Diana Howell – Century House
“Have you ever felt like a stranger in your own body? Six years ago I was stagnant and discontent. My inflexible thinking was evident in my tight, sore body. At my husband’s suggestion I took my first hot yoga class and felt like I had ‘come home’! I now recognize that feeling as a look inward at my authentic self. Committing to a regular practice has been transformational as the benefits, both mind and body, gradually replace discontent and stagnation with gratitude and curiosity.
Integrating mindfulness into my everyday life is part of the discipline. This simple shift in perspective has proven to be an effective way for me to begin problem solving both at home and at work. Yoga gives me the tools to make that shift. Thank you, Inner Fire Yoga, for creating a space that continually inspires my practice.
Our local business, The Century House, opened in 1948 as a pottery studio, has evolved into a furniture and gift store housed in three locations. Our style is created by simple, elegant, and comfortable furnishings for the home and office. In the gift shop you’ll find unique gifts, handcrafted items, children’s toys, jewelry by local artists and more. Working to meet the needs of our customers, we also provide eco-friendly, sustainably produced furniture with an overall quality and timeless design.”
Tina Morschauser – Rejuvenation Spa
“I started doing yoga about six and a half years ago with Inner Fire to help with my low back pain. Working as a hairdresser for over 22 years, I had debilitating sciatica and was being treated with acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage therapies. At first it was intimidating not knowing what any of the poses were, as well as being so limited in some of the poses; but the instructors were great in showing me how to adapt to the poses with straps and blocks. As I continued my practice, it was comforting to hear from some of the instructors that some people would never be able to complete some poses just because of the way their bodies were made. I continue my practice because of the way it has given me pain relief, along with the added benefit of helping ease my anxiety. I am a much better person on the days I do yoga. I am able to stay in the present moment longer and truly be with the people in my life. When I did the yoga challenge, I realized that I was a much better boss during staff reviews with my team members. Having 35 employees that are 99 percent women between the ages of 18 to 30 can be emotionally challenging. My business partner and manager supported me wholly during the challenge, encouraging me to go when I didn’t want to, and comforted me, letting me know that everything at the spa was under control. Yoga has become such a part of my life that I have invited my closest friends to a yoga class, including my nieces and team members. At Rejuvenation Spa we host team building retreats a few times a year. One of these retreats was a personalized yoga class for our team. Another team building event that we incorporated was a meditation class at Inner Fire. Our team loved both classes, and a few of our team members are now students at Inner Fire!
Yoga has become such a part of my life that I choose my vacation based on available yoga retreats! The more I travel to other yoga retreats, and attend yoga conferences to experience other teachers, the more I appreciate the talented group of teachers Inner Fire has to offer. Somehow, they each instinctively know what to say during class that I needed to hear that day. I love walking out of class with a clear head and a clear heart to be present for the rest of my day. This past year I lost both of my parents to cancer, and it was yoga that helped me work through the loss and the grief. Even my dying mother told me to take a yoga class her last week as I was at her bedside daily. The interesting thing was that during the hardest times of my parents’ deaths, I was not able to do camel pose, but now after the grief, I can do camel with an open heart. Yoga has offered me many benefits throughout these past seven years, and I hope to continue my practice for the next 40 years. I am eternally appreciative of Marit and all of the teachers. You touch your student’s hearts more than you know! Thank you!”
Rejuvenation Spa is an Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa located at 7420 Mineral Point Rd in Madison. Rejuvenation Spa has been named one of Salon Today’s Top 200 fastest-growing salons in the nation for the past nine consecutive years. It has been named one of “The best place to work” by Madison Magazine, Day Spa Magazine, and Skin Inc. magazine. The spa was also awarded by the Global Salon Business Awards in London, England, in the category of Team Philosophy. Rejuvenation Spa clearly has a team philosophy where everyone works together towards the goal of guest satisfaction.
Rejuvenation Spa is owned by Tina Morschauser and Gretchen Brown
Maria Miller – Ariam Design Group
Eight years ago, I started with vinyasa yoga on and off at various places. It wasn’t until early one Sunday morning, while the rest of Madison probably slept, a friend and I decided to try Hot Yoga at the old studio on University. I remember exactly how I felt later that day-AMAZING.. tons of energy… I was hooked and have had a consistent practice for over 4 years. I’ve had many friends question whether or not I get my heart rate up enough while doing yoga.. anyone who has ever done it, knows just how crazy your heart can get after doing Balancing Stick Pose. It’s become such a huge part of my life, I love telling my family and friends how it makes me feel and usually try to encourage them to try it. It’s the most challenging and rewarding experience and I am so thankful to be able to carry this practice thru the rest of my life.
I started Ariam Design Group (www.ariamdesign.com) in 2000. I’ve always been artistic and love connecting with people. Talking with my client about their idea gives me the chance to help them make it come to life. A logo may start as a thought or sketch on a notebook and by the time my client is done describing their idea, a vision has already come alive in my head and before we leave the meeting, I have a million ideas. My design business is fast-paced and deadline-driven and yoga is completely a part of my creative process. I walk away from yoga clear-minded, energized and ready to turn on my Mac.
Sara Jurgella, DC – Well Being Chiropractic
It is hard to succinctly state, in so many words, how yoga enhances my life. I have been practicing yoga for nearly ten years, and yoga has given me exactly what I have asked from it for all of these years. When I first started yoga, I stepped onto my mat in hopes of improving my flexibility after many years of running. As I continued my yoga practice, I began to depend on it as a way to help manage the stress that was continually mounting on me. When I became pregnant, I practiced yoga as a way to connect physically with my ever changing body, and to help prepare my body for the birth process. I now practice yoga 3 times a week (more if I’m lucky) as a form of moving meditation, as a way to connect with myself so that I can be a more present mother, wife, and chiropractor. Instead of practicing yoga for a specific end goal, I now try to practice yoga for the journey that it takes me on… and in doing so, I am able to accept what yoga wants to offer me on that particular day.
I opened Well Being Chiropractic with the intention of having a clinic that is accessible and welcoming to the community as a whole, a clinic that emphasizes the need to support local and sustainable efforts. We are an active member of Dane Buy Local, along with a supporter of Bicycle Benefits. Well Being Chiropractic is a clinic that strives to meet the individual needs of each patient in an honest, ethical and effective manner. Like yoga, my treatments are shaped to address the body as a whole, treating the musculoskeletal structures of the body, while also spending time addressing the patient’s nutrition and lifestyle habits. Well Being Chiropractic is a modest and comfortable office located within The Center for Natural Medicine, a natural healing clinic in Middleton.
Adam Senatori – Photographer and Creative
I have been fortunate to work with Inner Fire Yoga on number of occasions shooting both flow and hot yoga classes as well as poses in a studio-style setting. Marit and her staff bring loads of positive energy and inspiration to the business, classes and photo shoots! My wife Megan began practicing yoga at Inner Fire a few of years ago following a running injury. She started going once or twice a week and now practices 4,5 or 6 times a week recently passing the 400 class mark. She loves the convenience of the studio and it’s proximity to the downtown area, enabling her to make a class, before or after work, even on a lunch break.
Based in Madison, Adam is a multi-disciplined creative working and collaborating directly with local brands, ad agencies and traditional print media. His work has been used in advertising, newspapers, magazines, printed pieces, collateral, broadcast television, online and electronic media. He specializes in commercial imagery, photo-editing, post production, visual identities, fonts, branding, logo marks, front-end web design and development, including intrasites, microsites, facebook and twitter page customization. Through hard work, creative execution and design, he will create relevant, visual experiences for you, your clients, customers, products and ideas. Visit www.adamsenatori.com.
Jill Yeck – Harvest Moon Herb Farm
The miracle of a germinating basil seed reminds me why I believe in yoga. Rooting, connecting with breath, and remembering that joy comes from within, draw me to my practice. Inner Fire Yoga helps me see that, like a tiny seed, I have so much within myself when I take the opportunity to explore what lies under my outer shell. The moment I step into the warm room, I feel calmness and excitement all at once, like a seed in sun-warmed soil ready to burst. This may sound like an oxymoron, yet within inner peace, inspiration abounds. Passion excites life.
During the spring, I plant many seeds for my business, Harvest Moon Herb Farm. The seeds seem to grow like magic and, with time, each variety of herb reveals it’ s own texture, smell, flavor, flower…beauty. Not only do I get the enjoyment of growing the plants, I also get to vend the herbs at the farmers markets where I can connect with people talking about everything from the pleasures of herb growing to the meaning of life.
Gardening, yoga, and connecting with others all bring me back to my core. I feel gratitude for how the Inner Fire classes help me to get quiet and remember my essence. I am one little seed on this planet. However, with loving care, I uniquely grow and contribute to our united cosmic celebration. Wow wee! I feel like practicing yoga or getting my hands dirty. It’ s time to ground myself…again!
You can check out Jill’ s potted herbs on Saturdays, April through June, at the Dane County Farmer’ s Market or the Westside Community Market. Look for the purple signs and talking plants. For more information send her an email.
Matt D’Amour – Inside Out Wellness
Marit Sathrum introduced me to yoga seven years ago when I took my first Hot Yoga class. At that time, the primary way I moved my body was by “working out”. I had always been very active, but I had never paid attention to restoring and recovering through stretching, meditation, and energy building exercises. A chronic hip injury forced me to slow down and look at what I needed to do differently in my life, which I now see was a special gift. After that, I began “working in”. Practicing yoga on a regular basis was physically restorative. I knew when I saw the benefits from my practice that yoga would become a regular and habitual part of my life. Consistent practice eventually led me to a source of true healing. Yoga developed beyond a physical practice for me; it became very holistic serving me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Inner fire Yoga provides a safe and supportive environment for me to evolve my yoga practice and my physical and spiritual well-being. I’m am grateful for such a beautiful space in which to practice, and I appreciate everyone involved in making the studio what it is today.
Since establishing Inside Out Wellness, a premier Holistic health and wellness resource, Matt D’Amour has been transforming the lives of his clients through his unique approach to health and exercise. By treating the body as a whole system and ?nding the root cause of a problem, Matt has successfully coached his clients towards resolution of their health and performance challenges, where traditional approaches might have failed. To find out more visit Matt’s website: www.myinsideoutwellness.com.
Dr. Ruddy ND – Center for Natural Medicine
“I have been practicing Yoga quite consistently for about 8 years now. Although my yoga practice began simply as a form of physical therapy to rehab my injured back, it has over time evolved into a Mind-Body discipline that informs just about everything I do in life. In fact, my regular Hot Yoga practice served as the primary means of staying balanced during those very demanding years of being in medical school. It is inconceivable to me now that I would ever have wanted to become a doctor without first becoming a yogi. Yoga teaches us the real path to self-healing, on which every thought and action we commit ultimately comes back to either heal or harm ourselves. My lifelong goal both as a yoga teacher and a Naturopathic Doctor is to help more and more people uncover their true potential for self-healing.”
Dr. Ruddy is a national board-certified Naturopathic Doctor who completed his 4-year medical education, including two years of clinical training at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona. His areas of clinical experience include mood/affective disorders, digestive health, rheumatologic/autoimmune conditions, women’s and men’s health, as well as various chronic health issues such as hypertension, migraine, chronic fatigue and insomnia. Dr. Ruddy’s clinical practice is at the Center for Natural Medicine in Middleton, WI, an integrated clinic offering a comprehensive range of nature-centered healing modalities. Please visit www.DrRuddy.com for more info.
Gail Ambrosius – Chocolatier
Yoga has been a part of my life for a number of years. Typically my practice had been at home in the mornings before I start my busy day with occasional classes in between. A few years ago a friend introduced me to Inner Fire. I fell in love with the heat combined with a great series of movements – what you call “flow” this is what I discovered to be my natural flow. This style of yoga and the community surrounding it is what I had been looking for to help guide my practice. Yoga is not only good for my body but gives me the space I need to have a clear head. The practice also calms the everyday stress that can occur from being a business owner. It opens the way for more mindful living and opens my heart to new possibilities. When I’m in a challenging pose all I have to do is keep breathing, it is a great metaphor for me to remember if I’m going through some difficult decision at work, all we need to do is keep breathing, relax and the answer will arrive. Thank you Inner Fire! I love you.”
Gail Ambrosius creates deliciously exotic dark chocolates in her Madison shop daily for legions of loyal fans in the area and around the country. Much like coffee, fine chocolate takes on the characteristics of the regions where the cacao beans are grown. Gail uses single-origin chocolate for most of her truffles, meaning that the unique flavors of a particular region’s cacao are melded with the finest spices, fruits, teas, nuts and other natural ingredients to make what the Food Network called “America’s best little box of chocolates.” To learn more or shop online, visit www.gailambrosius.com.
Rich Schumann – Atlas Massage
“Serendipity- the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.
The definition of serendipity would probably best describe how I found Yoga. When I graduated from Massage Therapy School in 2008, I was faced with the decision of where I would start my new career. I was introduced to Marit through one of my former teachers, who was and is a regular Yogini at Inner Fire Yoga. Little did I know how fortunate I would be, not only to start my massage therapy practice here, but also to start a new practice of Yoga.
I have always enjoyed biking, cross country skiing, and trail running, so I thought I was in pretty good shape. That is until I started doing yoga anyway. My first and actually every hot yoga class have been very humbling. I had no previous experience with any form of yoga. So to step into the hot yoga room with all the “experts” was intimidating. But with the guidance of all the excellent teachers, I soon learned that staying focused on the moment, and staying within my own breath were the key. Not to mention staying in the room the whole class at first! I soon, well months later, learned how to turn my practice from surviving in class, into thriving in class. At least my body and mind were starting to feel the benefits of a regular practice.
As a massage therapist, I can say that the Hot Yoga series is truly restorative. My shoulders and elbows are sometimes the barometer that tells me that I need to return to class. After one or two classes, my body feels realigned, and the “cranky” parts of my body are happy again.
The challenges started yielding to the benefits of class. Biking and running started feeling easier, as I could take a deeper fuller feeling breath. I set a new personal best time skiing in the Birkebeiner last year. One of the things I remember reading about the hot yoga series, was that it was not to put you into a meditative state, but to clear out the cobwebs in your mind. Those cobwebs keep coming back somehow, so I keep coming back to yoga.
So it may be serendipity that led me to yoga, but I like to consider it the “Gift of Yoga”
Not only has Inner Fire Yoga given me the start of a new career, but the start of a better lifestyle. I will always be grateful to Marit, and all the teachers and staff.”
Rich now operates Atlas Massage at the Quarry Arts Building at 715 Hill Street, suite 242 – just behind Whole Foods. It is very nearby, just one mile away. (no excuse for you to not take the one mile drive from Inner Fire Yoga after class to receive your massage therapy from Rich at his new location!). You also have the added benefit of total peace and quiet… No more lobby full of chatty yoga students and teachers.
Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims (“SAAV”)
Two Inner Fire yoga students, Pam Hart and Megan Senatori, are currently featured in the November issue of Oprah Magazine for their charitable work on behalf of human and animal victims of domestic abuse. While law students in 2001, Pam and Megan co-founded Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims (“SAAV”), an all volunteer non-profit organization that provides confidential temporary shelter for the animals of domestic abuse victims while the victim attempts to leave an abusive relationship. Because domestic abuse shelter typically do not allow animals into shelter, domestic abuse victims with animals are often forced to leave their animals behind when they leave an abusive relationship. A 2004 study found that 48% of women entering domestic abuse shelters reported that they did not seek safety for themselves sooner, because they were concerned for the safety or well-being of their animals. SAAV’s shelter services are provided in Dane County through a collaboration with the Domestic Abuse Intervention Services and the Dane County Humane Society. SAAV also works to raise community awareness across the country about the link between domestic abuse and animal cruelty. To learn more, visit www.saavprogram.org.
Schools Of Hope
The Schools of Hope project serves elementary schools in Madion, Sun Prairie and Middleton, including Crestwood Elementary. Its objective is to eliminate the documented achievement gap in early literacy and math skills that breaks down largely along the lines of family income, race/ethnicity, and English proficiency. Our goal is to recruit enough volunteer tutors to meet the needs of all children who need a little extra math or literacy support, in order to ensure that all children are prepared for a lifetime of successful learning.
Schools of Hope volunteers:
- Tutor one or two children at a time with literacy or math materials
- Are matched with students based on the volunteers’ interests, geographic preferences and availability
- Are placed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (although some after-school and evening opportunities are available)
- Commit at least one hour per week on a consistent basis for at least one academic semester
- Receive on-site orientation and training
If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of Madison’s children by volunteering your time as a tutor, visit our website.
If you are an Inner Fire Yoga student involved with a charitable organization or business in the Madison area and would like to be featured in our newsletter and our website, please contact us.
