Inner Fire Yoga

Melanie de Jesus, Receptionist

michael — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:12:03 +0000

Melanie de Jesus was born in Virginia and spent her childhood in Chicago. She was blessed with a lot of international travel with her father who teaches at the med school here at the UW and consults for many global health and sciences agencies, and also on her own as a professional musician. She is a classical violist trained at the Jacobs School at Indiana University and is tenured with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. She moved to Madison in November 2009 and credits her dedication to Hot Yoga with providing her with the strength, focus and intensity she needs to pursue her passions. As of January 2010, she teaches at Our Lady Queen of Peace school, performed in the 75^th anniversary season of the EPO, is launching her own event planning company in July 2010, and planning to enter law school in the Fall of 2011. She is delighted to join the staff of Inner Fire Yoga and to have the opportunity to give back to the community of IFY that has fostered so much growth in her life.

Jessica Gartner, Receptionist

michael — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:52:50 +0000

I first came to yoga as a way to get in shape while increasing my flexibility, but nothing held my attention long. Then, almost four years ago, I stumbled on hot yoga – and despite the occasional break, it’s still got my heart. My practice has expanded to include each of the styles taught on Inner Fire’s heated floors, and I can’t imagine not being a part of this community. Yoga has become a necessity, and I’m happier, calmer and stronger than I’ve ever been.

The confidence and clarity I found on the mat spread to the rest of my life, helping me to realize I wanted something more than my former career was providing. Starting in the fall I’ll be pursing a graduate degree at the La Follette School of Public Affairs, which will allow me to have a positive impact on my home state and its citizens. When not in class or at the studio, I love cooking for friends, growing things, making art, playing outside, and chasing small furry creatures (pets, not wild ones!).

Reid Tice, Receptionist

michael — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:55:38 +0000

After an entire semester of Professor Chris Vaughan promoting his yoga practice to his class, Reid decided to tag along and see what all the fuss was about. But having the sense of direction of a lemming, he got lost, arriving a half hour late. However, after a half hour relaxing in the studio talking to Michael and reading Bikram’s book, the studio’s energy left Reid feeling calmer, softer, and more content. One could say he was hooked on yoga before even practicing! He subsequently began attending classes and has been overjoyed at finding an activity that focuses and clears his scattered mind while convincing his shy fingers to meet his toes for the first time in their life. Reid is thoroughly enjoying the stimulating variety of teachers and students that come through Inner Fire daily, each with something unique to offer.

Reid will be a first-year senior at UW Madison this fall, majoring in Biological Aspects of Conservation. He splits his time between jobs, school, training for the upcoming Madison Marathon, and directing the Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) on campus. DLS is an organization tasked with broadening minds by booking engaging scientists, activists, authors, humanitarians and other movers and shakers of society. Keep an eye out for flyers promoting upcoming lectures!

If he doesn’t yet know your name, he apologizes and promises to learn it soon. He would like you to know that having a foolish dance or jingle to accompany your name will dramatically shrink the learning curve.

Michael Hoefferle, Marketing Manager

michael — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:54:11 +0000

A friend introduced me to yoga nine years ago with a Rodney Yee VHS cassette. As I was doing my very first set of sun salutations, I remember thinking, “I am so stiff and weak. I can barely do yoga! Isn’t this supposed to be easy?” But, I noticed after it was all over, I felt such a sense of accomplishment and possibility. So, I dedicated myself to three months of daily Rodney. By the end of the summer, I could actually put my palms on the floor while bending forward, just like my old soccer coach. These might sound like small potatoes, but it felt like enlightenment to me. I spent years getting mentally and physically heavier, and now I had lightened my load. In one short summer!

In 2003, I left high school teaching in Chicago and moved to Madison to work with people with developmental disabilities. Soon after this move, I tried my first Hot yoga class at Inner Fire Yoga. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t sure what to make of the heat and mirrors at first. I nearly hyperventilated and was constantly distracted by all of the people around me. But, about two hours later, I noticed I was in the “zone,” so in the moment and alive. I went back. I eventually went back nearly 40 times in a row! The heat and the mirrors were tools, not only to help me stretch better or see my alignment, but test my focus and really push me to a deeper place of concentration and mindfulness. From the Fall of 2007 to Summer 2009, I was given the opportunity to be the first full-time manager of Inner Fire Yoga. It was a privilege to serve this growing community and make so many new friends. I now live in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with my wife Mary, but I still get to be involved with the studio, doing part-time marketing, which includes adding to and updating the website, creating the newsletter, designing medals, revolutions, posters, magnets, etc! Email me if you want any support at all in your practice. I never get tired of talking about yoga.

Rich Schumann, Massage Therapist

michael — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:53:53 +0000

Rich Schumann is a Madison native that has spent most of his career helping others enjoy the freedom of bicycling for transportation, and recreation. He pursued his goal of becoming a certified massage therapist after experiencing the many benefits of massage. Rich obtained his certification and education through Lakeside School of Massage Therapy. Rich incorporates Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and trigger point therapy to decrease muscle tension, promote relaxation, and improve recovery time. Bicycling, and cross country skiing with his family and friends are his favorite activies. Rich is excited to partner with Inner Fire Yoga® Center by providing massage therapy to its community.

Q&A with Rich:

Why did you choose massage therapy?

I received my first professional massage over ten years ago, and I was amazed at the benefits I received from one appointment. My first massage gave me a new awareness of muscles that I had not felt before, and convinced me to learn more about massage as a career, and to share the rewards of massage therapy. I graduated from Lakeside School of Massage Therapy in January 2008, and I have been working at IFY since April, 2008.

What did you do before massage therapy?

I have worked twenty years in the bicycle industry, as a printing press operator, commercial sheet metal, and even at Capitol brewery. The different experiences I have from a variety of jobs, have given me an appreciation having a career that contributes to the well being of others.

Do you practice yoga?

Yes, I am a big fan of the Hot Yoga classes. When I took my first yoga class, I thought I was in o.k. shape, being a bicyclist, and cross country skier. My first class was a humbling experience, and every class I’ve taken since then has been humbling too! Yoga, like massage has given me a better mind-body awareness. The improvement in my cross country skiing was noticeable, as I was able to ski in the American Birkebeiner last year, and still match my personal best time for the first time in ten years.

What style of massage do you do?

I develop treatment plans based on an individuals needs using Swedish massage as my base. I incorporate deep tissue, trigger point, and connective tissue for both sports massage, relaxation, and therapeutic strategies. I appreciate that every one has different goals on any given day, and try to tailor every massage to each individuals best benefit.

I thank all the people who have given me the chance to grow my massage practice at IFY.

See Rich’s current schedule now!

Carmen Hoehne, General Manager

michael — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:52:03 +0000

Carmen moved to Madison 20 years ago from Virginia, after her father retired from the Military. She has spent all of her childhood moving from military base to military base, giving her the ability to chat and joke around with anyone. She brings to Inner Fire Yoga^® a successful track record and experience in Customer Service and Management, having managed several Madison businesses.

Q&A with Carmen

Do you practice yoga?

Yes, I’ve practiced yoga off and on for the last 10 years, but I really took an interest in it after surviving a near death experience in 2005; I had a heart attack and a blood clot in my heart. After that I needed emotional and physical healing, so, I signed up for yoga class at MATC. I was hooked. I find that yoga helps me to relieve tension, anxiety and improves my overall well being.

What did you do before Managing Inner Fire Yoga^®?

That one is hard; it is more like what haven’t I done. I started out as a cosmetologist, then a cosmetic counter manager. I then managed a downtown bar across from Camp Randall for 8 years. I later went back to school at MATC and received a Small Engine degree, then went through their Mechanical Design Program. I even apprenticed to be a Funeral director. But each time I went back to customer service and management. So, I decided to quit fighting it-I’ve gone back into management, and I can say that I finally feel like I’ve found my home.

Why do you like being part of Inner Fire Yoga^®‘s community?

Well, it was important that I worked for a business that gave back to the community and I am very impressed with the commitment that Inner Fire Yoga^® has not only for the yoga community, but also for the community as a whole. I am constantly amazed by the generosity, friendliness and acceptance that I see here at Inner Fire Yoga.

David Lincecum, Instructor

michael — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:51:08 +0000

Yoga Instructor
Over a 15 year period, David’s wife Steffani suggested that he try Yoga to reduce his stress and lower back pain – but he never agreed to go until one day when he just said “OK.” He took a Hot Yoga class from Marit Sathrum and the rest was history. “I felt Yoga calling me continuously after I took that first class and I knew within a few months of regular practice, and after doing a personal revolution at Inner Fire Yoga, that Yoga was something I would study, learn and teach.” After meeting Rolf Gates during his 2009 workshop at Inner Fire, David knew he had met his teacher. He spent 2009 studying Yogic texts, philosophy and asana under Rolf and received a 200 hour teaching certificate in December. In addition to his work with Rolf, he completed a Baptiste 4 day assisting workshop and in just a few weeks he will attend an advanced teacher training with Lex Gillan and the Yoga Institute of Houston. This fall he will study Yoga and the 12 steps of Recovery with Rolf Gates. David emphasizes yogic philosophy and alignment of body and mind in his vinyasa classes encouraging students to find their own stillness through the creative expression of asana. He is grateful to his wife for introducing him to Yoga and to all his Yoga teachers who continuously inspire him to learn, and now teach, Yoga. PS – His back pain and stress are now GONE

Karen Erstad, Instructor

michael — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:50:30 +0000

Yoga Instructor
Karen got a taste of yoga a few years ago before the birth of her first child in 2004, and then rediscovered and took her practice to the next level in 2007 when her second child was 15 months old. She loves yoga because it’s a physical challenge that connects mind, body and spirit, and she particularly enjoys the mental clarity and sense of peace and awareness she arrives at by the end of a rigorous practice. Karen also loves how the benefits of yoga branch out to every part of her life: as she balances, strengthens and aligns her body on her mat during asana practice, this helps her to live with greater balance, strength and focus off the mat. This ability to take yoga off the mat is something she hopes her students develop and find helpful, as well, since those open to the transformative power of yoga will begin to witness their lives change in wonderful ways.

In her classes, Karen guides students through an asana practice gearedtoward opening and strenthening their minds and bodies so they can reach their edge, go beyond and grow! In the spring of 2009, Karen completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training program, preparing her to teach power vinyasa flow yoga in the tradition of Baron Baptiste. She has also attended a weekend workshop with master yoga teacher Rolf Gates.

Amy Roland, Instructor

minima — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:49:34 +0000

Amy Roland discovered Hot Yoga with her husband David in 2008 and immediately fell in love with the mind/body connection. As a walking, biking and spinning enthusiast Amy found the calming, detoxifying effects of Hot Yoga a wonderful compliment to her very active lifestyle. Amy strives to create a safe and supported space where her students can let go and receive the pose, rather than working hard for it. Amy believes a strong, consistent yoga practice can open up our hearts and our minds transforming our way of living, both on and off “the mat” – that is, living life with a spirit of awareness, grace, and contentment. After an intense apprenticeship with Marit Sathrum, owner and Director of Inner Fire Yoga in Madison, Wisconsin and her attendence at Bikram’s Advance Seminar June 2009 she is excited to share her enthusiasm and love for the very popular 90 minute series.

Education and Certificates

200 RYT certification from Marianne Wells Yoga Alliance School in Costa Rica, April 2010

Lisa Stephenson, Instructor

minima — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:48:47 +0000

Yoga Instructor
I became interested in yoga in a round about way… While a student at UW-Madison I dove into a daily meditation practice and took a few yoga classes, both of which piqued my interest in the religions and cultural traditions of India. In the summer of 2003 I studied abroad in Kerala, South India, and this is where I first started practicing yoga on a regular basis. I continued to take yoga classes through the rest of my time in college and tried practicing some on my own, but it wasn’t until after graduating—when I was introduced to vinyasa yoga—that I really began to experience the transformational side of yoga asana. My understanding of the power of yoga only deepened when I had the good fortune to practice with Ana Forrest in Madison in the spring of 2005. I had never worked so hard in a yoga class before and I knew I had found a style of yoga that would help me to go deep into the physical, mental, and spiritual realms of my practice. When it became clear to me that my post-college corporate job wasn’t really my passion, I decided to make the leap to become a yoga teacher. I see teaching yoga as the perfect way to combine my life-long goal of working as an educator with my love of the yoga practice. So, in October 2006 I attended the demanding—but very rewarding!—Forrest Yoga Teacher Training in Seattle, Washington. I have been teaching yoga classes in Madison ever since, and am very excited to be joining the Inner Fire Community!

In my classes I enjoy focusing on strengthening the body through energetic sun salutations and also time spent in long pose holds. I encourage students to build a feeling connection with their body and an awareness of mind so that they can practice yoga intelligently and in a way that is personal. I believe that the way we experience poses and the yoga practice in general can be very reflective of how we are in our life off the mat. Learning tools that enable us to breathe deeply, create space in the body, and calm the mind are some of the greatest gifts I hope students will take from my class.