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Nikki
Nikki is the Owner, Founder and CEO of Studio 9-to-5. She has a passion for serving others and making wellness accessible to
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Nikki: Nikki has a passion and gift for making well-being practices available and accessible to students of all levels. She holds a degree in Kinesiology, Movement Science, is a Certified Personal Trainer, ERYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher) Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and has over 10 years experience in Leadership, Management, Leading Yoga Teacher Trainings and incorporating her studies of life coaching to corporate settings.
Previous to running Studio 9-to-5 full-time, Nikki was the 4th employee of CorePower Yoga in the Twin Cities and served as the Franchise Director opening several studios and building from the ground up.
The Studio 9-to-5 team is grateful to have her as an inspiring leader and mentor.
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Emily Rose
After stepping onto the mat in 2004, Emily Rose has been no stranger to the mentally, physically, and spiritually healing powers of yoga.
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Emily Rose: After stepping onto the mat in 2004, Emily Rose has been no stranger to the mentally, physically, and spiritually healing powers of yoga. Emily Rose has shared her love of teaching yoga internationally in China, France, Senegal, and Italy. She is thrilled to be back in theMinnesota Yoga community and is ready to share intuitive and funclasses with her students. When not trying on mala beads at the studioor with her nose in a book, Emily Rose loves going to coffee shops anddoing theatre around the twin cities. Emily Rose is so thankful to allof her teachers from Power Yoga (1 and 2), Yin Yoga (1 and 2), YogaSculpt, Chair Yoga, Kid's Yoga, and Hot Yoga Teacher Trainings and every student she meets who encourages her to keep learning.
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Despie
Despie has been in the health and fitness industry for 10 years and has been teaching yoga for
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Despie: Despie has been in the health and fitness industry for 10 years and has been teaching yoga for over two years. She began practicing Pilates in 2001 and became Stott Pilates certified in 2003. In 2007, Despie realized the joy Vinyasa yoga brought to her life and completed Corepower Yoga Teacher Training later that year. Despie's students leave her classes energized, motivated, and relaxed. Her Studio925 classes are focused on form and alignment while having fun.
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Missi
A former dancer, Missi was first introduced to yoga as an adolescent and continued to explore various
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Missi: A former dancer, Missi was first introduced to yoga as an adolescent and continued to explore various forms of the practice throughout her early adulthood. She learned to cherish the physical strength and mental clarity a consistent practice provided her and now, as a teacher, encourages others to discover these benefits through their own movement.
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Michelle
Michelle has been practicing yoga for over five years and completed her 200-hour training with CorePower Yoga in 2015. She went on to complete her 500-hour with
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Michelle:Michelle has been practicing yoga for over five years and completed her 200-hour training with CorePower Yoga Minneapolis, April 2015. She went on to complete her 500-hour with Sampoorna Yoga in Goa, India, March 2016. She has been teaching for the past two years and has guided students in the United States, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. She feels fortunate to have encountered opportunities to teach to all levels and abilities, ranging from those who are coming to their first class and are limited in the English language, to those who have been practicing for years. In offering a safe, encouraging and noncompetitive environment Michelle feels that together we can create the space to grow and connect as a community.
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Jenna
Jenna started her yoga journey in 2009, as a form of physical and mental therapy for stress relief. It started as a practice and developed into a lifestyle.
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Jenna:Jenna started her yoga journey in 2009, as a form of physical and mental therapy for stress relief. It started as a practice and developed into a lifestyle. She completed her Power Yoga Teacher Training at CorePower Yoga in 2013 and hasn’t looked back. She loves the healing powers of yoga, both mentally and physically and is excited for her students to find the same love and joy in their own practice. She’s excited to continue on her yoga journey and is open to the opportunities that lie ahead. She hopes to inspire others on and off their mat to follow their passion wholeheartedly. In her free time, you’ll find her reading a book, running around one of the many lakes in Minnesota, and exploring parks around the Twin Cities with her dog.
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Ella
After being a fashion stylist in New York City for eight years, she moved to Minneapolis to try to find something to do that went beyond the surface.
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Ella: Ella was a gymnast as a child and studied dance for many years. After being a fashion stylist in New York City for eight years, she moved to Minneapolis to try to find something to do that went beyond the surface. She practiced Pilates for 6 years, and thought to become an instructor, but still something was missing .One day yoga appeared on her path during a very difficult moment of her life. After experiencing the healing and transformative power of yoga, she knew she wanted to share this with others. Yoga became not just something to practice, but a life journey, where to awaken to the belief that we are exactly where we need to be at all times.
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Vanessa
Vanessa discovered yoga 10 years ago, and quickly became infatuated with the benefits that it presents. Being in the indulgent world of the wine industry....
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Vanessa:Vanessa discovered yoga over 10 years ago, after moving to San Francisco, and quickly became infatuated with the benefits that it presents. Being in the exciting, yet indulgent world of the wine industry, yoga brought needed balance to her life.
Vanessa completed her 200 hour Vinyasa Flow training in San Francisco in 2015. Her classes are energizing, sweaty and thoughtfully sequenced. She loves to see the world from different angles, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself upside down in one of her flow classes!
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Ann
Ann, a Belgian citizen grew up in France, England, Mexico and arrived in the United States in 1994.
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Ann:A Belgian citizen, Ann grew up in France, England, Mexico and arrived in the United States in 1994. She first started practicing yoga in 2003 and soon fell in love with the physical and mental benefits of the practice. In 2018, wanting to deepen and share the practice with others, she completed her 200 hours certification with CorePower Yoga. In November 2021, she completed an additional 300 hours certification with Yoga Center Retreat. She has been guiding classes for the Studio 9-5 since 2019. Ann believes "If you can breathe, you can do yoga"
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Taite
Taite is a fantastic motivator, connector and class creator. In her words she explains that 'teaching yoga gives me the opportunity to do what I do best
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Taite: Taite is a fantastic motivator, connector and class creator. In her words she explains that 'teaching yoga gives me the opportunity to do what I do best and that’s communicate and connect with people'. I excel in roles tailored towards customer experience, as I most enjoy being a bright spot in someone’s day.
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Lori
Lori is a former Washington, D.C.paralegal who returned to Minnesota to be closer to her family. She began taking yoga classes to manage
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Lori:Lori is a former Washington, D.C.paralegal who returned to Minnesota to be closer to her family. She began taking yoga classes to manage stress and offset the effects of working in a high-stress, sedentary environment. Upon returning to the Twin Cities area she explored different yoga styles, retreats and formal meditation as she continued her personal practice. Lori enrolled in the Yoga Teacher Training at Saint Paul College and hasn’t looked back since! She’s taught over 600 classes in the metro area. Lori is RYT-200 hour certified and also has a certification in meditation.
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Kim
Kimberly honors the interconnectedness of all life and feels deep connection with the divine. She was magnetically drawn to the art and science of yoga
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Kim: Kim honors the interconnectedness of all life and feels deep connection with the divine. She was magnetically drawn to the art and science of yoga, devotional chanting, ancient healing modalities, teachings and ceremonies. With profound gratitude and presence, Kimberly shares these practices and experiential wisdom. She holds sacred space for all to journey into a heart-opening, healing experience.
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Jen
Jen is optimistic, encouraging and joyful. She teaches from a place of continually being a student, and because of that creates classes that
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Jen: Jen is optimistic, encouraging and joyful. She teaches from a place of continually being a student, and because of that creates classes that connect with people of all fitness levels. Jen is fast learner and loves building relationships. Her favorite thing to do is inspire and encourage others to improve wellbeing.
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Malena
Malena was a competitive swimmer for 16 years before she discovered her love for yoga. She found that yoga and swimming were
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Malena was a competitive swimmer for 16 years before she discovered her love for yoga. She found that yoga and swimming were very similar in the practice of linking breath to movement as well as finding meditation through movement. In 2019, Malena became a certified yoga sculpt instructor through CorePower Yoga. She strives to make her students feel loved, supported, and safe. Come join one of her yoga sculpt classes to reset from your day and leave feeling accomplished and renewed.
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Angela
Angela is a native New Yorker, who recently moved to Minneapolis for love. After leaving a successful career in the NYC advertising world
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Angela is a native New Yorker, who recently moved to Minneapolis for love. After leaving a successful career in the NYC advertising world, Angela is grateful to find herself as a teacher and educator of one of her greatest passions. She feels she is the most honest and true version of herself on her mat, and that forever and simply a student, teaching is an extensive part of her own spiritual journey. Angela is a 500 HR E-RYT certified yoga teacher.
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Amber
Amber Rourke enjoyed dance and tumbling as a child and found her way back to the mat in 2010. She made the leap to deepen her practice in 2017
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Amber Rourke enjoyed dance and tumbling as a child and found her way back to the mat in 2010. She made the leap to deepen her practice in 2017 by completing 200-hour teacher training at CorePower Yoga Edina. She was grateful to start teaching her first class with Studio 9-to-5 that same year. As a lifelong learner with a passion for personal growth, Amber started a 300-hour teacher training program which kicked off with a pilgrimage to India in October of 2019. Her favorite place of the trip was Rishikesh, at the base of the Himalayan Mountains, where the River Ganga is a beautiful and refreshing place to meditate. In her professional endeavors, she pursues opportunities to be a servant leader, to find creativity alongside the necessity of order and live and coach by the wise words of Maya Angelou, “when you know better, you do better.”
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Nandi
Nandi is a graduate of Georgia State University, with a background in neuroscience, Spanish, contemporary art, dance, and mental healthy advocacy efforts.
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Nandi is a graduate of Georgia State University, with a background in neuroscience, Spanish, contemporary art, dance, and mental healthy advocacy efforts. Nandi continues to work extensively as a Community Health Equity professional. Nandi is masterful and adroit in various styles of movement arts and wellness practices. Nandi is passionate about exploring art, culture, cuisine in her free time as an integrative, alternative avenues for healing and wellbeing.
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Amy
Amy Sonke began teaching in 2010 when she was first certified through Core Power Yoga in Minneapolis. Since then, she has taught many formats including
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Amy Sonke began teaching in 2010 when she was first certified through Core Power Yoga in Minneapolis. Since then, she has taught many formats, including Vinyasa yoga, Yoga Sculpt. Warrior Sculpt, Tabata, and HIIT, and she even owned her own fitness studio from 2018 through 2020. During Covid, she and her family relocated to Atlanta, but she continued to coach online to her clients in Minneapolis, because she couldn't bring herself to say goodbye.
Since then, she has ventured into personal training for new clients in Atlanta, and joined the Studio 9-to-5 team. Coaching fitness is her passion and it brings her immense amounts of happiness to work with others, both virtually and in person, and know that she is helping to make a difference in her athlete's lives!
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Liz
A Wisconsin native and military spouse, Liz Stoeckmann, is a Yoga Alliance 500 hour registered yoga teacher and a certified Mindfulness Instructor through Studio 9-to-5
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A Wisconsin native and military spouse, Liz Stoeckmann, is a Yoga Alliance 500 hour registered yoga teacher and a certified Mindfulness Instructor through Studio 9-to-5 and an iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation instructor who brings yoga and meditation to military and civilian communities.
A practitioner for more than 10 years, Liz is experienced in restorative yoga, meditation, senior yoga, yoga life coaching, yin and children’s yoga. She makes yoga accessible for all walks of life. Liz also provides trauma-based iRest® to military service members/first responders, their families, and secular environments.
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Janae
Janae has a passion for health and wellness and helping others achieve their goals. She has been a personal trainer since 2010
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Janae has a passion for health and wellness and helping others achieve their goals. She has been a personal trainer since 2010, and over the years has become certified as a fitness instructor, CorePower yoga instructor, and holistic health coach. She loves training a variety of classes and connecting with her students in the hopes of making them feel better after they take her class.
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Shelly
Shelly Hoefs is passionate about providing an environment where people can navigate through change especially when change
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Shelly is passionate about providing an environment where people can navigate through change especially when change is hard. Shelly discovered that through raising awareness of self and identifying one’s strengths and motivation, strategies and doable action steps can be practiced to overcome obstacles to reach desired outcomes.
Shelly holds a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, certifications as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), Group Fitness Instructor (ACE), Personal Trainer (AFAA), 200 RYT (Yoga Alliance), and trainings in STOTT Pilates, TRX, BOSU, foam roller, fitness for Seniors and Perinatal clients.
Shelly has 13+ years in the fitness, health and wellness industry. Shelly meets class participants and individual clients where they are at to support them in their journey to feel better and live well.
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Cassia
Cassia first started yoga in 2011 and was quickly hooked. She loves that there are different forms of yoga that will allow you to concentrate on what your body needs at any given time.
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Cassia first started yoga in 2011 and was quickly hooked. She loves that there are different forms of yoga that will allow you to concentrate on what your body needs at any given time. Years of practice sparked an interest for her to learn more about yoga.
In 2015 Cassia completed a 200-hour training course with CorePower Yoga, and in 2017 completed additional training with Yoga Center of Minneapolis to become a certified Children’s Yoga Instructor.
Cassia’s classes are mindfully sequenced and available to all levels of yogis. She offers modifications for beginners to take the intensity level down or challenges for those looking to step it up. Yoga is meant for everyone. There is so much beauty in coming together to move, breathe, and work together towards finding our own inner peace.
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Heather
Inspired by faith and motivated by challenge, yoga and fitness has always been an outlet for my physical and spiritual growth. Not being able to complete a “chaturunga push up”
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Inspired by faith and motivated by challenge, yoga and fitness has always been an outlet for my physical and spiritual growth. Not being able to complete a “chaturunga push up” was the only initial reason I dove into yoga years ago. Of course led by ego, I was quickly humbled and learned yoga was really doorway to let go and be me, imperfections and all. It’s a place to receive, not perform! A playground for adults to try, fail, fall, and get back up.
I have been teaching yoga, sculpt, cycle and various fitness classes for over a decade and it truly just gets better and better!
My heart is to push you to overcome obstacles and inspire you physically and spiritually... forcing you to sweat and smile is a bonus!! If you need a good challenge, or simply want someone to inspire you to get through today, come flow with me!
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Carrie
Carrie spent her childhood as a dancer and gymnast and began yoga after the birth of her daughter in 2009.
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Carrie: Carrie spent her childhood as a dancer and gymnast and began yoga after the birth of her daughter in 2009. She immediately connected with the peace and serenity found on the mat and recognized the abundance of physical, mental and emotional benefits. Teaching with Studio 9-to-5 allows Carrie to give back what she has received. Her two goals in life are to stay passionate and to practice compassion for herself and others.
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Chris
Chris’s love of exercise drove her to start teaching fitness and spinning classes in Chicago.
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Chris: Chris’s love of exercise drove her to start teaching fitness and spinning classes in Chicago. After retiring from Wall Street in 2001, she decided to take a different turn for her life by starting a Pilates business. Upon finding CorePower Yoga, Chris then added Yoga Sculpt and Vinyasa to her resume. Her wealth of knowledge of the body and fitness make Chris an incredible asset to the Studio 9-to-5 team.
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Sharon
Sharon started practicing yoga in 2006 as a way to relieve the stress of long hours in corporate
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Sharon: Sharon started practicing yoga in 2006 as a way to relieve the stress of long hours in corporate IT management. She found it to be a great distraction because it was challenging and required her to be fully present during each class. She never expected to fall in love with it until she realized some of the physical and mental benefits it provided. Sharon believes yoga is a life-long journey that not only improves the health of the physical body, but also brings peace to the mind. She enjoys sharing this passion and enjoys being a part of the Studio 9-to-5 community.