Yoga Instructors

Sandra Helpsmeet RYT-500 has been studying and practicing yoga for most of her adult life. Sandra is a Registered Yoga Instructor at the 500 hour level through the Yoga Alliance. She completed both her 200 (2005) and 500 (2008) hour training with Scott Anderson of Alignment Yoga, and she continues to study with him. Sandra is grateful for every experience along her yoga path as well as for a yoga community to share yoga with. She also holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy and maintains a part-time psychotherapy practice, wherein she enjoys allowing yoga and mindfulness practice inform her work. She teaches private classes and therapeutic yoga at the Yoga Center of Eau Claire and at SouthWoods Counseling Clinic.

Kathy McAlister RYT, designs each yoga class with the intention that students take the yoga experience along with them when they roll up their mats and head for home – a peaceful center, relief from stress and tension, mindfulness, energy flow, and physical strength and flexibility. Certified at the 200-hour level through Scott Anderson’s Alignment Yoga, Kathy includes asana technique, pranayama, bandha, kriya and history and philosophy of the Hatha Yoga practice. Ten years of exploration into the yoga traditions, including Alignment Yoga, Iyengar, Viniyoga, and Ayurveda, form the base from which Kathy continues to study this both ancient and contemporary practice. With gratitude and respect, she shares the excitement of discovery of those who come along with her in the exploration of yoga, the body, the mind, and the spirit.

Robin Brauner RYT first discovered her passion in yoga when she was 16 and began to share the information, energy, and knowledge she learned through teaching in 2003. She attended a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified teacher-training program in Miramar, FL with Yogi Hari and was trained in Sampoorna Yoga, the yoga of fullness. She is ever continuing her education and training through many workshops with many wonderful teachers such as: Kishan Shah, Eddie Modestini and Nicki Doane, Ana Forrest, Duncan Wong, Michael Gannon, and Scott Anderson. She values each morsel of wisdom found in every workshop, every class. She has an understanding of the mechanics of the body as well as the energy (prana/chi) flow in the body from her career as a massage therapist and can incorporate that into class. Robin teaches a vinyasa style yoga class, a very flowing class that focuses on the breath while moving in the moment. She draws from her own meditation practice to deepen the yoga practice into something more than just a physical exercise, deepening awareness and presence of mind, and opening the mind while opening the body.

Nancy Orth RYT has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 20 years. Her training in the Iyengar system taught her a love for alignment. She has added to that the more subtle aspects of Hatha Yoga, using kriyas, bandhas, and pranayama to create what she believes is a full and balanced practice. In 2005, Nancy finished the 200 level Advanced Practices / Teacher Training course with Scott Anderson. She has a playful and easygoing approach to yoga.

Patricia Wickman RYT started practicing yoga in 1993. She was initially attracted to yoga for fitness and body sculpting, but gradually awakened to the profound emotional, psychological and spiritual effects of regular yoga practice. Her practice deepened after she had her first child and noticed that connecting with her breath throughout the day improved her mothering and helped relieve stress. She completed her Yoga Alliance 250-hour teacher training in 2006 at Soma Yoga Studio in Salt Lake City. She studied Ayurvedic Medicine from 2006-2009 at Kanyakumari in Milwaukee. She is certified as an Ayurvedic Practitioner (650 hours) and as a Panchakarma Technician (130 hours). She owns Radiant Living Yoga and Ayurveda. Visit her website at rlyaa.com.

Anna King RYT, a Certified Pilates Instructor, knew she was hooked on Pilates after her very first class. After struggling with weight lifting and stationary aerobic machines at a gym, she discovered that results could be found in one class! She began professionally passing Pilates on to others in 2003! Anna loves to point out that practicing Pilates significantly improves posture, flexibility, stamina, deep breathing, and strength. Better yet, Pilates is available to everyone because each class can be individually adjusted while also receiving motivation from group participation. Anna’s first experience with yoga began in 2002 with a session of Kundalini Yoga. Since then, she has been practicing and instructing multi-styles and multi-levels regularly. Anna graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a B.A. in Comprehensive Religious Studies emphasizing yoga research in 2006. She also graduated from Sun Moon Yoga Studio in Mankato, MN as a RYT-200 hour level in 2008! Anna’s passion lies within our ability to integrate yoga into everyday life: “Life is Yoga. Yoga is Life.”