Instructor Biographies

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 dedicated to a daily practice for the past eight years. She has envisaged the concept of aUM Yoga as a studio that she would have frequented during her time as a student. Jessie is an E-RYT 500 and is certified in Aerial Yoga, Pole Dance, Thai, and Sports Massage. She has taught over 10,000 hours of yoga in the greater Detroit Area, Las Vegas, New York, London, Beirut, and Zurich. She specializes in Ashtanga, Chair & Geriatric Yoga, Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, and Specialty Workshops (Arm Balances, Contortions, and Inversions). Jessie has been an ambassador for Lululemon, Lucy, and Lole. She seeks meaningful connections in order to create a strong community both internal and external to the aUM Yoga studio space.

Testimonial: "Strength, spirit, transformation and f$&k this is awesome are the thoughts and attitudes going through my head every time I take a class with Jessie Lipkowitz. Her instruction and flow are unlike any I have experienced in the 9+ years I’ve been practicing and I specifically make it a point to find Jessie’s class every time I’m within 50 miles from her studio. I love that she continues to travel the world to continue her training and that she passes on that knowledge onto her students. Thank you Jessie for being the embodiment of an amazing instructor." -Ming Chen Yogi, podcaster and cast member AMC’s “Comic Book Men"

Alex S.

is a junior studying Economics at the University of Michigan. She started yoga her freshman year when she joined Michigan Yoga Club and immediately fell in love with the practice and the community at aUM. She was amazed by the mental and physical strength that she found from yoga. A year later, she completed her teacher training. As someone who came to aUM as an unexperienced, new yogi, she hopes to present to others the same welcoming, positive, safe environment that first inspired her to take up the practice. 

Alyssa S. 

is from Ann Arbor and is pursuing her Master's in Social Work at University of Michigan. Alyssa joined the pole community because of its inherent values of respect, self love, inclusivity, challenge, and encouragement. She loves to push herself to new heights each time she gets on the pole to practice and as a result, Alyssa has become a pole competitor. Through competition, she has fallen even more in love with the sport. She credits pole with making her happier, healthier, stronger, and more confident. She is excited to share her energy and love of pole with her students.

Antionette W.

is a PhD Research Lab Specialist (Dr. Antionette “ANTO” Williams) who works daily to fulfill the highest expression of herself as a human being and artist. For many decades, ANTO has explored many movement genres from liturgical dance to hip hop, Congolese African dance, belly dance (Raks Sharki), and most recently pole dance. ANTO loves the adrenaline rush of pole and feels that this dance form provides the biggest boost to self-love as you overcome great challenges and witness your own greatness in real time. Growing in grace and strength, ANTO aspires to one day compete among the best dancers in pole, if not to win a prize, then just to share her joy and passion with audiences and communities worldwide. 

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. 

Casey D.

is a registered nurse and yoga teacher. His classes are grounded in both modern health sciences and energetics. Casey's relatable approach to teaching movement and wellness empowers students of all levels to take control of their health by tapping into their own authentic power and strength. He has trained with several highly regarded teachers in the disciplines of yoga, calisthenics, nursing, and Reiki in order to provide his students with the most holistic and effective experience possible. He believes everyone already holds the keys to their transformation, so his classes focus on creating a fun and welcoming container for students to experience their own amazing ability to reach their goals.

Chelsea F.

has been a student of yoga for over ten (10) years. She started teaching yoga in the Fall of 2017, and has taught a variety of modalities in a variety of locations around Ann Arbor. Chelsea loves to try new things, think more deeply about alignment and philosophy, ask questions, and learn together! Her classes are generally flow based, with a focus on building breath and alignment principles, offering modifications to allow every student to reach their fullest expression. Off the mat, Chelsea has received degrees in Psychology, International Studies, and Elementary Education. She is currently a 4th Grade teacher in the Ann Arbor area. 

Devan H.

is originally from Ypsilanti,  Michigan. He had an affinity for music from a young age. From tap dancing in elementary school, he moved on to play percussion for about a decade. In high school he was involved in musical theater, choir, and ballroom dance. He studied music theory and vocal performance at Washtenaw Community College. In the summer of 2018 Devan took his first pole class and couldn't fathom staying away from Polarity ever since. He worked his way into the highest level classes before there was snow on the ground and took the chance to become an instructor at the first available opportunity. Devan uses pole fitness to challenge himself to reach new levels of strength, flexibility, and endurance. But at Polarity he's also found a welcoming community that pushes him to work harder every day! 

Diana R. 

is trained to teach several styles of yoga including Vinyasa and Yin restorative. Diana began practicing yoga in college 25 years ago as a way to calm her busy mind. Her practice went through ebbs and flows during those early years while juggling a career in strategic marketing and being a mom. It was during a 45-minute silent meditation after her first child was born, that Diana’s relationship with yoga shifted. It was a mindful awakening— yoga became an inner refuge for her to find calm, connection, and strength. Diana holds a MBA in marketing and an undergraduate degree in Biopsychology and Cognitive Science. She is also a proud local Ann Arborite raising two amazing children alongside her husband.

Gabby N. 

is a pre-med senior 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 senior 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!

Hope G.

is a sophomore at the University of Michigan studying Earth and Environmental Sciences as well as Art and Design. She found yoga when her sister Tess (also an aUM instructor!) came home from UMich for the summer and dragged her to her first yoga class. She was instantly hooked, and has been consistently practicing ever since. Although she was initially drawn to the practice for the physical benefits, it quickly became much more than that. Practicing mindfulness paired with asana is what keeps her coming back to her mat every day, and is what inspired her to complete her teacher training at aUM in the winter of 2019. In her classes she hopes to offer a space for her students to be present and look inwardly, while also experiencing the power of the communal energy that aUM so strongly radiates. 

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 Ann Arbor 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 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.

Joan L.

is an avid dancer and mover! Joan grew up competing in various dance competitions in the southern Michigan area. Her training included ballet, pointe, jazz, and contemporary dance. Upon admission to the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing she put dance to the side and began to explore new forms of movement, including pole fitness. The challenge of using the body to defy gravity, while aiming to produce graceful, fluid movements quickly drew her into a love for pole fitness. She has been practicing pole for just over two years, while continuing to pass on her passion for dance to young competitive dancers. She brings a mix of strengthening, dance, and a touch of sass to her classes, making them perfect for all fellow movers!

Laura M.

believes that you can work hard and have fun getting fit! She has been passionate about teaching fitness classes ranging from Kangoo Dance to Pole Fitness for over eight (8) years. Laura has a creative and energetic approach and strives to motivate all of her clients to achieve their goals and be the best versions of themselves. Pole has helped to increase her strength, flexibility, creativity, confidence, and friendships. She was hooked from her first class! When she is not busy getting fit - Laura enjoys bonfires, pit bulls, General Hospital, and taking song requests for class! 

Maggie D.

is a junior studying Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan. She began her yoga practice well into her freshman year during a Michigan Yoga Club mass meeting. She instantly felt right at home doing MYC and spending time at aUM. She completed her teacher training through aUM in the winter of 2019. As someone who began yoga in search of a mental, spiritual, and physical release, she could not be more happy with what she found at aUM. aUM has provided her a fun, loving, beautiful community in the large environment of University of Michigan. She hopes everyone can find their niche through aUM.

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 nurse at the University of Michigan. 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!

Sophia D.

grew up in Plymouth, MI where she started taking Ballet lessons at the age of three (3) and has been dancing ever since. As she was growing up, Sophia studied many different styles of dance including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Lyrical and Hip Hop. In her college years, Sophia studied Dance and Theatre at Hope College and received her B.A. in Theatre in 2012. In her adult life, Sophia was drawn to the passion of Argentine Tango. She now competes, performs and teaches Tango with her partner José. Sophia is also a certified personal trainer and avid ballet dancer. When Sophia stumbled upon pole dance, she was drawn to the strength, sensuality, and self-expression pole dance has to offer. As an instructor, Sophia believes in challenging students while giving space for creativity, artistry, and personal expression. 

Sylvia C.

is originally from Canton, MI. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she received a BS in Biomedical Engineering and a MS in Human Factors Engineering. Energized from graduating, she was pulled into the magnetic world of pole fitness and was exciting to discover the strong and confident community of athletes that it possessed. From there, her passion for dance and movement was ignited and quickly became her focus. Sylvia specializes in fluidity and quality of movement in fitness. She is dedicated to creating a community that welcomes all shapes and sizes and spreads the love of dance!

Tess G.

is a senior at the University of Michigan. She stumbled upon aUM as an angsty freshman who had no desire to tailgate on Saturdays. Though she'd never practiced yoga before, she immediately fell in love with the community at the studio. A year and a half later, she completed her 200-hour YTT at aUM in April 2018. She hopes to remind her students that yoga is about more than twisting your body into a pretzel; it's a practice of self-discovery, and she does everything she can to make sure her classes reflect that.