Meet The Team
Amber Rae Stinebrink
RYT-500
In 2002, while living on Maui, Amber took her first yoga class (on the beach). Not only did she feel a deeper connection to the island, but something inside her was put at ease. That day, her intrigue and exploration of yoga began. After 11 years of practice, Amber felt an urge to teach and in March 2014 was certified RYT-200 with an Ashtanga-based Power Flow certification through Inner Fire Yoga in Madison, WI, and then earned her 300 hr. training with Rolf Gates in 2021. In October 2015 she completed her Aerial Yoga Teacher Training with Deb Sommerhalder at Inner Sun Yoga in Oshkosh, WI.
Amber’s practices are taught with a continuous focus on linking breath with movement while staying grounded, kind and knowing that yoga will always be a practice.
Frank
Whiting
ERYT-500
Frank began practicing yoga regularly in the late ‘90’s, practicing in multiple studios and ashrams with a variety of teachers in the Chicago area. He completed his 200 hr. teacher training with Rolf Gates in 2013 and his 300 hr. training in 2021. Frank has received additional training with Todd Norian at Kripalu and with the Veteran’s Yoga Project. Frank has practiced and trained with teachers like Seane Corn, Tias Little, Shiva Rea and Gurumukh Kaur Khalsa, and sharpens his toolbox by seeking out new teachers every chance he gets.
Frank teaches in the vinyasa flow style, linking each breath and movement.
Katie
Sperle
RYT-200
Katie fell in love with yoga after one DVD and has been hooked ever since.She began practicing at a local studio and eventually decided to become a yoga instructor. Katie received her 200-hour teacher training through Yoga Asylum in Brookfield, WI under the instruction of Pamela Bliss.
Her favorite aspect of yoga is that it meets you where you are on both the good days and the not so good days.
Nadine Hoffman Harris
RYT-500
Nadine has been practicing yoga for the past 10 years and was certified as an instructor in 2017 and earning her 300 hr. certificate with Rolf Gates in 2021. Her teaching philosophy is finding balance . . . balance between strength (yang) and flexibility (yin).
Her classes are simple yet challenging. Nadine emphasizes proper alignment through detailed cueing to come safely into the pose while receiving maximum benefit.
Her Yin classes are a great way to experience “the other half of yoga”. Through yin, the deeper connective tissues (facia, tendons, ligaments and bones) are stressed and the flow of energy can be released. Yin is a fabulous compliment to a regular Yang practice.
Nikelle
Burrough
RYT-500
Nikelle is the owner of Crescent Moon Wellness Center, a licensed massage therapist, and an RYT-500 yoga instructor. She began practicing yoga in 1997 and continues to grow on the path of awakening.
Nikelle completed her 200-hour yoga teacher certification with Wendy Yanke of Indigo Yoga Center in 2019, then in 2021 she completed her 300-hour teacher training with Rolf Gates. Diving deeper into the Yoga Sutra and focusing on a Chakra based practice she believes that a worthy teacher will always be a curious student.
Nikelle also practices massage therapy and a specialized bodywork technique called Coaching the Body (formally Therapeutic Thai Bodywork). This bodywork blends Traditional Thai Massage, Trigger Point theory, and Yogic Philosophy. She believes that movement and breath can often re-train the neuromuscular system to restore proper range of motion and joint mobility. Yoga is integral in this process.
Nikelle’s knowledge of functional anatomy allows her to facilitate movement and breath to create a balance between strength and ease. Her Ashtangasana style can be modified for every student’s intention. Expect an all levels Vinyasa Flow style class with focus on intention, breath, finding pain-free movement, and deepening the connection with Self.
Sue Weinstein
RYT-500
For ten years, since her first yoga class, Sue has been discovering her path to finding balance and strength while, at the same time, quieting her mind. Toward that ultimate goal, Sue has practiced under several outstanding instructors in group classes as well as more intensive and rewarding private instruction.
In 2017, Sue decided to further her yoga studies by completing her 200 hour teacher training through Yoga Hohm in Delavan, Wisconsin and more recently earned her 300 hour certification through Rolf Gates Yoga. Both of these yoga studies have deepened her understanding and emphasized to her the benefits of yoga for her students as well as herself.
Sue enjoys teaching all levels of yoga students from beginners to those who are more experienced. Her Hatha style classes focus on proper alignment and a “go slow to go far” approach that will allow her students to proceed at a pace intended to encourage a long term love and appreciation of yoga.
Alison Larkin
RYT-500
Ayurvedic Practitioner
RN
Ashley Wood
RYT-500
Ashley has been practicing yoga for 14 years and teaching for 6 years. Her yoga practice began in Boulder, CO in 2008 when a friend dragged her to class. She was hesitant to go at first because she feared she would not be “flexible enough.” Against her better judgment she went along and she has fallen in love with the practice ever since.
In 2016, Ashley completed her 200 YTT in Chicago at “Live, Work, Yoga studying with Rich Logan. Rich has studied at the prestigious Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Madras, India with TKV Desikachar. Training with Rich greatly expanded Ashley’s understanding of anatomy and physiology which was integral to deepening her own yoga practice.
In 2018, Ashley traveled to Bali to receive her 300 RYT in Bali with Simon Borg Olivier founder of Yoga Synergy, one of Australia's oldest and most respected yoga schools. Simon studied under internationally recognized teachers such as Shandor Remente, Pattabhi Jois, BKS Iyengar, and Desikachar. Steeped in tradition, the Yoga Synergy training gave Ashley access to safe, accessible and effective ways of developing yoga practices to share with her students.
Ashley values the growth mindset yoga provides. She sees each experience on the mat as an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. She believes that the healing benefits of yoga are key to finding balance in our modern world and enjoys sharing this transformative energy with her students.
She teaches Yin, Restorative, Hatha, Vinyasa and SUP Paddle Board yoga.
Samantha Polek
RYT-200
Samantha has been a fitness professional for the last 30 years. She began her dance training at a young age. While in college she trained at the Gus Giodarno dance studio and performed in shows at Northwestern University.
Samantha taught jazz for various schools including Evanston High School, Nicolet High School, Gateway Technical School, and University of Milwaukee. She operated her own dance studio in the Lake Geneva area and featured annual recitals as well as local performances.
Over the years Samantha obtained certification in a number of areas including spin, Pilates, step, aqua and yoga. She has been a member of IDEA (International Dance Exercise Association), ESA (Exercise Safety Association) and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine).
Samantha taught at the Geneva Lakes Family YMCA for many years and also taught fitness classes at the Americana Resort before it became The Grand Geneva Resort.
Samantha’s yoga style is a Vinyasa yoga flow which incorporates breathing through poses and flowing movements. She is a 200 hour yoga certified instructor and a member of Yoga Alliance.
Samantha strives to know her students and to create safe, enjoyable, yet challenging classes for them.
AIison has been a passionate and dedicated practitioner of yoga for 25 years and a teacher since 2001.
She has studied extensively with Tias Little, with a dedicated focus on therapeutics.
Alison’s classes combine her breadth of knowledge of yoga and the healing arts to guide each student to a peaceful and balanced state.
Off the mat she enjoys hiking, gardening, knitting and time with family.
Molly Chanson
RYT-200
Molly Chanson is a Kripalu trained yoga instructor and author of two books that teach the wisdom of yoga for modern life.
Her first book is a memoir through divorce and addiction, Fallen Star: A Return to Self through the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Her second book is a daily reader based on yoga philosophy and personal experience, Yoga Wise: 365 Days of Yoga-Inspired Teachings to Transform Your Life.
Molly's classes include a focus on breath, meditation, and journeying within.
Molly grew up in Fontana and currently lives in Williams Bay with her two boys.
Anna Urban
RYT-200
Anna truly believes that things happen for a reason, and when one door closes, another one opens… just a few years ago she injured my back, which made her reevaluate her fast-paced workouts and lifestyle, in general. Her injury really forced her to slow down.
To get back in shape, Anna decided to start on the mat with some yoga stretches, and she has been practicing every day since! She fell in love, not only with the exercise and stretches, but even more so with the meditation part of the practice. She found something powerful about being on the mat and moving with her breath, and her desire to share her experience led her to teacher train with Wendy Yanke of Indigo Yoga Center.
Anna's yoga is a gentle, beginner level flow. It’s a “work in”, instead of a “work out” kind of a class. In her practice she incorporate mantras, essential oils, poetry and singing bowls. Her goal is for each student to leave her practice relaxed and balanced, just as you would after a day at the spa.
Other than being a passionate •yogini•, Anna is a full time wedding and portrait photographer. She's married to her high school sweetheart and is a mom of two awesome kids! In her spare time, she enjoys playing Chopin nocturnes, paddle boarding, camping, hiking and biking. Anything outdoors - sign her up!