A long time practicing yogi, Jamie received her 200-RYT certification from the Integrative Yoga Therapy program at Haleybird Yoga and Natural Wellness Studios. While studying, Jamie interned with Yoga Therapist Tina Romenesko, assisting in weekly Yoga Therapy group classes as well as at Washington Park Senior Center. Since completing her first training, Jamie has furthered her studies extensively. She has completed Level 1 certification with Dr. Timothy McCall, Yoga as Medicine; Certified in Aqua Kriya Yoga with Swami Nibhrtananda; trained in Yoga for Osteoporosis with Dr. Loren Fishman; certified as a Cancer Exercise Specialist through the Cancer Exercise Training Institute in Oregon; and most recently completed Level 1, 300 hr training with Inner Peace Yoga Therapy on her way to becoming a certified yoga therapist. Jamie is currently a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and 500-RYT with Yoga Alliance.

Q&A with Jamie Mullen

Q. How long have you been a yoga instructor?
A. I completed my 200-RYT training through Integrative Yoga Therapy at Haleybird Studios in October, 2013.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. My approach to yoga is to integrate all aspects of our being, not just the physical body, but to include our emotional, energetic and spiritual bodies as well. This gentle approach to the practice incorporates movement, meditation, mudras and breathwork.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. Wanting to take care of my complete self really brought me to where I am today. Taking time to breathe, move and relax each day has been vital to the well being of my complete, true self.

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. Whether the client is an experienced yogi or someone who has never practiced, everyone can expect to feel well taken care of. In my classes, we move mindfully and with care so that we allow ourselves to bring balance and nourishment to our body, mind, and spirit.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. I’m not really a trend follower, but one item of note that I am excited about, is that the use of complimentary and alternative medicine/therapies are being recognized by schools such as Harvard, Stanford and Duke. To have reputable, conventional schools become involved in alternative therapies, such as yoga, is a real advancement for our profession.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. Since training and becoming a yoga instructor, I have found that I have not been regularly attending the classes from the teachers that helped me to come to love the practice. So I am taking time to allow myself to attend these classes at least once a week. Though personally I practice each day, I love the feeling of community in a group class.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. That would probably have to be the lakefront. In the summer, I will ride my bike there in the early mornings and practice. It is so peaceful and there is plenty of space. I love being near the water.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. I can’t say I really have a favorite as my husband is an amazing cook and I enjoy so many different cuisines, but I guess I would say when I need my island fix, I head over to Ono Kine Grindz in Tosa.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. In order, creating jewelry is my greatest passion next to yoga. Traveling to warm, tropical locales. And I enjoy baking with cookies, scones and biscotti being my specialty.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. I like to sit in meditation and breathe. Often my dog will join me on my mat which also aids in releasing stress.

Q&A with Leah Mott

Q. How long have you been a yoga teacher?
A. I am a Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance (RYT-200) and have been teaching yoga classes since 2014.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative, and Bhakti Yoga.  I teach yoga to help all souls awaken to their inner strength and inherent beauty so that they, too, can live a life of freedom and joy.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I took my first yoga class with my mom when I was in college.  I was searching for a way to be my authentic self, and yoga was the safe space that allowed me to be vulnerable and imperfect and flawed.  From that moment on, my practice has been my foundation for growth, understanding, happiness, and love in my life.

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. I create a friendly, peaceful class environment for everyone, from curious beginners to experienced practitioners wanting to further their self-awareness.  I am passionate about teaching a yoga class that instills connection between the mind, body, and spirit. Our bodies are so beautifully and powerfully made, no matter what shape or size they are.  My goal is to help students cultivate self-love through mindful movement (asana), breath (pranayama), and meditation. My yoga classes are educational, introspective, and leave students feeling balanced and whole.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. My absolute favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee is sitting on the rocks by the river in the nature area outside of Invivo.  I love taking a morning walk down the river to that spot, and sitting, meditating, and breathing. It makes sense why I love teaching at Invivo so much, because the windows in the studio look out onto my favorite beautiful spot in all of Milwaukee!

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. I love Cubanitas!  I absolutely love their plantain chips, guacamole, and mojitos.  It is such a fun and unique place to go for dinner.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. I enjoy walking in nature, reading personal growth books, and going on backpacking adventures with my boyfriend.  Alongside teaching yoga, I am a mental health nurse, and a mental health nurse practitioner student.

Heidi received her Vinyasa Yoga training From Rolf Gates, and her Yoga Therapy Certification from Dr. Indu Arora; both of who have authored multiple books on the topics of yoga and meditation. In a nutshell, they taught her that anyone who can breathe can practice yoga, and that we are all repeatedly re-aligning on and off the mat.

Heidi is also a professional artist. She graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2005 and currently works in the medium of quilts. Follow along with her artistic practice on Instagram: @heidi.parkes or on her website: heidiparkes.com.

Q&A with Heidi Parkes

Q. How long have you been a yoga instructor?
A. I completed my 500-hour Yoga Therapy Certification with Dr. Indu Arora in 2014, and my 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training with Rolf Gates in 2013. I began teaching yoga a couple years before that. I was a high school art teacher in Naperville, IL and the students begged me to sponsor a yoga club. Turns out, I was the lucky one when I agreed to help!

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. Vinyasa Flow and Yoga Therapy. I have a strong interest in Ayurveda, meditation and in taking the philosophy of yoga off the mat and into the every day.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I began practicing yoga with Dr. Indu Arora in 2008, and her focus on yoga therapy, mudras, meditation, and Ayurveda has stuck with me ever since. In 2012 I had my first yoga therapy consultation with her. I’d struggled for a year with a sensitivity to dairy, and within a month of following her instructions, I was able to balance my body and restore my digestive health. That was a transformative experience for me, and it inspired me to learn more. My current style of practice echoes my favorite quote of hers, “Nothing has the greatest power to heal, but self!”

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. A new student can expect to feel successful. Students are encouraged to notice the effects of each pose in their bodies, and to move at their own pace, doing what feels right for them in that particular moment.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. My teacher Rolf Gates speaks towards these concepts beautifully in both his books: by learning to be skillful on the mat, we can learn to be more skillful in other areas of our lives as well. Yoga then becomes something that we ‘do’ and ‘practice’ all day long.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. I’m a yoga instructor, and I’m also a professional artist. I spend many hours hunched over, using my fingers to create. Yoga was invented so that a person could ‘sit in meditation as long as they want,’ but I’m extending that to include ‘quilting as long as I want!’ My personal yoga practice focuses on opening my heart, strengthening for my fingers and eyes, maintaining healthy digestion, and caring for my mind.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. At the lakefront, inside the Milwaukee Art Museum, visiting the “Work Clothes Quilt” made by Rachel Carey George in 1935.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. Peter Sciortino’s Bakery. I frequently export their amoretti cookies to my dad in Madison by the pound! Growing up in Illinois, eating their oblong well-seeded rolls was one of my favorite things about visiting family in Milwaukee.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. Art, food, and indulging in a good Netflix marathon while quilting.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. A hot bath with a tablespoon of epsom salt, a dash of baking soda, and a sprinkle of just the right essential oil.

Q&A with Alcy Sivyer

Q. How long have you been a yoga teacher?
A. I became a 200-hour certified yoga instructor in spring 2015.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in alignment-based practice, but I have experience teaching Hatha, vinyasa flow, yin, and the traditional hot yoga series (26+2).

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. My yoga journey began in 2014 with power vinyasa. As my interest grew in the practice, I loved any opportunity to change up the pace either with a slower flow, a Hatha class or yin class. I believe there is a sweet spot in each pose–different for each yogi, of course–designed to challenge and support growth for that individual. That’s one thing I think about when I teach and practice.

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. A new student can expect to enter into a space with no expectations and no limits. I begin classes with a meditation, and offer suggestions throughout to maintain that mindset surrounding one’s practice. I also strive to inspire creativity and originality in yoga poses. The most common thing I hear from brand new students after my class is “that was not what I expected.”

Q. What recent industry trends have you found noteworthy?
A. I love to read up on all the information still coming out about fascia. How our subtle bodies function and evolve in a yoga class is endlessly fascinating to me. It’s an entire world of stuff going on just beneath the surface of our bodies and yoga is one way to discover and appreciate it!

Q. What are your current wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. One of my personal wellness goals is finding a balance between physical activity and mental and emotional repose. I’ve had sensitivity and hyper-mobility in my joints for several years now and it’s been a daily process staying on top of it. It’s easy for me to do too much, physically, but I’ve found that when I have a good balance of activity and rest, it’s possible to keep my joints happy!

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. I don’t spend a ton of time in Milwaukee. I’m usually either teaching or grabbing a bite somewhere on my way out/in. I LOVE the view out of Invivo’s windows!

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. Strange Town, Urban Beets, and Odd Duck are some of my current favorites.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. Aside from yoga, I love to cook, garden, and spend time with my family.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. It depends on how much time I have. When the weather allows, I love laying in the grass and looking at the clouds move and change. I’ve also been known to find a forward fold or child’s pose for a minute or two if I’m really feeling overwhelmed or too much in my head.

Living with painful headaches and joint instability, Cynthia began studying yoga and strength training to improve her own well being in 2003. Wanting to share this same sense of freedom and make yoga accessible to as many people as possible, she received her 200-RYT certification from Feel Your Best (FYB) whose philosophy is the “Person not the Pose.” Upon graduating in 2005, she began teaching a gentle, benefits-oriented teaching style that incorporates Iyengar (alignment), Ashtanga (power), Viniyoga (therapeutic) yoga. Over the last 10+ years, she’s lead alignment-based, accessible yoga classes that balance effort with ease. She encourages conversation, individual discovery as well as ways to personalize the yoga practice. Cynthia’s worked with clients of all fitness levels, abilities, and ages.

Ever inquisitive, she continues her yoga education through personal study, workshops and conferences. She’s certified in Chair Yoga with Stacie Dooreck’s SunLight Yoga and certified in Core Functional Fitness with Hope Zvara. As a certified ACE Personal Trainer, she brings functional movements, postural strength, and healthy range of motion to her yoga classes. As a certified NETA Wellness Coach, she shares ways to add healthy habits and reduce stress in everyday life. She’s also a member of Yoga Alliance.

Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Graphic Design from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Prior to teaching, coaching and consulting full time, she worked in corporate marketing and communication departments in several industries for 23 years.

To give back to the yoga community, for the past 10 years she has donated her service and talents at Yoga Journal Conferences around the USA.

Q&A with Cynthia Akey

Q. How long have you been a yoga teacher?
A. I have been teaching yoga since 2005 and practicing since 2003. But I found my first yoga book when I was 13 and started practicing some of the asanas. It opened a whole new world.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in alignment-based practice and have experience teaching gentle, therapeutic, restorative, chair, yin, vinyasa, corporate, yoga for runners/athletes and yoga for beginners.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I came from a place of pain – migraines and joint instability. Being hypermobile, I sought structure and strength and was drawn to Iyengar yoga and its use of props to make it accessible. I am fascinated with intentional energy and breathwork incorporating these into each pose. As I age, my practice continues to evolve to better suit my daily needs.

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. A student can expect to approach each practice with a beginner’s mind and awaken personal “a-ha” moments. I specialize in uncovering the subtleties of asana, pranayama and meditation. In each class, I encourage discussion and offer moments for individual discovery so that each student may make the practice their own. To ensure classes are accessible, we’ll use props – wall, chairs, bolsters, blocks and straps. Mindful modifications and hands-on adjustments will be provided.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found noteworthy?
A. I’ve seen a shift from a practice of personal development and self-reflection to one of action and activism. While yogis are here to inspire health and wellness, we can awaken and transform our hearts, minds and community.

Q. What are your current wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. Balancing work and life. Too often we overextend ourselves to do more. Currently, I’m focused on mantra, meditation, pranayama, making time for reflection and some quality sleep.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. I spent the last few years living in a land-locked city in northern California. I really missed Bradford Beach and Lake Michigan. I love to watch the waves and walk on the sand. It’s a great place to meditate and renew my spirit. I missed the seasons too – so it’s great watching the trees leaves change colors.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. So much has changed in the past few years while I have been away. It’s been fun to rediscover the Milwaukee area. I really enjoy Blue’s Egg because breakfast is my favorite meal.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. I love to travel with my husband, spend time with my cat who behaves like a dog, and learn anything. I also enjoy being creative – with food, jewelry, graphic design, and event planning.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. To reduce stress, I visit my “beach” – in person or just visualize it. I like to get some exercise – walking in nature, riding my spin bike, or practicing yoga and pranayama. I’m a fan of old movies and musicals. So a cup of tea and “Hello, Dolly” help me laugh and smile.

My experience with yoga began when I had severe neck and shoulder pain as a result of poor posture and years of competitive swimming.  The reduction of stress I experienced set me on the path I am on today. Since that first class in 2009, I have tried many styles of yoga out there and my favorite approach is still Integrative Yoga Therapy. Each session involves the awareness of our full experience which includes body, energy, mind, emotion and spirit which allows for healing on every level. There were times when my practice was predominant body focused yet I found that real transformation occurs when all aspects are integrated which is what I strive for in each class I take and teach.

Q&A with Alison von Brown

Q. How long have you been a yoga teacher?
A. I became a yoga instructor in 2014.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in mind-body awareness and guided meditation.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. My yoga journey began in 2014 with power vinyasa. As my interest grew in the practice, I loved any opportunity to change up the pace either with a slower flow, a Hatha class or yin class. I believe there is a sweet spot in each pose–different for each yogi, of course–designed to challenge and support growth for that individual. That’s one thing I think about when I teach and practice.

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. To learn something new, I love including facts, ancient wisdom, and modifications in each class.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found noteworthy?
A. Trauma-informed teaching, kids yoga,  and mental health specific classes.

Q. What are your current wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. To maintain a positive mindset regardless of how busy my life may be. To do this, I practice mindfulness daily and strive to adhere to my Naturopathic Doctor’s recommendations seeing food as my medicine. Feeling blue? Eat some cashews! Trouble sleeping? Try some magnesium-rich foods!

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. I love the view overlooking the lake next to the North Point Water Tower at the end of North Ave.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. So many great spots but a go-to is the Milwaukee Public Market. I love having options and can get whatever you may be craving in one space!

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. Flow arts like hula hoop, playing the Native American flute, spending quality time with family (especially my cat).

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. To de-stress, I dance, get an acupuncture treatment, attend floatation therapy, and practice mindful meditation.

Rae is an eclectic yoga teacher that is truly grateful she gets to share her ever evolving practice with students everyday. She has been growing in her personal yoga practice since 2003 when she was 16. Rae became a certified teacher at Yandara Yoga Institute in Bali, Indonesia and has been a teaching nearly daily since 2015. She follows the 8-limb path on and off the mat, and is thrilled to be a member of the Invivo team leading pranayama, asana and meditation. Rae is also a performer in dance, music, and acting as well as a visual artist of unlimited mediums.

Q&A with Rae Buth, CYT

Q. How long have you been a yoga teacher?
A. I have been practicing yoga since 2003 and teaching since 2014. I am currently a CYT-200 from Yandara Yoga Institute in Bali, Indonesia and will soon become an E-RYT 200. I have over 1000 teaching hours, and significantly greater number of hours of practice and study.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. A “Namastrae” class is an eclectic blend of yoga philosophy, based particularly around the 8-limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga), the chakra energy centers, and mindfulness meditation practices from various disciplines combined with pranayama, mudra, asana, and mantra and delivered in fun and creative vinyasa & yin classes. My positive experiences in travel, dance, music, and art and my less savory experiences with depression and anxiety and physical injury all inform my yoga teaching.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I’ve been growing in my yoga practice since I was a teen in 2003 and have seen vast and immense benefits in my quality of being as a whole, from mindfulness meditation and continuous evolution and absorption of the asanas.

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. A new student can expect a calming atmosphere, thorough instruction and a space to feel safe – to laugh, to cry and to discover a deeper sense of their inherent being in an accessible but challenging way.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. I appreciate the growing trend of being in the practice of yoga off the mat; through breathing, thoughts, words, and actions. This allows a greater population to not just view yoga as asana postures but as a way of life to carry along with them.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. My personal wellness goals are to continue to live a balanced and creative life. I do this through observing my thought patterns and breathing through daily meditation and writing, study and application of yogic practices and lifestyle, dance, art and travel. Regarding the asanas, I am specifically working to advance my arm balancing, handstanding and backbending transitions in my physical practice.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. I am a Visual Artist and a Performer. I have a BFA in Visual Art with a minor in Dance so I write songs, choreograph dances, and act in shows as the inspiration occurs. I also have a personal sustainable fashion brand called “Redish,” where I upcycle/re-purpose vintage fabrics into more modern wearables as well as make crystal necklaces and paintings. These are both hobbies and my alternative source of sustaining myself. Last but not least, I adore traveling and learning languages. I’ve been to almost all 50 states, and about 17 countries…and counting!

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. My favorite beautiful place to be in Milwaukee is in my backyard with my partner Aytan, and my kitties Azealia & Phinny soaking in the sun, or singing around the campfire on any given day. Away from home, I love the water. Anytime I am at the beach or by the river, among the trees, I feel blissful. Atwater Beach is queen!

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. I simply adore the decor, small kitchen and deliciously clean cuisine of Riverwest’s original Cafe Corazon. Try it!

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. To destress I practice pranayama & asana, ride my bicycle with my partner, sing & play piano or guitar, draw/paint and sew. My kitties also are great teachers and sources of comfort.

Biz has been teaching yoga since 2006 and practicing since she was a freshman in college. She enjoys dedicating her time and energy to sharing yoga with her students. Biz is a Professional Yoga Therapist (PYT-800 hour) and a Registered Yoga Teacher (e-RYT) through Integrative Yoga Therapy and the Yoga Alliance. She is also a certified Pre and Post Natal Yoga Instructor through Global Yoga Center in Chicago and a Certified Group Fitness Instructor through the America Council on Exercise (ACE). She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Advertising and a minor in Spanish from the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, MN. Prior to teaching yoga full time, Biz worked in the fast-paced advertising world. Loved it, but she let it go to focus her energy on helping people get closer to their true self through the practice of yoga. In addition to practicing and teaching yoga, Biz enjoys walking and running, spending time with her husband and two dogs, traveling, cooking, gardening and partaking in just about any activity outside when the weather is warm!

Biz specializes in Yoga Therapy for stress management, back care, chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, female fertility and pre/post-natal care. If you are interested in working with Biz for private yoga therapy, please visit the front desk to schedule a consultation or email her directly at biz@invivowellness.com

Q&A with Biz Casmer

Q. How long have you been a yoga teacher?
A. I have been teaching yoga since 2006 and practicing since I was a freshman in college.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in Yoga Therapy for stress management, back care, chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, female fertility and pre/post-natal care.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I began my yoga journey in a health club and practiced “competitive yoga”! Because of my overly flexible body, I ended up injuring myself and learned to love the therapeutic aspects of yoga instead. This changed my personal practice as well as the practice that I share with my students. I understand the importance of energizing and heating our body, but like to balance that with fluid movements to keep our mind and body mobile and hopefully free from injuries.

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. A new student to my group classes can expect a balanced class including body scans/awareness, breath, energy-body work (mudras/chakras), core work, a theme of some sort and definitely meditation. A private yoga or yoga therapy client can expect the same – just catered specifically to their special needs/injury/illness.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. Not recent, but as of late I have been very connected to the nutritional side of healing.Through the guidance of nutritionists, body-workers and friends I have been changing my personal eating habits and working really hard to cleanse my system. I have been sharing this with my group classes and private clients by leading yoga practices that cleanse different systems and organs in our body. I am finding that complimenting yoga with nutritional cleansing has been incredibly helpful for me and I love sharing what I have learned with my students.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. My personal wellness goals are to continue to find balance between work, family/friends, my personal time and my yoga/meditation practice. This will be a lifelong journey/wellness goal!

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. Anywhere along the lakefront. I love being near the water and we are so blessed to have such a beautiful lake in our city!

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. Juniper 61. It is a walk from my house and somewhere that my husband and I like to go to get a good meal and unwind.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. Spend time with my husband and 2 pups, move – either yoga, walking or running and travel to new places.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. Run, walk, meditate or enjoy an at-home yoga practice. Or – watch HGTV…for as long as humanly possible.

Note: The yoga therapy components of our teaching are based on our Professional Yoga Therapy Certification through Integrative Yoga Therapy [non-YAR credential or other qualification], not derived from our status as an [RYT/E-RYT] with Yoga Alliance Registry.

Living with painful headaches and joint instability, Cynthia began studying yoga and strength training to improve her own well being in 2003. Wanting to share this same sense of freedom and make yoga accessible to as many people as possible, she received her 200-RYT certification from Feel Your Best (FYB) whose philosophy is the “Person not the Pose.” Upon graduating in 2005, she began teaching a gentle, benefits-oriented teaching style that incorporates Iyengar (alignment), Ashtanga (power), Viniyoga (therapeutic) yoga. Over the last 10+ years, she’s lead alignment-based, accessible yoga classes that balance effort with ease. She encourages conversation, individual discovery as well as ways to personalize the yoga practice. Cynthia’s worked with clients of all fitness levels, abilities, and ages.

Ever inquisitive, she continues her yoga education through personal study, workshops and conferences. She’s certified in Chair Yoga with Stacie Dooreck’s SunLight Yoga and certified in Core Functional Fitness with Hope Zvara. As a certified ACE Personal Trainer, she brings functional movements, postural strength, and healthy range of motion to her yoga classes. As a certified NETA Wellness Coach, she shares ways to add healthy habits and reduce stress in everyday life. She’s also a member of Yoga Alliance.

Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Graphic Design from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Prior to teaching, coaching and consulting full time, she worked in corporate marketing and communication departments in several industries for 23 years.

To give back to the yoga community, for the past 10 years she has donated her service and talents at Yoga Journal Conferences around the USA.

Q&A with Cynthia Akey

Q. How long have you been a yoga teacher?
A. I have been teaching yoga since 2005 and practicing since 2003. But I found my first yoga book when I was 13 and started practicing some of the asanas. It opened a whole new world.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in alignment-based practice and have experience teaching gentle, therapeutic, restorative, chair, yin, vinyasa, corporate, yoga for runners/athletes and yoga for beginners.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I came from a place of pain – migraines and joint instability. Being hypermobile, I sought structure and strength and was drawn to Iyengar yoga and its use of props to make it accessible. I am fascinated with intentional energy and breathwork incorporating these into each pose. As I age, my practice continues to evolve to better suit my daily needs.

Q. What can a new student expect?
A. A student can expect to approach each practice with a beginner’s mind and awaken personal “a-ha” moments. I specialize in uncovering the subtleties of asana, pranayama and meditation. In each class, I encourage discussion and offer moments for individual discovery so that each student may make the practice their own. To ensure classes are accessible, we’ll use props – wall, chairs, bolsters, blocks and straps. Mindful modifications and hands-on adjustments will be provided.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found noteworthy?
A. I’ve seen a shift from a practice of personal development and self-reflection to one of action and activism. While yogis are here to inspire health and wellness, we can awaken and transform our hearts, minds and community.

Q. What are your current wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. Balancing work and life. Too often we overextend ourselves to do more. Currently, I’m focused on mantra, meditation, pranayama, making time for reflection and some quality sleep.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. I spent the last few years living in a land-locked city in northern California. I really missed Bradford Beach and Lake Michigan. I love to watch the waves and walk on the sand. It’s a great place to meditate and renew my spirit. I missed the seasons too – so it’s great watching the trees leaves change colors.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. So much has changed in the past few years while I have been away. It’s been fun to rediscover the Milwaukee area. I really enjoy Blue’s Egg because breakfast is my favorite meal.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. I love to travel with my husband, spend time with my cat who behaves like a dog, and learn anything. I also enjoy being creative – with food, jewelry, graphic design, and event planning.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. To reduce stress, I visit my “beach” – in person or just visualize it. I like to get some exercise – walking in nature, riding my spin bike, or practicing yoga and pranayama. I’m a fan of old movies and musicals. So a cup of tea and “Hello, Dolly” help me laugh and smile.