Staff Profiles
Erin Epping
Fitness Director, Personal Trainer, Yoga 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
Yoga and Pilates Instructor, Personal Yoga Trainer
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
Certified Yoga Instructor
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
Yoga Instructor
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 Yoga Alliance Teacher Certified through 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 Burke, RYT
Yoga Instructor
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.