EarthView Yoga Teachers Find Perfect Balance

Leanne Amiot

Leanne attended her first yoga class in January 2010 at the Madison East YMCA in the hopes that it would help her stand up straight. Besides feeling taller, she noticed a new sense of inner calm and felt a new connection to herself and the world. She headed into teacher training that same year and has been sharing her love of the practice and mindfulness with others ever since.

Leanne is a Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200/RYT 500-hour teacher. She received her 200-hour certification from Aubree Saia at Jewel in the Lotus and her 500-hour certification in 2016 with the RajaHatha School under the tutelage of Amy Pearce-Hayden. Her teaching style combines creative sequencing with safe alignment, eclectic playlists and a fun, nurturing approach. Her goal is to get people more deeply connected to their own bodies, breath and the present moment — to help them say “yes” to the reality of their experience, whatever that may be. Ultimately, she hopes people leave her yoga classes feeling a sense of peace within themselves, more space in their bodies, and a deeper acceptance of all that is, both on and off their mats.

Al Noche

With an open mind (but with a fair amount of apprehension) Al stepped on the mat for the first time in 2008. From that point on he was immediately hooked. After several years of cultivating a daily practice, Al enrolled in the 200-hour teacher training led by Meg Galarza at Yoga One Studio in Cedarburg WI (in partnership with the Bliss Flow Yoga and Wellness).

Initially, Al’s only motivation was to deepen his practice and learn more about the history and philosophy of the practice. However, upon completion of the training he felt compelled to share what he learned with others. Al completed his certification in the fall of 2015 and teaches classes in and around the Madison area. Aside from teaching, Al is deeply interested in music, film, calligraphy, sports statistics and biking.

Marina Koyen

Marina is a world traveler and teacher with over a decade of experience. She has a deep passion for exploration of different aspects of human existence through her practice and meditation. She sees yoga and mindfulness as ways to tap into an ancient wisdom of body and soul and to uncover the self-healing potential that all of us possess.

Marina’s teachings are inspired by an extensive research in fields of psychology and philosophy, anatomy and neuroscience. Her classes emphasize a mindful connection to one’s breath, compassionate attempt to understand one’s body and mind, as well as intelligent sequencing.

It is her intention to create a safe and welcoming environment in her classes for every student to experience the transformational power of yoga.

Nick Wirth

Nick originally discovered the benefits of yoga while training for his third marathon. As an avid and steady runner of over two decades, he was amazed at how it added and informed his awareness of running technique. It also greatly enhanced his day to day quality of life while traveling around the world as an airline pilot. These qualities of calmness of mind and enhanced awareness were the inspiration to pursue teacher trainings from Rusty Wells and Baron Baptiste. He received his 200 hour RYT under Rusty Wells in San Francisco, CA, in 2013. In 2016, Nick co-founded EarthView Yoga in Madison, WI, with his partner Leanne.

With a strong yet sensitive voice, Nick leads yoga classes at EarthView Yoga. His classes are a journey of postures, breath and music designed to inspire, strengthen and ultimately calm the mind and body. You’ll leave feeling invigorated with more space to breathe, smile and head out to discover more of your own ideal world!

Wesley Kavelaris

Wesley started his yoga journey as so many others have — on the quest for better and prolonged health. Along this journey he began a new exploration of myself, from physical strength and flexibility to mental organization and clarity, to simply shifting his perspective of everyday life. He learned quickly that there is more to this practice than just asana.

Much of his study has been with Rusty Wells (Bhakti Flow Yoga) in San Francisco and has since been immersed in the practice of devotion. He teaches in the bhakti style, which includes a warm, flow yoga practice incorporating devotion, chant, self-study and mindful instruction. He aspires to create a safe environment where anyone can find their voice. Whether leading or attending a yoga class, he strives to always be a humble student. Jai Ma!

Katie Doyle

Katie has been practicing yoga in some capacity since 2013. At first, yoga was for her simply a form of exercise she enjoyed (or at least a form of exercise she enjoyed more than some others). She was drawn to the atmosphere, the movement, the feeling she had after each class without really knowing why. By the time she had used every Groupon and intro offer in town, she realized that yoga had become an important part of her life. It was a healthy physical practice but also a pathway into self-awareness and self-love; it was relief for anxiety and another way to pray. In May 2018 she completed her 200-hour teacher training at the Perennial Wisdom Yoga School in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and has been an excited teacher and eager learner ever since.

Katie’s style of teaching is gentle and reflective with a healthy dose of humor (maybe with an occasional pun). She wants to help you to find your edge while allowing yoga to support you exactly where you are. In every class, at every moment, you are enough

Caitlin Warlick-Short

Caitlin has been intentionally linking her breath and movement together for many years, though until discovering yoga in college most of them were in the pool. As a lifelong swimmer Caitlin was immediately drawn in by physical challenge of yoga. Since then, her life has been transformed by the meditative practice, gaining a clear perspective for managing stress and anxiety.

Caitlin is currently a graduate student in Neuroscience at UW–Madison. While she doesn’t research the neuroscience of yoga specifically, she loves applying her understanding of the brain and nervous system to her own practice and to her teaching. Caitlin strives to create playful, flowing sequences which focus on utilizing deep core and the breath to find strength, power, and stability. When Caitlin is not in the lab or on her mat she enjoys cooking good food, playing ultimate frisbee, and swimming in the lake. Caitlin is a registered RYT-200 teacher.

Kristen Figge

Kristen began her yogic journey in 2014, and she immediately felt a calm connection to herself and was inspired to pursue yoga as a weekly ritual. Feeling overall more energized, more confident, and self-aware, she knew yoga would be a life-long journey. After the death of a family member, she made a noble and conscious choice to deepen her yoga practice. Knowing mindfulness and self-acceptance were a huge part of traveling through grief, she decided to complete her 200 hour RYT at Blue Soul School of Yoga in 2017.

She finds it most beneficial to help others realize their inner potential by connecting breath to movement. Kristen is thrilled to be able to share her expanding knowledge as she continues to grow– on and off the mat.

Heather Last

 Heather fell in love with yoga in high school with her first yoga video. That love affair turned into a full committed relationship while attending the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, where she did her first yoga teacher training with Tammy Zee and received a degree in Exercise and Sport Science. After graduating she began her career as a personal trainer, yoga teacher and wellness coach and has now worked in the field for over two decades. Heather has also completed 100 hours of training with Manju Jois, 100 hours of training with Simon Park and 200 hours of training with Tiffany Cruikshank. Heather’s offerings as a teacher + coach consist of marrying the work of the body with the work of the soul. Working in while working out. Opening the body with intelligent sequencing and unique movement patterns. Infusing poetry and music that stir our emotions and awaken the the soul. Aligning mind/body/soul with what’s being called for in nature to find more balance both on and off our mats. Heather has a particular interest in ritual and honoring the natural rhythms within us and around us to reconnect with our essential nature.

Allie Waldera

Allie started teaching yoga in 2010 nearly 10 years after her first yoga class. She is ERYT-200 certified through Inner Fire Yoga. She has practiced and learned from Dharma Mittra, Simon Park, Forrest Yoga and more.  After 15 years of dance, yoga was the balance she had been missing. Focusing on the internal body, the breath, while engaging in the physical posture gave change to her life that she didn’t know she craved. Yoga was such a transformative practice that she wanted to share the practice with anyone willing to try. In every class she teaches, Allie asks students to be accepting and honoring of where their bodies, practice, and minds are today. All while sharing her positive, larger than life energy and having fun along the way. When Allie is off the mat she is happiest spending time with her family, socializing with friends, and enjoying the outdoors.

Jennifer French

 Jennifer has been practicing yoga for over 20 years, beginning with the pregnancy of her first child. Yoga has guided, healed and soothed her throughout all the changes and challenges of life. In 2012, she pursued a 200hr certification through Alignment yoga and began teaching that year. She also holds certifications in Unnata aerial yoga and Karma Kids yoga.

Jennifer teaches a gentle, mindful class with a strong emphasis on healthy alignment, a good dose of humor, and playful play lists. She hopes every student feels welcomed and empowered to practice in the moment and as they truly are.

Sarah Peters

Sarah combines her experience as an occupational therapist with the practice of yoga to bring the gift of movement, connection, and healing to others. In 2005, she found her way to yoga seeking personal healing physically and emotionally after a traumatic event. Yoga has been a catalyst to find deep connections spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Her passion for sharing healing wisdom and holding nurturing space for others leaves an open invitation to explore the path of awareness and presence together. Following her compassionate and committed heart, she completed her 200 RYT certification in 2017 at Perennial Yoga with Megan Grace and Keith Borden. Sarah’s classes embody her knowledge of movement and the subtle body. She is honored to hold a safe space to explore and seek together through breath, rhythm, embodiment, and presence.

Alyssa Ploessl

Alyssa is a 200 Hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider trained in the Vinyasa style, which involves connecting breath with movement. She loves the smell of old books, the texture of the earth, the sound of laughter, and the feeling of being fully alive! Alyssa’s mindfully crafted yoga sequences, as well as her use of pranayama (breath work) and meditation techniques, will leave you feeling balanced and serene. Yoga gave her the insight to find her true self and learn to live life with passion and zeal! Alyssa hopes to inspire others and bring more positivity to the world through this wonderful practice.

Diane Sing

Diane is an enthusiastic teacher who has been teaching since her RYT certification in 2013. Her style is an upbeat all levels flow that focuses on bringing you deeper into your practice within a Vinyasa Flow tradition. Her approachable classes encourage students to rediscover what they need from their practice and give them space to explore it.