Laura Yell - Owner/Instructor C.Y.T 200
As a lifelong dancer, movement has always been an integral part of my life. I was first introduced to yoga in 2005, while pursuing my B.A. in dance and studied a variety of styles before finding my true passion after stepping into my first Hot Vinyasa Class. I immediately felt at home on the mat and fell in love with the dynamic flow, the heat, and grace of the practice. I completed my yoga teacher training in 2007 and since that time I have had the opportunity to lead more than 2000 classes. I am so grateful to all the teachers and students that inspired me along my journey. I am a true believer in the powerful benefits of yoga and am passionate about sharing its amazing transformative effects with everyone.
Karly Sopcic - Instructor C.Y.T. 200
After my first heated Vinyasa flow class in 2009, I became addicted. It was love at first asana! After running and playing high impact sports most of my life, yoga was like the missing secret ingredient. My education in Radiology fulfills my interests in studying the human body and its function. But I find my true passion in the mind-body consciousness of yoga. I completed my 200-hour certification course at Hot House Yoga in Iowa City, April of 2012. My two favorite aspects of yoga are finding happiness in the present moment and using breath with synchronized movement to gain strength and flexibility. I'm very eager to inspire others in their journey to a healthy body, strong mind and finding inner peace.
Kate Hawthorne - Instructor R.Y.T. 200
I started lightly practicing yoga several years ago but in early 2013 felt a call to really explore the full practice. My life completely changed after my first heated vinyasa class; I knew I had found my passion. The physical yoga practice challenged me in ways I had never experienced and slowly started to influence other areas of my life. It wasn't long before yoga became completely interwoven in all areas of my life. I was shocked to find how strong the mind-body connection truly is and how the mind influences what the body is capable of. Right away my physical and mental strength grew to a level I never thought possible. I completed my 200hr certification under Debbie Williamson of Wild Abundant Life in June 2014 and also certified as a Yoga Personal Trainer and Yoga Body Bootcamp Basic Trainer. My classes are ever changing and evolving and I strive to bring awareness to the mind-body connection through breath work and intention setting. I hope to inspire everyone to find their passion on and off the mat.
Susie Wienke - Instructor C.Y.T. 200
I have been an exercise enthusiast since I was a child. By practicing yoga I have discovered the joy and benefits of linking breath, mind and body to create an amazing life. My classes are a mix of inspiration, challenge and support. Get ready to take chances, explore the unknown and grow your best self. You will leave class feeling strong, centered and relaxed. I believe that if you exercise your mind and body, your soul will be at peace. I spend my free time playing, biking and traveling with my husband and two kids.
Kara Felsman Ippoliti - Instructor R.Y.T. 200
I have always enjoyed the mental challenge that is inherent in physical activity. This began in my younger years with gymnastics & grew into trying many sports; I became an endurance runner in high school & continued into adulthood. I enjoy running races and trying new events with obstacles, I try to skydive at least once a year, I love to rock climb, & I spend a lot of time climbing high into the trees as a ropes course supervisor. I came to yoga in 2012 when I decided to try something new with my sister-in-law. I was shocked at the level of physical challenge it provided to me. I quickly learned that yoga is not about mastery, but about practice and effort. There is never an end point or goal; just a journey of physical growth & self-discovery. Yoga has helped me to become physically and mentally stronger than I have ever previously experienced. I have personally witnessed the tremendous effects of the connection of body and mind through yoga & have worked to incorporate these practices into my daily work as a psychologist. As a yoga teacher, I hope to provide a challenging physical practice that creates strength in the mind & connection with the breath.
Jackie Kerkman - Instructor R.Y.T. 200
As a runner and cycling addict, I began practicing yoga with the goal of becoming more flexible to improve my athletic performance. But I quickly recognize that yoga was not just about static stretching. The power of breath, movement with intention, strength and alignment pulled me into exploring and expanding my yoga practice. I began incorporating yoga poses into my practice as physical therapist and saw the positive responses in my patients both physically and mentally. I pursued my RYT-200 hour teaching certification so that I could continue to expand my passion of empowering people to live healthy, happy lives. I love challenging students to find their own edge and release their unique inner power through powerful, purposeful and dynamic classes.
Sarah Dosmann - Instructor R.Y.T. 200
“All I really need to know I learned in yoga class”
Kindergarten teacher by day, I bring a playful element to my teaching and enjoy guiding students to their own “aha” moments. I began a dedicated practice in 2010 and have since become certified in children, family, and power yoga. My own practice spans ariel, ashtanga, dance, acro, and SUP yoga. I am always seeking creative ways to infuse class and bind a community. There has never been a yoga class I’ve attended where I haven’t learned something new and had a chance to explore how I hold my yoga on and off the mat. I hope to convey that same intuitive and refreshing feeling to all my students.
Gregg Satula - Instructor C.Y.T. 200
I'm a Milwaukee-area yogi with an eclectic past that includes a career in law enforcement. My fitness background includes competitive swimming, triathlons, weightlifting and I've been practicing yoga since 2014. Yoga is the first athletic activity of my adult life that I truly believe I need. I hope to share my love of yoga with others through instruction by bringing my past and current experiences into classes. I aim to use reflective thoughts and dry humor to help people deal with the stresses of modern life while getting sweaty. My teaching is purposeful and allows space for individual freedom. In my own practice, I'm always chasing a deeper backbend. Gregg holds a 200 hour certificate through Wild Abundant Life.
Becca Kaja- Instructor C.Y.T. 200
Growing up I was involved in dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, and lacrosse; being active was an essential part of my life! When I went to college, I searched for a way to sweat and still have fun, and that is when I found yoga. I started practicing in 2012, and in 2013 I got certified in Yoga Sculpt. I loved teaching so much, but I had a drive to learn more about yoga and how to make it accessible to a range of people. In 2015, I got certified in prenatal yoga, and then took a 200 hour training in vinyasa/power yoga. I taught yoga in Minneapolis, MN for two years until I relocated to Milwaukee. I hope to make yoga accessible and worthwhile for as many people as possible! Aside from teaching yoga, I am a third grade teacher at Saint Sebastian Parish School.
Becca Kaja- Instructor C.Y.T. 200
Growing up I was involved in dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, and lacrosse; being active was an essential part of my life! When I went to college, I searched for a way to sweat and still have fun, and that is when I found yoga. I started practicing in 2012, and in 2013 I got certified in Yoga Sculpt. I loved teaching so much, but I had a drive to learn more about yoga and how to make it accessible to a range of people. In 2015, I got certified in prenatal yoga, and then took a 200 hour training in vinyasa/power yoga. I taught yoga in Minneapolis, MN for two years until I relocated to Milwaukee. I hope to make yoga accessible and worthwhile for as many people as possible! Aside from teaching yoga, I am a third grade teacher at Saint Sebastian Parish School.
Margee Mauney - Instructor C.Y.T. 200
I’ve always loved being active, but it wasn’t until my quest for confidence and lower stress levels during my college years that I discovered my love for yoga. I was instantly hooked on power yoga after my first class, because I fell in love with the energy bouncing around the studio and the way every student left feeling empowered. After obtaining a BA in Public Relations, I immediately finished my 200 hour yoga instructor training with Wild Abundant Life. My other joys include singing, cooking, creating, and watching animal videos on Facebook. I like my yoga classes to combine intensity and positivity, and I hope to inspire people of all walks of life to be confident in themselves physically and emotionally through yoga.
Shifra Rothenberg - Instructor C.Y.T. 200
For me, yoga is a moving meditation, it gifts me a space to explore my body and mind. I discovered the complexity and cosmic energy of yoga more than a decade ago, and quickly learned how my yoga practice weaves through the physical and mental space of everyday life. I decided to become a yoga instructor to strengthen my practice as a student and I love teaching and sharing my energy. I received my 200 hr teacher training from the Satya School led by Kate Hawthorne. The experience was life changing and humbling. As a yoga instructor, I hope to bring an ease of breath and movement to my students while staying grounded and welcoming space and creativity onto their mat. By day you can find me as a dental assistant, and in my free time I love spending time with my dogs, writing, crafting and finding hidden gems in Milwaukee.
Shifra Rothenberg - Instructor C.Y.T. 200
For me, yoga is a moving meditation, it gifts me a space to explore my body and mind. I discovered the complexity and cosmic energy of yoga more than a decade ago, and quickly learned how my yoga practice weaves through the physical and mental space of everyday life. I decided to become a yoga instructor to strengthen my practice as a student and I love teaching and sharing my energy. I received my 200 hr teacher training from the Satya School led by Kate Hawthorne. The experience was life changing and humbling. As a yoga instructor, I hope to bring an ease of breath and movement to my students while staying grounded and welcoming space and creativity onto their mat. By day you can find me as a dental assistant, and in my free time I love spending time with my dogs, writing, crafting and finding hidden gems in Milwaukee.
Alexa Deacon- Instructor C.Y.T. 200
I began practicing yoga after I found myself in a job that required me to sit for extended periods of time. The tension in my shoulders, neck, and back told me I needed yoga before my mind did. As an athletic and competitive person, I was initially drawn to the physical challenge. About a year into my practice I started to tap into the mind-body connection. Not only did this new-found connection transform my yoga practice, but I found myself, my purpose, and the power of my breath. Yoga has brought me to myself time and time again. I completed my 200 hour CYT at CorePower Yoga in December 2017. My classes encourage students to find their breath, build strength, and cultivate community.
Alexa Deacon- Instructor C.Y.T. 200
I began practicing yoga after I found myself in a job that required me to sit for extended periods of time. The tension in my shoulders, neck, and back told me I needed yoga before my mind did. As an athletic and competitive person, I was initially drawn to the physical challenge. About a year into my practice I started to tap into the mind-body connection. Not only did this new-found connection transform my yoga practice, but I found myself, my purpose, and the power of my breath. Yoga has brought me to myself time and time again. I completed my 200 hour CYT at CorePower Yoga in December 2017. My classes encourage students to find their breath, build strength, and cultivate community.
Lauren Bolinski - Instructor C.Y.T. 200
Most of the valued aspects of my life have not come to me on a direct and simple journey, and my path to yoga is no different. In 2009, after years of lightly practicing yoga, I enrolled in a college course to build a stronger foundation. However, it wasn’t until 2013 when I first started practicing at Milwaukee Power Yoga that my practice began to deepen. Yoga supported me through loss, embraced and guided me in my own personal growth, and assured that I always housed a safe place within me, no matter the circumstances that life places me in. Because of this, I sought my 200 hour yoga certification in 2019. Through my teaching, I seek to support yogis in their own unique paths that yoga takes them on and hold an open and compassionate space for their individual practices. Beyond teaching yoga, I dedicate my life’s work to education, learning alongside young people to better navigate the world we live in; I also enjoy spending time with my family, reading, writing, being active and in nature, exploring, and challenging myself.
Haley Hinze - Instructor C.Y.T. 200
I committed to my yoga practice after my first semester of law school. I was struggling with a lot of anxiety and yoga helped me find peace and gratitude. I love yoga because I have learned so much about myself through my practice. Yoga teaches you to accept and love yourself as you are in this moment. I received my 200 hour certification in May of 2019 from Satya Life School of Yoga. I hope to create a space where my students can connect with themselves and their breath. I strive to create fun and purposeful flow sequences where my students can continue to learn and grow. Music is one of my many passions and I believe a great playlist can enhance a student's experience. I am inspired by the community MPY offers and love to connect with my students on and off the mat.