Yoga & Natural Wellness Studio

Calm

Your Mind

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Meet Our Teachers

Haley Picotte-Stozek,
an avid music educator and Yoga enthusiast, is the founder of Haleybird Studios.

Haley was born and raised in Wauwatosa, WI..  Haley studied Music Education at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, graduating with honors. She taught Elementary Orchestra in the public schools from 2001 – 2013. 

Haley’s passion for music is matched only by her belief in Yoga’s ability to improve one’s health in body and mind. Haley believes Yoga to be a life long journey and has enjoyed continuing her studies.  She has completed additional training in Yoga Therapy, Children's Yoga, and Prenatal Yoga.  Haley’s vinyasa classes are greatly influenced by Shiva Rea, one of her teachers.  Haley also draws inspiration from the many workshops and intensives she has attended with Yoga masters including Saul David Raye, Seane Corn, Rod Stryker, Desiree Rumbaugh, Simon Park, Todd Norian, & David Keil.  Haley enjoys infusing her classes with additional Yoga practices including pranayama, mudra, yoga philosophy, teachings from all of earth’s great teachers, and a rockin’ playlist.

In 2007 Haley opened Haleybird Studios as an enrichment center for the entire family, focusing on inspiring the lives of all through Yoga & Music.  The studio has undergone multiple expansions and now includes a wide variety of Yoga and Natural Wellness services as well as a 200 RYT Yoga Teacher Training Program.  Haley’s focus for the studio will continue to center around creating a friendly, welcoming environment to all and to provide high quality yoga and enrichment services.

In addition to Yoga & Music, Haley is a supporter and practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, is a Reiki Master, and offers Thai Yoga Massage/Bodywork.

Haleybird Studios is committed to ENRICHING THE LIVES of the residents of Wauwatosa and its surrounding communities through Yoga & Natural Wellness opportunities. We value each of our students and strive to provide a friendly, welcoming, and down to earth atmosphere to all.
 
Tina Romenesko: Yoga Instructor & Yoga Therapist 500 RYT

Tina Romenesko PYT/RYT is a Professional Yoga Therapist and Teacher, and has been studying and practicing yoga for over 30 years. Her focus is on the therapeutic potential of yoga to heal body, mind, and spirit. Tina is a certified YogaMotion instructor (200 hour) and completed her second 200-hour certification with Tias Little at Prajna Yoga, in Santa Fe New Mexico in 2006. Both of these trainings, along with a strong and dedicated personal practice, have provided a deep foundational study of yoga alignment, philosophy, meditation, and breath technique that are the basis for Tina’s classes, workshops, and private sessions. In 2007, Tina completed her Yoga Therapy certification (500 hour), with Joseph and Lillian LePage of Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT). Tina specializes in the study of mudras, or hand gestures, used in meditation and practice and recently received an advanced certification in Mudras, Pranayama, and Bandhas from IYT.

Tina’s classes and private sessions place equal emphasis on body, mind, and spirit - blending a mix of postures, breathwork, meditation, and deep relaxation into every session. As a yoga therapist, Tina works with clients dealing with a wide range of issues including cancer, heart disease, stress related imbalances, hormone issues, skeletal issues, injury, life transitions and just about anything else.

Tina’s other passion is poetry – she often reads poetry in her yoga classes as an intention, revisiting lines throughout the practice to merge imagery and feeling states of being at a deeper level. Tina can be contacted via her website at: yogatina.com


 
Elizabeth “Biz”, Yoga Instructor & Yoga Therapist, RYT 500

BizBiz recently moved to the Milwaukee area from Saint Paul, MN with her husband Ian and their two dogs, Walter and Willow. With her recent move, she decided to focus more of her energy on helping people get closer to their true self through the practice of yoga. Biz has been teaching yoga for almost five years and practicing for over ten and she is very excited to dedicate more of her time and energy to sharing yoga with her students. 

In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband, her dogs, practicing yoga, learning something new about yoga and/or sharing yoga with others. She also enjoys running, biking, cooking, gardening, reading and spending time with her friends and family. 

Biz is currently pursuing her 500 hour Professional Yoga Therapist certification through Integrative Yoga Therapy and will be a certified Yoga Therapist in October of 2010.

Certifications and professional credentials:
• BA in Business, Advertising and Spanish from University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, MN
• Registered Yoga Teacher (230 hour) through Yoga Center of Minneapolis & Yoga Alliance
• Certified Group Fitness Instructor through American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• Certified Pre & Post Natal Yoga Instructor through Global Yoga Center of Chicago
• First Aid, CPR and AED certified through American Heart Association
• Currently Pursuing 500 hour Professional Yoga Therapist Certification through Integrative Yoga Therapy

 
Jes: Yoga Instructor 200 RYT

Jes Davies graduated from UW Madison in 1996 with a degree in physical therapy.  She has been teaching group exercise classes for more than 10 years, focusing on yoga since 2003.  She is recognized by Yoga Alliance as a 200 hr CYT, and is working to complete her 500 hour certification.

“I love to bring together a flowing vinyasa practice with alignment based principles.  My classes are infused with good music and intention.  I believe strongly that yoga is a valuable tool to learn about your individual body's needs, both for injury prevention and healing.  I feel that my knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology bring something unique to each class.”
 
Carolyn – Yoga Instructor 200 RYT

Carolyn Potter, RYT, received her Yoga Alliance certification in early 2004 in Hatha yoga. Later that year, she found Anusara yoga  through a workshop given by Desiree Rumbaugh, and ever since, has been pursuing an additional (200-hour) certification in this style. This journey has taken her as close as Illinois and as far away as Costa Rica and Hawaii to study and earn hours towards her certification with outstanding Anusara-certified teachers.  Anusara, which means “to flow with grace” was created by John Friend who invites his students all over the world to open their hearts and “join his merry band.”  This style is equal parts attitude, alignment and asana.  Following in her teachers’ footsteps, Carolyn’s goal is to see each student the same  –  perfectly Divine – and encourages each student to invite this quality into their practice through poses centered around a themed class.  She teaches to all levels and often challenges students to try something new.  Look for heart openers, fun sequencing, and deep hip openers. At Haleybird, Carolyn teaches a level 1-2 class on Thursdays at 7pm and she teaches advanced students through private sessions by request.

1. Why and when did you start practicing Yoga?
I started practicing yoga about 13 years ago. I had a full time job and a baby and I was always stressed. I knew nothing about the practice other than I heard it would be good for my stress level. I never in a million years would have expected it to profoundly change my life in a deep and spiritual way.
2. What style of Yoga do you teach and what is something special you offer through your classes?
I began teaching the style I first learned: Vinyasa Flow. Over the years I gravitated towards the slower styles of Iyengar and Anusara that allowed more time to fine-tune alignment principles. My yoga philosophy is that we are all embodied by the Divine and each day and every pose is an opportunity to celebrate that. So I invite my students to feel that and show it in their asanas. I offer my students is a safe yet bold environment. Teaching alignment principles coupled with hands on adjustments help ensure my students will be safe, yet I am always pushing them to try new things like Adho Mukha Vrkshasana (handstand) or Vrkshasana (Tree) in a backbend. These can be scary of course, so I always offer options. But life is scary and when we try something new and a little out of our comfort zone, we get this rush – and I think that is when we get extremely creative and high on life.
3. Why do you teach or what do you love most about teaching?
I love seeing students transform. We all come to yoga to different reasons, but we also all come to transform in some way; whether it’s transforming our bodies, our mental state, or our spiritual state. I see all of that happening in my students and am honored that I help play a (small) role in their transformation.
4. What's something we don't know about you? or something interesting?
I am currently writing and recording a song with my cousin; it’s called “Overcome.”
 
Sara - Yoga Instructor 200 RYT

I love yoga. I love to tap into how my body feels and the way my body moves. I have been practicing yoga on and off my whole life and I have practiced consistently for the past 5 years. My yoga practice has changed my life in dramatic ways, a new relationship, a new home and a new career. It has also changed my life softly. Yoga has made me more comfortable in the world.

I completed my 200 hour teacher training in June 2011 and I am currently working towards my 500 hour certification.  I teach a flowing hatha style of yoga which helps connect breath to movement at a pace that allows for feeling and exploring each pose.  My classes are supportive with clear instructions and plenty of modifications. The pace creates opportunities for deep relaxation and renewal.

I teach two community based classes (donations/or punch cards welcome) at Haleybird Studios. These classes are perfect for both the beginner and the more experienced yogi.  I look forward to meeting you, come join us!
 
 
Erin - Yoga Instructor 200 RYT

Erin has used the practice of yoga as an internal guide for over the past ten years.  After committing to this life-changing practice, she was led to work in a small village in Northern Uganda.  She now travels there every other summer to help the rehabilitation of a small war-torn community.  The powerful spiritual experiences Erin has had in Africa further her belief in the connectedness of all beings, deepening her yoga practice on and off the mat, calling her to share this divine practice with the world as a yoga instructor.

This work has inspired Erin to share her love of yoga with the local community as well.  In 2009, she began integrating yoga and meditation practices into her public high school English classroom as a means to promote centered learning, self-love, and positive thinking.  In 2010, Erin began teaching public yoga classes, and in 2012 she completed her 200 hour Yoga Alliance Certification.  Erin is also a certified Street Yoga instructor, trained to bring yoga to the under-served population.   Through her instruction, she hopes to bring the powerful gift of yoga to both adolescents and adults who seek joy and wholeness in the now.Erin believes that all beings are important and worthy, and this is why she teaches yoga: to guide others on the journey to find the light within and around us -- the perfection of this imperfect world.

Erin was trained in alignment-based Hatha yoga, using both spiritual focus and physical awareness in each of her classes to help students balance mind, body and spirit.  Her practice is loving and gentle, yet still challenges students to find their edge. This loving environment enables self study as well because it allows students to feel comfortable going inward.  
 
Molly Sommerhalder: Yoga Instructor 200 RYT

MollySince Molly’s introduction to Yoga over 10 years ago, she has had the privilege to learn a variety of styles of Yoga with many great teachers. In addition to completing her 200 hr certification in Vinyasa Yoga, Molly participated in an apprenticeship at Turbodog Spirit Center in Chicago in the summer of 2009. At Turbodog, she studied Yoga assisting with Steve Emmerman and Talya Ring, senior Forrest Yoga teachers. During this time, Molly learned the practice
of Forrest Yoga and found the healing force of yoga which helps her stay grounded with her busy schedule as the Public Relations Specialist for the Marcus Center for Performing Arts.

She believes if that if you put your practice first, everything in life will follow the way it's supposed to. Molly brings her love of music to her classes, as she encourages her students to create their own music with their breath. She teaches her students to utilize their
Yoga practice as a source for healing and to travel inward and explore their emotions using their body. Molly’s classes invite all to let
go, smile and find inner happiness!