Annie Hayes Wellness Staff

It is impossible to do this work alone. A huge, heartfelt thank you to the teachers and staff below that aid Annie Hayes Wellness & Yoga in bringing affordable yoga and wellness to our communities.

 
 
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Joe Popham

About: Joe grew up in Duluth, MN and studied at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He has lived in the metro area ever since, except two summers - one each in Costa Rica and France.

He practices and guides yoga to promote inner peace and loving community through the realization of our truest, deepest Self(s). He seeks to understand each student’s unique needs and goals, in order to best serve them as individuals, and as a community.

Teaching Style: Joe's teaching style involves break-down and flow through fundamental power vinyasa postures, linking breath to movement at a moderate, intuitive pace. Intentionally guided to explore full body and mind.

Advice to New Yogis/Yoginis: Everything you need, you already have. You are welcome and valued here - please come share your light! Breathe and smile!

Favorite Asana (pose): Samasthiti and supta baddha konasana have both been mainstays for a while now.

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Lauren Kvasnicka

About: Lauren grew up in Rochester, MN. She studied Nutrition and Peace Studies at The College of St. Benedict and St. John's University and earned her Masters of Public Health from the University of Minnesota in Community Health Promotion. Lauren has live in Minneapolis since 2011-currently residing in NE.

Lauren works in senior wellness as an Aging-In-Place Program Coordinator for a local nonprofit in Hennepin County. She also instructs senior fitness classes, Spinning, and other forms of group fitness. In her free time, Lauren enjoys supporting local music, walks through the neighborhood, and cribbage!

Teaching Style: Lauren believes that breath is the most valuable tool to connect mind and body so expect one or two breathing exercises in her class. She wants students to discover poses and shapes relative to their own bodies and does so by providing lots of options and modifications.

Advice to New Yogis/Yoginis: Have an open mind and focus on yourself. Find gratitude for the mind, body, and spirit you have by showing up and being present.

Favorite Asana (pose): Prasarita Padottanasana (wide leg forward fold) is my go to for tight hamstrings and gentle hip release and Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) because there is always something to refine and refresh in down dog!

 

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Lahli Trevis

About: Lahli grew up in Dakota county with a passion for drawing. She achieved a BFA cum laude in Illustration from the College of Visual Arts (St. Paul) in 2007. She moved to Minneapolis in 2009 and spent the next ten years experiencing different corners of the city. It was on one of these exploits that she encountered AHW’s ‘Yoga and Cocktails’ and participated in yoga for the first time outside her living room. Hooked, she joined the Annie fan club and started the yoga-brewery tour. With yoga she discovered community, confidence and self-compassion.

In 2020, Lahli flew off to Scotland to study for a Master’s degree in Publishing. She still follows along with the AHW community virtually (when she’s not hillwalking and chasing kilts that is).

Learning Style: You must laugh at least once in class! Go with the flow, literally! Clear your mind from all of life’s noise and responsibilities. Trust and be guided by AHW’s yogis in a challenging, yet restorative practice.

Advice to New Yogis/Yoginis: Developing a regular yoga practice is the greatest life-long gift to yourself. You deserve it!

Favorite Aana (pose): Pigeon! As an avid cyclist and hiker, Pigeon stretches tight hips and feels great in its various forms: a sleeping pigeon on your favorite studio mat or a one-legged chair pigeon in the middle of a long ride or hike

 

Erin Golfis

About: Erin grew up in the South Metro where she attended the “Zoo School” (School of Environmental Studies) in Apple Valley. From there she went off to Purdue University before coming home to earn her Bachelor’s degree at Hamline University.

Erin tried yoga a few times before it finally took; that was over 12 years ago. She has been practicing and teaching ever since. Erin has her 200-hour certifications in both Power Vinyasa and Hot Yoga styles.

In addition to teaching yoga, Erin works as a reinsurance accountant, has 3 chunky kitties and loves to read and knit in her spare time.

Teaching Style: In Erin’s classes we are encouraged to stay present in our bodies, quiet expectations and to lean into your breath. We explore how to find the steadiness in both stillness and flow.

She believes you are your own best teacher, on and off of your mat, and yoga asana provides a way to connect to that teacher.

Advice to New Yogis/Yoginis: Everything you need is already there with(in) you! When you start to let go of your expectations, all outcomes become possible; just because you never have doesn’t mean you never will.

Favorite Asana: Down Dog is always a favorite, anything to open up my hips and counter the hours spent sitting and working at a computer!

 

Vicki Luedtke

About: Vicki grew up with a passion for movement and exercise. This led her to study Exercise Physiology and Movement at UW-LaCrosse. She moved to Minneapolis after college, working as a studio manager and teaching various exercise modalities over the years. Vicki has a 450 hour Pilates certification and 200 hour Yoga certification. She has studied various forms of body work and Reiki as well. 

Teaching Style: Vicki enjoys guiding clients in classes and one on one instruction. There is always an emphasis on trusting one's own body and moving with focus and intention. She brings a gentle, welcoming spirit to everyone. 

Advice to New Yogis/Yoginis: Yoga is for every body. Explore different types of yoga, there is a style that will resonate with you. Breath, relax and enjoy!

Favorite Pose: Pigeon. This pose never fails to help my tight hips loosen up.

 

Katie Fraser

About: Katie grew up in a first ring suburb of the Twin Cities metro, but moved away to Chicago to attend DePaul University where she studied communications and journalism. After living there for a few years, she returned to Minneapolis where she worked in news, PR and now marketing. When not teaching, she enjoys exploring the Twin Cities hospitality scene and theater.

Teaching Style: Expect to get up and moving sooner in Katie's class! Katie's class has a short warm-up with a quicker flow, followed by a nice, long stretching period at the end. She aims to make yoga as accessible as possible through adjustments and modifications. 

Advice to New Yogis: You have already accomplished the hardest part by showing up to your mat. There is nothing else you need to do once you are there. It is always your practice to make work for your needs on any given day.

Favorite Asana (pose): Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (one legged pigeon) specifically the forward bend variation, but I love the supine or seated variations as well. Anything that will get the hips nice and open! Also, Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel) because I enjoy doing it with my niece!