Staff
Theresa May – Owner / Director, E-RYT 500, Mindfulness & Meditation Teacher
Hometown: Detroit MI
Birthday date: August 24th (Virgo, was there any doubt!)
Training/education: RYT 200 & E-RYT 500 with Michael Johnson of Asheville, NC, in 2005. Reiki Master with Gina Ambrosia and countless workshops & retreats over the many years with the most amazing teachers on the most amazing topics.
Mentor(s): My teachers past, the teachers of Santosha Yoga and anyone who has walked through the doors of Santosha Yoga.
Favorite Prop: Blocks & Walls
What pose do you love to teach? It depends on what day it is.
What is your favorite pose? Ardha Chandrasana (half-moon), doesn’t matter what day it is.
What is your least favorite pose? Hmmm, again it depends on what day it is.
What is your favorite season of the year? Fall with spring being a close second.
MAC or PC? PC of course, the only one that’s allowed in the house.
Favorite Dessert: Crème Brulee
Favorite Fruit: Watermelon for sure.
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? Almost 19 years ago in a small rec center in Macomb MI, by a sweet gal named Desiree that taught us as she flipped through pages of a book. But it stuck!
Interests outside of Yoga: Reading, thinking of crazy things to do with my grand kids, bike riding very fast.
Christie Cairo – E-RYT 200 / RYT 500
Hometown: Uniontown, Ohio
Birthday date: January 12th
Training/education: ACE Certified Personal Trainer, YACEP, E-RYT 200, Reiki Master
Mentor(s): Michael Johnson, Alan Haras, Lama Marut, Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis, my friends, and especially my enemies who teach me to acquire any honorable attribute to handle the given stress
Favorite Prop: Blocks
What pose do you love to teach? Bird of Paradise
What is your favorite pose? Utthita parsvakonasana (extended side angle)
What is your least favorite pose? Headstand
What is your favorite season of the year? Fall
MAC or PC? I don’t really care (PC if I must choose)
Favorite Dessert: Chocolate cake with Buttercream frosting
Favorite Fruit: Raspberries
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? Center of Yoga with Brian Grenader 2002
Interests outside of Yoga: Hiking, Gardening and flowers, Spending time with my family, listening to music, and of course – laughing and an irrational love of horror movies.
Debbie Kowalski – RYT 200, PT, CPI
Debbie Kowalski
Hometown: Sterling Heights, MI
Birthday date: Dec 29th
Training: YogaFit L1-3 & YogaSweat, Vinyasa 200 hr, Pilates Cer
tification, Physical Therapist
Mentors: Have learned from many awesome teachers
Favorite Prop: Block
What pose do you love to teach? Warrior II
What is your favorite pose? Triangle
What is your least favorite pose? Splits
What is your favorite season? Spring
MAC or PC? PC
Favorite Dessert: Brownies
Favorite Fruit: Grapes
Where/When did you take first yoga class? Milford 2005
Interest outside of Yoga: Lifelong learning; Volunteering; Walking
Cindy Chase – E-RYT 200 / RYT 500
Cindy Chase
Hometown: Detroit MI
Birthday date: November 14th
Training/education: 200 and 300 RYT Certification-Santosha Yoga Studio, Reiki Levels I and II
Mentor(s): Theresa, my Mom, Jessica and Christopher
Favorite Prop: Blocks, always blocks you can use them in so many poses
What pose do you love to teach? Utthita Trikonasana, Extended Triangle Pose, Delightful
What is your favorite pose? Ardha Chandrasana, Half Moon
What is your least favorite pose? Arm balances – UGH!
What is your favorite season of the year? Summer
MAC or PC? PC
Favorite Dessert: Lemon Meringue Pie, preferably made by my Mom. ?
Favorite Fruit: Raspberries
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? 1998 at the L’Anse Creuse Community Center with Tom King
Interests outside of Yoga: Traveling, Cooking, Reading, Gardening
Amanda Hodge – E-RYT 200
Amanda Hodge
Hometown: Petoskey, MI
Birthday date: September 10th – Virgo all the way
Training: RYT 200 from Santosha Yoga 2013, CCYT (Certified Chair Yog
a Teacher)
Mentors: Theresa May & all of my students
Favorite Prop: Chair
What pose do you love to teach? Warrior II
What is your favorite pose? Side Angle Pose
What is your least favorite pose? None
What is your favorite season? Fall
MAC or PC? Neither! I’m technically challenged that’s my hubby’s department!
Favorite Dessert: Coffee with Grandmas Xmas Cookies
Favorite Fruit: Strawberries & Honeydew Melon
Where/When did you take first yoga class? At Santosha Yoga on Sunday April 3, 2011
Interest outside of Yoga: Watching my kids play sports, Rooting on the Detroit Tigers, walking, listening to audio books & travel
Jill Mazure – RYT 200
Jill Mazure
Hometown: Mt. Clemens MI
Birthday date: March 30th
Training/education: RYT200, Reiki Master, AFFA Group Fitness Certified, CPR, Certified Aromatherapist Level 1
Mentor(s): Wayne Dyer, BKS Iyengar, my students are my daily teachers, I try to absorb all I can from every teacher I take a class from.
Favorite Prop: Block
What pose do you love to teach? Head to Knee (Janu Sirsasana)
What is your favorite pose? revolved crescent lunge (parivritta anjaneyasana)
What is your least favorite pose? pigeon
What is your favorite season of the year? Fall
MAC or PC? Mac
Favorite Dessert: Dutch Apple Pie
Favorite Fruit: Apples
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? From Theresa May in the gym that was next to the dance studio by Walmart about 10 years ago.
Interests outside of Yoga: being in nature, golfing and boating with my husband and kids
Jennifer Martin – RYT 200
Jennifer Martin
Hometown: Madison Heights, Michigan
Birthday date: December 13th
Training/education: 200 Hr. at Hamsa Yoga with Alan Haras. Additional 200 Hr. with Mark Whitwell (Heart of Yoga Certification). I’m a perpetual student and love taking additional trainings such as Yoga Therapy with Doug Keller, Vedic Chanting with Sruti Yoga (online), Pranayama with Gary Kraftsow, and Tantrik Yoga studies with Christopher Hareesh Wallis.
Mentor: Mark Whitwell
Favorite Prop: None, really. Most used would definitely be blocks though.
What pose do you love to teach? Virabhadrasana I (warrior I )(always)!
What is your favorite pose? Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III)
What is your least favorite pose? Chaturanga Dandasana (lowering from Plank pose)
What is your favorite season of the year? Absolute tie between Summer and Fall.
MAC or PC? I can easily destroy them both.
Favorite Dessert: Currently obsessed with Trader Joe’s Mango Sorbet.
Favorite Fruit: Cherries
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? First non-DVD class outside of my living room?! The University of Chicago student center with Suddha Weixler. A lifetime ago.
Interests outside of Yoga: Traveling, learning languages, spending time with my boys (3 Sons + Husband), watching movies (the more independent and artsy the better), and I have also been known to “binge play” the occasional Lego video game on PlayStation (remember, I DO have 3 boys!).
Amy Kayy – RYT 200
Amy Kayy
Hometown: Clinton Township, MI
Birthday date: December 16th
Training/education: RYT200 – Santosha Teacher Training, Advanced Pranic Healing Practitioner
Mentor(s): Theresa May, Cindy Chase and My Parents!
Favorite Prop: Wall
What pose do you love to teach? Tree Pose (Vrksasana)
What is your favorite pose? Intense Side Stretch (Parsvottanasana) & Warrior 3 (Virabhadrasana III)
What is your least favorite pose? Camel (Ustrasana)
What is your favorite season of the year? Fall
MAC or PC? MAC
Favorite Dessert: Crème Brulee
Favorite Fruit: Watermelon
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? Santosha Yoga – January 2016
Interests outside of Yoga: Pranic Healing. Meditation. Reading. Writing. Volleyball. Space. Nature. Being by Water
Missy Pierson – RYT 200
Missy Pierson
Hometown: Harrison Township, Michigan
Birthday date: August 23rd
Training/education: RYT-200 at Santosha in 2018
Mentor(s): Theresa May
Favorite Prop: Blocks
What pose do you love to teach? Warrior 2
What is your favorite pose? Eagle Pose or Reclined Spinal Twist
What is your least favorite pose? Seated Wide Leg Forward Fold
What is your favorite season of the year? Summer! My kids are out of school so that means a lot of adventures together and no lunches to pack.
MAC or PC? PC… I know nothing about MAC’s except it was on my 8-year-old son’s Christmas List this year.
Favorite Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Favorite Fruit: Watermelon or Michigan Cherries
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? February 2, 2014 at Santosha with Penny Carroll
Interests outside of Yoga: Spending time with my family and friends, reading, doing puzzles, and golfing
Penny Carroll E-RYT 500, LMT
Penny Carroll
Hometown: Byers, Colorado
Birthday date: April 1
Training/education: RYT-500 with Santosha Yoga; Warriors at Ease, Yoga for 12-Step Recovery; Yoga Nidra, Yoga Fit 1 & 2; Licensed Massage Therapist; Reiki Level 2; B.S. Early Childhood Education; B.S., Communications; Masters Certificate Servant Leadership
Mentor(s): Theresa May, Karen Soltes; Nicki Myers
Favorite Prop: Block
What pose do you love to teach? Half moon pose (Ardha Chandrasana)
What is your favorite pose: Crescent Moon Pose (Anjanayasana)
What is your least favorite pose: Chair Pose (Parivrtta Utkatasana)
What is your favorite season of the year: Autumn
MAC or PC: depends on what i’m doing!
Favorite Dessert: Strawberry shortcake
Favorite Fruit: strawberries
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? Watching Lilias Folan on PBS when I was in grade school; to practicing with Steve Ross and Yoga with Denise Austin on TV when I was pregnant in 2000
Interests outside of Yoga: Reading, camping, cooking, gardening, long baths
Gail Sobczak RYT 200, LMT
Gail Sobczak
Hometown: East Detroit (Eastpointe now)
Birthday date: October 4 I am a true Libra
Training/education: RYT200 at Santosha, Massage Therapist and Esthetician
Mentor(s): Theresa May and really all the teachers at Santosha
Favorite Prop: Block
What pose do you love to teach? Tree pose
What is your favorite pose: Triangle
What is your least favorite pose: Dragon/Lizard
What is your favorite season of the year: Fall
MAC or PC: We really don’t have either. My husband has is work PC that I don’t use. Everything thing I own is apple so if I had to choose MAC
Favorite Dessert: Apple pie or lemon meringue pie
Favorite Fruit: I love all fruit
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? 2000, Petoskey MI, I was is a classroom after school
Interests outside of Yoga: Nature, boating, water activities, reading, gardening, walking, cooking and baking
Courtney Heck RYT 200
Courtney Heck
Hometown: Detroit Michigan
Birthday date: August 29th
Training/education: RYT 200 Santosha Yoga 2018, Reiki Level I & II with Gina A and Transcendental Meditation (TM)
Mentors: Cindy Chase, Theresa May, Anna Jokinen and My “Fabulous Five” (My Superhero friends who know who they are)
Favorite Prop: Blocks & Bolsters Babycakes!
What pose do you love to teach? Utthita Hasta parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle) – I love the way it sounds when it rolls off my tongue It is a fun ‘Show-N-Tell’ pose
What is your favorite pose: Balasana (Child’s Pose) isn’t it everyone’s??
What is your least favorite pose: Anjaneyanana (Crescent Lunge) Ugh, the ultimate thigh master
What is your favorite season of the year: Summer
MAC or PC: Everyone should just be proud of the fact that I knew this question pertained to ‘computers’… giggle… enough said!
Favorite Dessert: Lemon Blueberry scones with Lemon glaze
Favorite Fruit: Bananas and Cuties! Greatest on-the-go fruit with its own easy to peel safety covering
Where/when did you take your first yoga class? Friday 10 AM, September 30th, 2016 with Grace Buffa @ Santosha Yoga
Interests outside of Yoga: Time with my sweet Sydney, daily TM and self-healing, Legwarmers, Gardening, Tea has been ‘exciting’ I said it – does it make me a snob? giggle, Reiki Healing, Friday evenings with my ‘Fabulous Five’, and Sunday Fundays with my boyfriend
Pam Kraft
Pam Kraft – ABMP Certified Massage Therapist
Licensed Massage Therapist. Pam graduated from Irene’s Myomassology Institute in 2014 and completed Beaumont’s Oncology/Hospital Massage Program in 2015. ”The power of touch during grief and pain benefits not only the patients, but their caregivers too. Everyone can benefit from the healing power of touch. “
Pam offers Swedish, Hot Stone, Prenatal, Myofascial Release, Sports Massage along with Table Thai massage, Reflexology and aromatherapy.
Whether your goal is relaxation or pain relief or both, she can tailor a session with techniques specific to your personal needs.
Pam is available Wednesdays by online booking, and other times by calling or texting @ 586-216-8867
Stefanie Fellows
Stefanie Fellows – ABMP Certified Massage Therapist
Stefanie graduated from Baker College’s Therapeutic Massage program in 2005, where she was trained in therapeutic, prenatal, hot stone and deep tissue techniques, as well as the relaxing Swedish massage.
Stefanie’s massage experiences range from chiropractic to salons and day spas.
She customizes her massages to your individual needs, with the goal of an end result that leaves you feeling rejuvenated.
Stefanie is available Thursdays and Saturdays by online booking, and other times by calling or texting @ 586-206-7784
Christine Dietz
Christine Dietz – ABMP Certified Massage Therapist
ABMP* Advanced Massage Practitioner since 2007 attending the “Health Enrichment Center” in Lapeer, Mi. Christine completed advanced training in 2010 specializing in Neuromuscular Therapy and Myofascial Release. She can help aid in an acute problem you may have currently or a chronic issue you have been struggling with for some time.
Christine can provide variety of pressure during your massage, just let her know, and uses many modalities and types of massages including prenatal, children and adolescents (parent must be present). She is looking forward to helping you on your journey of life and healing.
Christine is available Tuesday’s by online booking, and other times by calling or texting @ 810-310-1265.
Dani Wade
Dani Wade – ABMP Certified Massage Therapist
ABMP* Certified Massage Therapist since 2013. Graduated from “The Ann Arbor Institute of Massage Therapy,” a COMPTA accredited school. The 800 hour program consisted of training in many different modalities, but focused mainly on Neuromuscular Therapy and Myofascial Release.
Dani’s goal is to help you with your chronic pain patterns or through an injury. Using a combination of techniques, she will tailor the massage to your specific needs. Dani has worked with clients who sought out massage therapy as an alternative to medication or surgery. She has also worked with clients before and after surgery to promote a quicker and healthier healing process.
She is dedicated to helping others understand more about their own bodies and believes this knowledge will lead to healthier future generations.
Dani is currently on Maternity Leave.
