaries. I also would like to help those who come for healing. That has inspired me to go beyond my 200 hour certification with Yoga Alliance into more training at the 500 hour level to become a certified yoga therapist.

I hope to continue to learn as much as I can to teach yoga to the masses, yet also want to work with the individual. The best part of being both a teacher and a student is to be a part of the yoga community and to share that bond within the community of personal growth from the practice.

Description of Joan's class

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Yoga Instructor
Orianna loves challenges, building friendships, painted fingernails, and above all YOGA. Her obsession with it began just four years ago, when she stumbled into a yoga class practically by accident and fell instantly in love. Since that very first class she's had an incredibly dedicated and devoted practice. She has completed the 200 hour CorePower Yoga teacher training program where her passion for adho mukha svasana, bakasana & savasana (among other favorite poses) only deepened. Finishing her degree at UW in nutrition and psychology has helped to round out her mind/body approach to wellness and being. She subscribes to one of the many schools of thought that yoga can be both a moving meditation and something that exhausts the body to prepare the mind for meditation. She likes to teach the type of class she would like to take; one that pushes both physical and mental boundaries.

Description of Orianna's class

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Instructor Apprentice
After 10 years of rowing, and after winning 2 Olympic Medals, I decided to return to school and finish my graduate work in exercise physiology and work on a doctorate in bio mechanics.

I came to yoga as an academic endeavor.  Looking for an aid in understanding of the human body, I thought yoga would be a perfect practical discipline to supplement my coursework.  I liked the fastidiousness of Bikram's disciplined structure and gradually found my practice eclipsing the academia of the yoga. I watched myself evolve physically and mentally.

The longer and the more committed I practiced, the more total and complete my evolution.  As a rower athlete, I possessed the litany of maladies one accrues after being dedicated for 10 years to a single sport with asymmetrical forces.  Bikram Yoga is fixing each imbalance and injury.  As my practice continues to evolve, it has begun to transcend the physical healing, and I have found a mental acuity in my studies and a personal calm that has previously eluded me all my life.

The community at Inner Fire Yoga has strengthened my Faith, and individuals have awed me with not only the possibilities of the human body, but with the resiliency of the human spirit as well.  I have been inspired to learn to teach; to support and encourage others in their yoga journey.  My teaching has strengthened my practice and the two continue to exist as sharpening stones each improving the other in tandem. I look forward to receiving formal teacher training and becoming a certified yoga instructor in the near future.

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Yoga Instructor
Kate's dedication to the practice and instruction of Yoga began with her discovery of Hatha Yoga in 1990 during a brief sojourn at the University of New Mexico. She moved to Madison in 1991 to attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. She obtained a Masters Degree in Art History from UW-Madison, where she studied Early Spanish Columbian Art. With the birth of her second daughter in 1994, she made the decision to leave the curatorial/academic life and focus on family. Two more boys followed in 1996 and 2000. In the year 2000, Kate had begun to focus on running, completing marathons and half-marathons over the next few years. As distance running took a subtle toll on her body, she turned to Yoga as an adjunct activity to improve her balance and strength. She found in Yoga the same meditative and restorative aspects that had originally drawn her to running: deeper rhythmic breathing, increased energy, better flexibility and heightened mental clarity. The yogic notion of listening to your body and honoring your intuition resonated deeply, both on and off the mat. In her home, surrounded by a family of six, a cat, a dog, three fish and a frog, there can be found a heart opening calm amongst the intermittent chaos.

In 2005, Kate began to focus primarily on Vinyasa Flow and Bikram Yoga, practicing extensively at Inner Fire Yoga Center for Wellness in Madison. In spring of 2007 she finished Baron Baptiste Teacher Training (200 hours), studying at a Baron Baptiste Affiliate Studio. In the autumn of 2007 she completed an intensive mentorship with Marit Sathrum, concentrating on Bikram Yoga. Kate remains committed to her Yoga practice and finds great joy in sharing its principles with her students.

Kate Schmitz, RYT, CYT

Description of Kate's class

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Ken discovered yoga in 2003 as an alternative to knee surgery recommended to fix years of wear and tear. After 60 consecutive days of yoga, healthy knees, a revived spirit and mental clarity he was convinced that yoga would be a key part of his life. In April 2008 Ken took the leap and resigned from his corporate job as a systems analyst to devote his attention to practicing and teaching yoga. Having successfully completed the very demanding 200+ hour Forrest Yoga Teacher training program he is thrilled to be teaching his students about the joy, well being and fulfillment of a regular yoga practice. Ken's classes focus on the healing power of breath while engaging in a rigorous series of asana's that will challenge you to go deeper, building your strength, integrity and spirit. Ken is the father of three children and lives in the Madison area. He has a strong belief in the mind body connection and is working on his 500+ hour Forrest Yoga certification.

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