Inspiring Actions LLC - River Falls

Yoga Instructor
 
Ali describes her discovery of yoga as a breath of fresh
air…though since her background is rich in Hot Yoga, that “fresh
air” is relative! Ali’s path to becoming a teacher has lead her
through Bikram, Vinyasa, and Restorative Yoga as well as meditation
practices, including a training with Rama Jyoti Vernon. A perfect
reason to take a class with Ali is that she embodies what we are: a
yoga and wellness center. Ali’s professional and educational life
centers on whole body health, so in addition to teaching yoga, Ali
has a master’s degree in Holistic Health Studies as well as
certifications in several health-related modalities, making her the
perfect candidate to answer your questions regarding healing and
wellness. That’s her life’s work, and she’s excited to share
it!
 
Related Certifications:

200-hour RYT certification, Boulevard Yoga and Healing Arts,
Kansas City, MO
Trauma-Informed Yoga, Firefly Yoga International
Yoga for Cancer Care, Green Lotus Yoga & Healing
Center, Mendota Heights, MN
MA Holistic Health Studies, St. Catherine University,
Minneapolis, MN
Reiki Master Teacher, Angelic Healing Center, Norwalk, CT
Healing Touch Levels 1 and 2, Healing Touch International
Psychic Development Levels 1, 2 and 3, Holistic Studies
Institute of New York
Certified Hospice Volunteer, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of
Southwestern CT

Yoga Instructor
 
Angela began her yoga path in 2008, and since then she says,
“I haven’t found a style yet that I haven’t enjoyed!” Originally
drawn to Vinyasa styles, Angela has morphed into the go-to
woman for all things restorative at Inspiring Actions. Not every
studio can say that their lead restorative teacher has trained with
Judith Hanson Lasater, the foremost expert in Restorative Yoga in
the United States, but we can! It is this love for – and experience
in – many styles of yoga that makes Angela feel that essential part
of that process is the exploration of the here and now because the
yoga our body craves from day to day, month to month, and year to
year will change. She is skilled at helping students figure out
when each style of yoga is right for their body, so please ask her!
Angela’s most recent trainings are in Thai yoga bodywork as well as
restorative and yin yoga styles, and if you’ve ever taken one of
her classes, you’ll feel her expertise immediately. We’ve found one
problem with that though: when the time is up, no one wants to
leave her class!
 
Related Certifications:

200-hour RYT certification, TeriLeigh LLC, Hudson, WI
Relax and Renew® Restorative Yoga Teacher, Judith Hanson
Lasater
Thai Yoga Bodywork, Yoga & More, Hudson, WI
YogaFit level 1
First Aid certified
CPR certified
AED certified

Yoga Instructor
 
If you’re sending your child to a Yoga Kids Camp or a Girls
Yoga Workshop, who better to plan and lead activities for your
child than Jennifer, who has been teaching elementary-age students
since 2000? With a Master’s degree in Education, Jennifer Mankowski
is a leader in shaping the offerings for kids at Inspiring Actions.
Her primary focus is in building kids and adolescent body
confidence and self-esteem through yoga, and if you’ve seen the
pictures of her yoga camps, it’s clear the kids have an awesome
time doing it! Jennifer’s interests don’t stop there, however. She
teaches adult classes as well, maintaining a special interest in
vinyasa yoga. In 2013, Jennifer launched The Light Within, a life
coaching and spiritual consultation business that is now a part of
the offerings in the Wellness Center here.
 
Related Certifications:

200-hour RYT certification, TeriLeigh LLC, Hudson, WI
Kids Yoga, Little Lotus Kids Yoga
Certified Life Coach & Spiritual Mentor, Behavioral
Healthcare
Consulting Training Institute

Barre and Yoga Instructor
 
Since my first dance class at the age of 3, I have loved the
art of movement. It has always been my way to “let go” and express
myself even when my conscious brain has no idea what I am truly
feeling or thinking. Dance remained a part of my life through
college, and when entering graduate school in 1998 I found my first
hot yoga class. This unexpected gift filled the void I had felt
leaving dance and opened another avenue for creative movement and
connection to my better self. Yoga principles have helped me in
many life-experiences: the meditative practice has guided my mind
to calm in periods of stress; and, the focus on breath guided me
through two natural births of my children. Wanting to learn, and
loving many forms of movement, I was inspired to obtain my personal
training certificate through the nationally acclaimed National
Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) where I have been able to add
some “functional” aspects to my fitness practices and, which,
allowed my husband (a chiropractor) and I to have new discussions
about body alignment and biomechanics. Most recently I have found a
passion for integrating my love of dance & yoga at the barre by
learning various new teaching modalities for the hottest trend –
Barre Classes. I truly love to engage with people and my goal is
always to assist you in finding your perfect balance.
 
Related Certifications:

NASM-Certified Personal Trainer
YogaFit
Senior Fitness Specialist
Fitness Nutrition Specialist
Barre Certifications NETA & AFAA
Owner of Focused Nutrients

Yoga Instructor
 
It’s not uncommon to have our life defined by the role we play
to others (parent, child, spouse, coworker, friend, neighbor) and
consequently arrive at a point where we think, “Wait a minute. Who
the heck am I?” Although asking that question can be daunting, it
can also be the beginning of an exciting and worthwhile process.
Kathy Metcalf can attest to this! A wife and mother of four, Kathy
found yoga and meditation at a point when her kids were (mostly!)
self-sufficient, and it changed her outlook and approach to her
world. Kathy describes her life as speeding on the straightaways,
braking hard on the corners, and occasionally traveling slowly to
enjoy the scenery…which sounds like the most fantastic way to
approach a yoga practice! Kathy teaches Chair Yoga at Inspiring
Actions, and if you’ve ever thought of Chair Yoga as “just
sitting”, sign up for Kathy’s class now! Kathy has a unique ability
to help you find those straightaways and corners with the help of
the chair, and we know you’ll love the scenery she cultivates along
the way.
 
Related Certifications:

200-hour RYT certification, Green Lotus Yoga & Healing
Center, Mendota Heights, MN

Yoga Instructor
 
One of the things we hear at Inspiring Actions all the time is
that our students love the variety of yoga classes we offer, taught
by instructors with vastly diverse backgrounds. Kelsey fits into
this niche perfectly with her expertise in “all things baby” yoga!
As a mom to two girls and a boy, Kelsey blends motherhood and
extensive pre/post-natal yoga training to bring an assortment of
classes for soon-to-be and new moms. These classes can vary with
the seasons, but expect to see Kelsey leading any of the following:
Prenatal Yoga, Postnatal Yoga, Mommy/Daddy & Baby Yoga and
Crawlers Yoga. Women who attend prenatal classes describe feeling
less stress and experiencing easier deliveries; parents who attend
Mommy/Daddy & Baby Yoga report bicep strength like they’ve
never had before; and Crawlers Yoga attendees note an awesome new
kind of parent-child fun! What’s not to love?
 
Related Certifications:

200-hour RYT certification, Green Lotus Yoga & Healing
Center, Mendota Heights, MN
Prenatal Yoga certification, Blooma, Minneapolis-St. Paul,
MN
Pre/Postnatal Advanced certification, Blooma, Minneapolis-St.
Paul, MN
Birth Doula certification, Enlightened Mama, St. Paul, MN

Yoga Instructor
 
Much like a good yoga class, Lee Ann’s dedication for fitness
stretches far and wide! With a BA in Occupational Therapy already
in hand, certifications in K-12 Physical Education, ski
instruction, yoga and Ayurveda became the perfect combination to
compliment a diverse personal practice and a varied schedule of
classes as an instructor. Although most of those Lee Ann sought
out, she likes to say that yoga was different—it found HER. Add
workshops with Lauren Toolin and Matthew Sanford into the mix, and
you can be even more sure that you’re dealing with an instructor
whose interest in learning about the body, how it moves, and how to
make all aspects of our being better are truly what fuels her
teaching. Lee Ann’s personal yoga philosophy focuses on the big
ideas of positive connection and transformation, and her goal in
each class is to further the experience of all students toward
those same ideals—no matter the class, no matter your
background.
 
Related Certifications:

235-hour RYT certification, Devanadi School of Yoga &
Wellness, Minneapolis, MN
500-hour RYT Graduate/Dual Certification Ayurveda
Specialist/Teacher, Devanadi School of Yoga and Wellness,
Minneapolis, MN
CPR certified
BSL certified
Professional Ski Instructors of America Level 2 certified

Yoga Instructor
 
When you read Lucy’s name—Lucy Pirner, MS, LPC, E-RYT—it’s
clear that this is a woman who knows quite a bit. What her name
doesn't tell you, however, is what Lucy knows best: how to make you
leave a yoga class or Yoga Therapy session feeling so darn good.
Lucy has extensive training in the both Western and Eastern
modalities of treating mental health, including training with yoga
teachers Yogarupa Rod Stryker, Tanya Boigenzahn, Christopher-Ken
Baxter, Kausthub Desikachar, Amy Weintraub and Russil Paul. She has
practiced counseling for over two decades and has taught yoga since
2001, utilizing LifeForce Yoga® techniques to teach you to manage
your mood and feel more balanced. Yoga, she says, is the journey
back home to our purest Self, who we really are. Lucy teaches
Parayoga-inspired Hatha classes, including meditation techniques,
chanting and knowledge of the energetic body to help you find your
way.
 
Related Certifications:

MS in Counseling Psychology
Licensed Professional Counselor
LifeForce Yoga® Practiitioner
500-hour certification, Devanadi Yoga
200-hour certification, Atma Yoga
Usui & Karuna Reiki Master
ParaYoga® Level I Certified
Ayurveda Yoga Specialist

SomaYoga Instructor
 
Renee has been a beloved yoga teacher in the St. Croix Valley
since 2004. In 2013, after years of teaching yoga, Renee suffered a
painful back injury. Her search for pain relief took her through
various channels of western medicine but nothing seemed to help.
Then she found a Yoga Therapist practicing SomaYoga Therapy. It was
there that Renee found not only relief from pain but also more
freedom in her body than she had experienced in a long time. In
2015 Renee received her 500 Hour Teacher Training Certification in
SomaYoga Therapy. Since then, she has been passionate about helping
people in chronic pain. Renee draws from a wide variety of Hanna
Somatic Education, Yoga therapy and clinical nursing experiences.
She works on the premise that people need to understand the “why”
of something and experience those benefits before they will choose
to apply it on their own. Ultimately, Renee helps clients in
chronic pain overcome fear with curiosity and education about their
bodies. Renee gives them tools to understand and release their
pain. As clients begin to replace fear with curiosity, their fear
melts away and once again they learn to trust their bodies.
 
*Currently Renee is enrolled in the Clinical Somtaic Educator
program at the Navato Institute for Somatic Research and Training
in Navato, CA
 
Related Certifications:

Hanna Somatic Educator/500 Yoga Therapist

Yoga Instructor
 
What do you get when you mix hard-core western science
education with traditional wisdom in eastern modalities? You get
our Tonya! Tonya holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a
master’s in Life Science, and to compliment that she has completed
in-depth study of Feng Shui, Qi Gong, Reiki, and Peruvian Medicine
Wheel. So what does that mean to you? That means Tonya can speak
your language. No matter your approach to yoga, Tonya can expand
your education in this ancient practice by explaining the concepts
in a clear way that works for you and your understanding. Also a
science and environmental educator to kids and adults in our
community, you’ll find Tonya in a similar role here: parlaying her
comprehensive training into fun & powerful classes featuring
yoga for kids, teens, and families. Come to Tonya’s class - or
sign your family members up - and take advantage of the short
amount of time we can corral Tonya in the studio because like
anyone passionate about science and the environment, she feels the
call of the Great Outdoors! Look for Tonya the next time you’re
walking, hiking, kayaking, biking, or catching some local family
entertainment outside!
 
Related Certifications:

500 hour RYT certification, Yoga Fit
100 hour Yoga Therapy, Aura Wellness
140 hour Yoga for Warriors (trauma sensitive) for kids and
adults
Mindful Schools trained
NETA fitness (adults + kids)
Dr. Sears Health Coach
Reiki Master

Owner,
Founder, Yoga
Instructor
 

Tracey Mortensen opened Inspiring Actions in 2008 with a passion to
spread health and wellness throughout the St. Croix Valley and
with a background in finance and economics. Her own yoga
practice began in 1999 and later became increasingly
consistent during a stressful time in her life. Turning to
yoga completely changed her life and ultimately led her to
become an instructor, a path that has included study with
master teachers Seane Corn and Baron Baptiste as well as
extensive training in both pre-natal and Yin yoga. Tracey uses
her knowledge and life experiences to help enrich her
students' lives, creating a yoga community that now offers
over 30 classes per week, including Yoga 101
for beginners.

The Sanskrit words sthira (effort,
drive) and sukha (grace, surrender)
may be new to you, but attend one of Tracey’s classes and you
will understand how these words feel. Tracey has a special ability to push your
body and mind while also making you feel accepted and
supported. Although primarily drawn to teach gentle and
beginning classes through a combination of hatha yoga vinyasa
flow, you will find Tracey teaching nearly every class
offered. With her fun, down-to-earth style, expect to find new
depths in your poses…then erupt in belly laughs!

Tracey created Inspiring Actions for you to develop your practice,
to learn and to grow, all with a smile and without judgment. You
are welcome here.

 
Related Certifications:

300-hour RYT certification, TeriLeigh LLC, Hudson, WI
200-hour RYT certification, YogaFit

Yoga Instructor
 
When she first started practicing yoga in 1990, Tori
approached it in typical American fashion: as a competitive sport!
The woman you saw sneaking out during savasana? That was our Tori!
Over time she learned that yoga doesn’t have to be about working
and doing; rather, it can be about simply BEING. This realization
was the catalyst for significant growth, and it defines Tori’s
expertise as an instructor. Through her own experience finding the
fun in the imperfect, Tori teaches students the value of
approaching practice with a focus on wellness over perfection.
Fittingly, Tori teaches Flow & Restore classes at Inspiring
Actions, where she guides students to master when to push and when
to let go, when to strengthen and when to ease up, when to work
hard and when to relax fully. By day, Tori is a university
professor, so if you have questions about your practice, ask!
Tori’s office hours - er, mat hours - are open!
 
Related Certifications:

200-hour RYT certification, Green Lotus Yoga & Healing
Center, Mendota Heights, MN
CPR certification

Have you heard the one about the dancing lawyer? No joke, she’s a
yoga

instructor too! And a beekeeper. And a Russian speaker. And a
UW-RF

professor. And she’s our Tovah! Everyone has a special story of how
yoga

came into their lives, but not everyone can say it happened when
they met B.K.S.

Iyengar in India, like Tovah can. Her background started in that
alignment-

focused Iyengar style, but Tovah’s yoga journey led her through
Ashtanga as

well, and when she came to Inspiring Actions, Vinyasa was her
primary practice.

Tovah uses yogic principles of breath and mindfulness to connect
the seemingly

unrelated: litigation with dancing, contract legal work with
trauma-informed

teaching, and restorative justice with beekeeping. There’s a good
chance that if

you attend Tovah’s classes you, too, won’t just learn how to align
and flow, but

you’ll learn to connect those areas of yourself that have never
been connected.

And who knows? Maybe that’s what your body has been waiting
for.

Related Certifications:

200-hour RYT certification, Heart Yoga, Minneapolis

Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR)

MN Peacebuilding Leadership Institute

Master Watershed Steward

Yoga Instructor
 
Tracy has been exploring movement in its many forms since she
began studying dance in her teens. Her passion for the art of
movement guided her to embark on a career as a dancer and then,
later, as a choreographer. After experiencing an injury, Tracy
sought a way to heal her body while also staying in shape, and
stumbled onto yoga. Since she began her yoga practice, over time,
Tracy found that yoga not only supported her physically, but it
also changed the way she thinks, acts, feels, and interacts with
the world. Now, she practices for the clarity and peace that yoga
engenders in her life, both on and off the mat. Tracy completed her
200-hour yoga teacher training certification through Devanadi Yoga
so that she could share her passion and perspective on yoga with
others. Tracy teaches workshops, classes, and teacher trainings, in
a variety of yoga styles, but, as a former dancer, she holds a
special place in her heart for flowing vinyasa styles. In her
classes, you will find each session has a special theme - it may be
a physical goal, chakra, or something energetic. She creates an air
of openness and fun in the studio, and she hopes that you will come
and explore your body, mind, and spirit on the mat with her.

Tracy is a Teacher Trainer for the Green Lotus Yoga Teacher Trainer
and the coordinator of Green Lotus training at Inspiring
Actions.
 
Related Certifications:

235-hour certification, Devanadi Yoga, Minneapolis, MN
Centerpoint School of Massage – 660 hours

• 235-hour RYT certification, Devanadi Yoga, Minneapolis, MN
• Certified Eat Breathe Thrive Facilitator