Jessie L. - is from Las Vegas, Nevada. She fell in love with Ann Arbor at a young age when she attended University of Michigan's Debate Camp. Jessie is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she did her Bachelor's in Classical Art and Archaeology and Art History as well as the University of Cambridge where she received her Master's of Philosophy in Archaeology: Heritage and Museum Management.  She is proud to own and operate a Yoga studio, where intangible heritage is a part of the daily landscape. She was a competitive dancer in her youth and found yoga after she left the world of dance. Jessie has been practicing yoga for over eight years. She has envisaged the concept of aUM Yoga as a studio that she would have frequented during her time as an undergraduate. Jessie is an E-RYT 200, is certified in Aerial Yoga, Pole Dance, Thai, and Sports Massage. Jessie also specializes in Geriatric Yoga and teaches in an assortment of assisted living facilities and adult day care centers in the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter Area(s).  She is focused on creating and fostering a welcoming & loving community! As a Lululemon Ambassador, she strives to create this community both internal and external to the aUM Yoga studio space.

Amanda T. 

E-RYT200, has been a student of yoga for 20 years, drawing on various types of yoga such as vinyasa, yin, non-flow hatha, Ashtanga and prenatal - depending on mood, ability, and season of life. In 2012, after more than a decade of working in women's health as a Certified Professional Midwife, she decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a yoga instructor and became an RYT 200 through the non-profit studio, Yoga4Peace in Southgate, MI.  Amanda sees yoga as the holistic practice of reconnecting the body, breath, mind, and emotions in a world that often takes us away from our true selves. It has been a fantastic pleasure co-writing and co-teaching the aUM Demystify Yoga 200 Hour Teacher Training program with Jessie Lipkowitz. Life outside the studio includes being a mother to three wonderful children and wife to her best friend. 

Amber S.

is a master's student at the University of Michigan. She has been practicing yoga for almost four years and became a certified yoga instructor in the fall of 2017. She feels that yoga has given her an outlet to manage the stresses of everyday life. Beyond this, she firmly believes that her passion for yoga has affected her entire being. Amber strives to show kindness to everyone that she comes into contact with and live a mindful, meaningful, and balanced life.

Brogan D.

is a Michigan native and a former student-athlete. She attended Central Michigan University as a softball player (2008-2013) and went on to earn her Masters of Communication in 2014. Her path led her to teach public speaking at both CMU + EMU, but after years of team sports, weight lifting, and academia, it was time to transition. In 2016, she was trained in alignment-based yoga (RYT200), where she integrated the idea that we can align physically in order to align mentally, emotionally, and energetically. Brogan believes in a strong foundation of breath and alignment to transcend class type and to sustain a life-long practice. Her class is challenging and supportive with precise cues to guide students to the edge between comfort/discomfort, strength/flexibility, steadiness/ease – the place where growth happens. The yoga practice has offered Brogan direction, so she is honored to hold space for others to explore their own path.

Carson C. 

has always been dedicated to fitness. Growing up he played competitive tennis and loved running. When he went to his first yoga class he was blown away and thought it was the hardest thing he had ever done. He has been back on his mat every day since - growing physically, mentally, and spiritually. Yoga is an amazing gift that he is so happy to have found and he can’t wait to share the gift of yoga with all those he comes in contact with, both on and off the mat. 

Gabby N. 

is a pre-med junior at the University of Michigan. She began practicing yoga four years ago and immediately joined Michigan Yoga Club and began attending aUM classes when she arrived on campus. Yoga has brought her an amazing balance between hard-work and relaxation both in and outside the studio. She has found such an inspiring, welcoming, and fun loving community at aUM which she hopes to share with all of her students.

Hannah G.

is a junior at the University of Michigan. She discovered aUM Yoga her freshman year and soon found yoga as a way to improve both mental and physical health/strength. She became RYT certified in the winter of 2018. She hopes to continue to grow her practice and hold space for others in her class to relieve stress and sweat!

Jess S.

is originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland and moved to Ann Arbor to attend school at the University of Michigan in 2013. After graduating, she spent a year in New Orleans working as an adult literacy tutor as a corps member of a Jewish social justice organization. She is ecstatic to be back in AA again to pursue a Master’s degree at Michigan’s School of Social Work and to work at her all time favorite yoga studio. Jess found aUM as a freshman in undergrad and instantaneously fell in love with the fun flows and the tight-knit community. Teaching has allowed her to expand her knowledge and deepen her love for the practice; and she hopes that her classes can help do the same for others.

Kelsey S.

is a senior attending the University of Michigan. She started doing yoga when she was 16, at this age the concept of yoga and mindfulness was completely mind-blowing to her. She has been hooked on yoga ever since. She came to aUM as a freshman and joined Michigan Yoga Club. She began to take yoga more seriously after being welcomed onto the board of MYC. She's excited for the club's future and her goal is to make more students connect and feel that post-yoga glow!

Lauren H.

grew up Ann Arbor, MI. She started practicing yoga at the age of 20 as a way to de-stress during finals week. She quickly realized that yoga not only helped her survive stressful times in college but helped her progress and thrive in all areas of life. Lauren completed her RYT 200 training in the winter of 2016 at aUM Yoga. Now she not only teaches yoga but is also a high school art teacher. She strives to bring mindfulness, creativity and joy to all aspects of her life, always working to practice what she preaches, and preach what she practices.

Lil S. 

recently graduated from U of M where she studied Biomedical Engineering. She has been practicing yoga for about three years and received her teaching certificate from aUM in Spring 2017. Connecting the mind, body, and breath in yoga continues to be a challenging, exciting, and rewarding journey for her. She hopes to bring the same physical and mental benefits she gets from yoga to her students.

Mike M. 

is a musician, writer, rec-league hockey player, and graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors in Creative Writing. He also currently works as an Editor for a scientific research company in downtown Ann Arbor. Mike began his practice with Matt Hunter of Giant Steps Yoga in 2011 and completed his teacher training here at aUM in 2016. As a teacher and yogi, Mike believes in bringing laughter and playfulness to each practice as well as creating classes that are both physically challenging and emotionally engaging. Through yoga, he strives to help cultivate self-love, mindfulness, and non-attachment. He hopes with each practice to offer gratitude, promote healing, and to celebrate, as Jeff Magnum said, "how strange it is to be anything at all"!

Natalie B.

is a senior at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. As a freshman, she discovered aUM through the Michigan Yoga Club. She immediately fell in love with her yoga practice and was inspired by the energy, creativity, and passion of the aUM Yoga community. After practicing for about two years, she completed her YTT in the Fall of 2017 at aUM. Through her practice, she strives to find the delicate balance of embodying liveliness and enthusiasm while also staying focused and grounded. She hopes to help her students find empowerment, mindfulness, and compassion on and off their mats!

Shelly I.

"Yoga is a path, and it is a personal path. It will not look, feel or be the same for any body." Shelly's classes honor this. She was drawn to yoga at a very young age and has had a regular practice for over 20 years. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2014 and has been teaching regularly since. Shelly's classes incorporate the foundations of Ashtanga (breath, drishti, and bandhas) to help find alignment and stability in postures. She combines this with the freedom to explore your own personal boundaries using dynamic and creative flows with the backdrop of inspiring messages and empowering music. Think meditation meets dance. You will leave feeling challenged, yet stronger and more flexible both physically and emotionally. You will learn how to get out of your own way, on and off the mat in order to apply yoga to all aspects of your life. Shelly believes that yoga teaches you that you already have all you need.