Erin Epping
Fitness Director, ACSM-cPT, Yoga-RYT and Fitness Instructor
Erin joined the Invivo family as Fitness Director, Personal Trainer and Instructor in March 2007. After experiencing the unique teaching styles of Invivo’s yoga instructors, she was inspired to pursue further training and study of yoga at Kanyakumari Ayurveda Education and Retreat Center in Milwaukee — a 240-hour yoga teacher-training program with an emphasis in Ayurveda.
Her passion for yoga has influenced her functional style of personal training, as well as her attention to correcting her clients’ body alignment, helping her clients to perform exercises and stretches safely, as the mind becomes more aware of the physical body. Fitness questions? Email Erin at fitness@invivowellness.com.
Garrett Van Auken, MS, ACE-CPT, CSCS
Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor
Garrett is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is also an American Council on Exercise certified personal trainer. He holds a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology-exercise science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master of science degree in kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Garrett has been a personal trainer and CSCS since 2003. His work experience includes an internship with the Milwaukee Brewers as assistant to the strength and conditioning coordinator, group exercise leader at the University of Wisconsin Health Sports Medicine Fitness Center and recreational sports supervisor for the University of Wisconsin Intramural Department.
Paula Biasi, CYT
Certified Yoga Teacher, Certified Pilates Instructor
Paula is a certified yoga instructor through Kanyakumari. She has been practicing for eleven years and has studied Anusara, Iyengar and Ashtanga styles of yoga. She shares her love of this practice as an instructor at Invivo, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Danceworks.
Paula received her Pilates certifications in 2001 and 2006 in Chicago and Minneapolis. She also holds a master of fine arts degree in dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and bachelor’s degree from Prescott College. For the past seven years she has worked as a professional modern dancer, teaching and performing for various companies, schools and choreographers. She currently performs with Your Mother Dances, a local dance company.
Tracy Hart, CYT
Tracy Hart is a certified yoga instructor, trained in an intensive 14-month certification course through the Temple of Kryia Yoga in Chicago. Her initial interest in yoga began over 18 years ago while studying fine arts and dance at Arizona State University. Her love of Hatha yoga, the physical practice of yoga, along with its ancient philosophical teachings inspired her to become an instructor. Continuous study led her to the realm of Buddhist and Yogic meditative technique. Her practice and instruction continually evolves through further study and application.
Shari Comstock, RYT
Registered Yoga Teacher
From gymnastics to dance, Shari has been a student of movement all her life. Her passion for mind-body harmony has led her to yoga. In January of 2005 she was certified and registered through the Yoga Alliance teacher training program at the Nosara Institute in Costa Rica. She is excited to continue her growth of the mind-body connection by teaching and exploring yoga.
Alicia Hitzler, RYT
Alicia, a certified and registered yoga teacher, has been practicing various forms of Hatha Yoga since 1999. She completed her yoga teacher training at Kanyakumari Ayurveda Education and Retreat Center in Milwaukee, a 240-hour Yoga teacher training program with an emphasis Ayurveda.
In her classes, Alicia focuses on all openings of the body, breath awareness, safety and alignment, strength and stability, as well as relaxation. Her philosophy is that uniting yoga with all areas of one’s life helps to gain a deeper understanding of the self and the world in which we live. She works to integrate this ideal in her teaching style. With the experience of pregnancy while practicing and teaching yoga, Alicia is sensitive and aware of the subtle changes in the mind and body a woman goes through this wonderful change in life. She can also work with students who wish to continue or begin a practice through pregnancy.
Leah Persky, RYT
Leah is a certified and registered yoga instructor through Core Power Yoga in Denver, CO, a 200- hour yoga teaching training with an additional 20 hours with Midwest Power Yoga, Appleton, WI. She also holds an M.A. in International Studies, and is currently working towards her PhD in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Leah has had the opportunity to study with several master teachers including Baron Baptise, Ana Forest, Rusty Wells, Sean Corne and Janet Stone. Yoga helps her attain peace and balance in her life. She has been practicing yoga for 6 years and strongly believes in the healing and transforming effects it can bring to all people. She teaches a fun and challenging class that will uplift and challenge your body and mind. Leah looks forward to guiding her students in proper alignment, a challenging asana practice and time for spiritual reflection and growth. She is a native of Chicago and enjoys traveling, running, walking her dog, skiing and spending time with family.
Nicole Eull, RYT
Nicole discovered yoga in 1998 in Washington, DC while in graduate school and has practiced various types of Hatha yoga including Ashtanga, Iyengar, Anasaura, Sivananda, Vinyasa Flow, and American Power Yoga. She completed her 250-hour yoga teacher training and certification with Gaia Budai in Miami and taught classes in the Miami area until relocating to Milwaukee in the summer of 2008. Nicole is also a licensed health psychologist and founder of the HODI Center. She integrates yoga and meditation principles into her therapy sessions while bringing relaxation and stress management skills into her yoga classes.
Her classes are friendly and fun with a focus on awareness of the body and the breath. She encourages her students to create a dynamic practice and work towards progressively more challenging poses. She believes that yoga teaches discipline, patience, self-acceptance, physical awareness and mental clarity which translates to a healthier happier life. Nicole enjoys travel, cooking, organic gardening, reading, SCUBA diving, watching movies, singing in the car, and talking with friends across the country. Nicole has also received a speciality certification for Prenatal Yoga through Global Yoga in Chicago, IL.
Maria Bello-Travis, RYT
Maria is a certified and registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. She also has formal training and certification for Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga. Maria regularly attends workshops and teacher intensives to continually enhance her knowledge and teaching. She emphasizes the linking breath with movement. Her teaching style builds strength, flexibility and self-awareness. She encourages her students to listen to their bodies and attend to proper alignment during her challenging, but fun-filled classes.
Maria has dedicated herself to a life of balance, awareness and compassion. She has a tremendous amount of gratitude for this practice and has devoted herself to learning how to use the practice of Yoga to heal, empower and inspire others!
Anne Giodrano
Certified Pilates Instructor
Anne holds a 700-hour comprehensive teacher training certification through Freedom Pilates Studio in Fox Point, WI. She has also studied at The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO. She holds a Bachelor degree in Human Science: Sports Medicine from Florida State University. Anne uses the Pilates method to help identify clients’ strengths and asymmetries in the body, in order to tailor classes that will allow students to bring their minds and bodies into a state of uniform development. She also does private and semi-private mat sessions. Ann has experience with rehab patients including those with Rheumatoid/ Osteo Arthris.