Healthwise Yoga & Wellness Studio

Bios

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  Kristin Dahl, PsyD., LP, RYT

  Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Registered Yoga Teacher

  Dr. Dahl is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and owner of both Healthwise Behavioral Health & Wellness and Healthwise Studio. Although current evidence-based practices are the foundation of her work she values a mind-body connection and offers a holistic and integrative approach to care. Through mindful conversation and a strong belief in the importance of a compassionate relationship with oneself, she supports change by offering encouragement and fresh perspectives to patterned thinking and decision-making. “For me, my yoga practice is a very personal experience. Just a few short years ago curiosity brought me to my first class. Slowly, as I learned how to connect my breath to the movement of my body I began to experience a sense of inner calm and restful awareness. A welcomed change that helped to buffer the very human experiences of insecurity, self-doubt and worry. Now, my time on my mat has become the foundation of my relationship with myself. It is where I go to quiet my busy mind and to connect with the wisest part of myself. The part of me that can accept my imperfections and my growing edges, and reminds me that taking time for me is not selfish, but self-loving. Yoga and meditation have positively influenced my everyday life and I am very grateful for the opportunity to share it with others."

  Link: Kristin Dahl, PsyD., LP, RYT

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  Patty Hlava, Ph.D., AWC, C.MI., RYT

  Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, Certified Meditation Instructor, Registered Yoga Teacher

  Dr. Hlava views mindfulness meditation and yoga as central practices, noting that meditation in its various forms has woven through her life since her childhood. In 2006, she began to develop a personal yoga practice, which was grounded in connection with her doctoral studies in transpersonal psychology. She approaches her practice and teaching styles with a desire to both learn and share, with the aim of cultivating a healing community. Holding a compassion-centered perspective, she works in a non-judgmental style weaving insight, metaphor, and gentle humor throughout each class session. Dr. Hlava holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a doctoral degree in Transpersonal Psychology. She has spoken at conferences and events on the topics of meditation, mindfulness and psychotherapy, and gratitude. Dr. Hlava also serves as co-host of The Living Happiness Radio Show, focusing on themes of emotional well being and Positive Psychology. “I came to yoga through the door of meditation, which is one facet of yoga practice. Yoga offered me a way to engage with the body in way that felt simultaneously challenging and welcoming. The experience has never been one of exercise, but rather of feeling nourished—recharged and centered. I’ve always struggled with the term “exercise,” and at times find the idea of exercise daunting and intimidating. I’ve always viewed yoga as more gentle. There is kindness to it as a practice. I am constantly surprised at how trans-formative yoga is for me. I don’t always notice the immediate benefit of the practice; however, I am always aware of the difference in how I feel both emotionally and physically when I don’t practice. Yoga truly centers and grounds me. It gives me balance and helps me to see things in my life clearly.”

  Link: Patty Hlava, Ph.D., AWC, C.MI., RYT

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  Heidi Kopacek, PsyD, LP, RYT

  Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Registered Yoga Teacher

  Dr. Heidi Kopacek is a licensed psychologist. While earning her doctoral degree in clinical psychology, Heidi specialized in the study of mindfulness and meditation and how these concepts impact well-being. Heidi deeply values the mind-body connection in her approach to health, believing the body to be an invaluable resource for managing challenging situations and emotions. While Dr. Kopacek knows most people are doing a pretty great job managing and balancing all of their complex modern-day stressors, she suspects many either don’t have time, or are confused about how to approach their inner world. Her yoga classes, based on the principles of yoga and mindfulness, are designed to explore and clarify the laws of emotion, insight, vision, and values. “I admittedly started practicing yoga because I liked that it was exercise where you get to be barefoot and wear comfy stretch pants. And yoga was a wonderful workout, but over time, my awareness of why I enjoyed yoga started to shift. I realized that, more than feeling the physical invigoration that I feel with all forms of exercise, I was experiencing a deepening awareness of my body and what it needed. And instead of the emotional high one taps into from all forms of exercise, I was experiencing a deep and rich sense of calm, as well as unexpected bursts of insight and clarity that continued well past my yoga class. Now, rather than thinking of yoga as a fitness practice, I experience it as a wisdom practice (I still love being barefoot and wearing stretchy pants though!)”

  Link: Heidi Kopacek, PsyD, LP, RYT

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  Shannon Whealy, RYT

  Registered Yoga Teacher

  Shannon holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She’s a graphic designer and business owner, and has provided her entrepreneurial clients with a variety of creative services for 20 years. As her yoga practice has deepened over the past 8 years, she's developed a better understanding of herself and discovered new ways to use her creativity to serve on a greater level. She became a certified yoga teacher in the Spring of 2016 to help others experience the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits of yoga that are continually transforming her life. “For years, I used running as a tool to cope with stress, anxiety and mood. I was drawn to the physical practice of Vinyasa yoga, hoping it could provide the same benefit. It did, and so much more. I quickly found that by linking breath with movement, I could get out of my head and into my heart and spirit. My yoga and meditation practice helps me focus inward, feel the physical capsule of my body and be in the present moment. The mission of my teaching is to inspire students to connect to their hearts and bodies through breath and movement so they can live more fully and find peace within themselves.”

  Link: Shannon Whealy, RYT

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  Kristin Cromie, CYT, Reiki Practitioner

  Certified Yoga Teacher

  Kristin spent 15 years in Corporate America in the quality industry in Atlanta. After a running injury lead her to yoga, she quickly realized the physical, emotional and spiritual healing aspects of yoga. She balances her love of running, CrossFit and backpacking, grown twin girls and two stepchildren with a daily yoga practice. She has particular interest and training in Hatha/foundational yoga, anatomy, and yogic philosophy. Soon after moving from Georgia to Minnesota, she began practicing Reiki and offering Energetic Healing. Reiki has been an integral force in her life, allowing her to connect with the depth of the spirit in a therapeutic environment. “Yoga has been my journey through healing and forgiveness. After suffering for many years, I’m reminded each time I step on my mat how soul-drenching and compassionate yoga is. Unlike traditional exercise, yoga is the mind-body-spirit connection which allows everyone the space to be curious, heal and grow. It is my honor to guide and teach in a manner which provides a soft place to land, move mindfully, breathe intentionally and just be.”

  Link: Kristin Cromie, CYT, Reiki Practitioner

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  Kimberly Plessel, MS, RD, LD

  Registered & Licensed Dietitian

  Kimberly views mindfulness as a key component of nutritional well-being. In 2000, she was first introduced to this concept through yoga. To deepen her awareness, she has participated in several trainings related to mindfulness-based strategies for wellness and intuitive eating. She enters into partnership with her clients to explore the positive and nourishing opportunities of food in their lives. Mindfulness provides a framework to raise awareness of personal motivations, actions and insights into the roots of ones’ health. With this awareness, each of us is empowered to trust our own intuitive wisdom, preferences and internal cues to guide our food choices. Kimberly Plessel holds a master’s degree in nutrition. She is a registered and licensed dietitian. She holds several certifications that include intuitive eating, adult weight management and chronic disease self-management. Kimberly is currently completing a certification program to become an “Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner." Kimberly provides clinical nutrition counseling and speaks at local women's health conferences for Oakdale ObGyn in Maple Grove. She has written several articles for local healthcare organizations, including Minnesota Health Care News. Kimberly has served as a content expert for the Star Tribune, Minnesota Magazine, Minnesota Statement and Club Business International magazine. She also appeared on KARE 11 News to share strategies to combat emotional eating. "I started practicing yoga over 15 years ago as a way to ground myself and quiet my mind. I found incredible value in the group environment – practicing with and inspired by others that are striving for an inner balance. As time has unfolded, I have been impressed by the subtle messages and overlays that yoga has also had in my professional life. Yoga inspires mindfulness both on and off the mat. This state of awareness is directly linked to how we relate to our plates – not only our food choices, but the active process of how we eat. This has inspired me to take a functional, personalized approach to health and well-being."

  Link: Kimberly Plessel, MS, RD, LD

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  Bridget Vargas, CYT

  Certified Yoga Teacher

  Bridget has been working full time in administrative roles in the corporate world for the last 25+ years and in experiencing corporate stress she in turn found the benefits of yoga. In 2014 after years of practicing yoga, she obtained her certification through the Yoga Center of Minneapolis. In addition, she is the founding Director of the non-profit; Forever Loved that is dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of abused and abandoned dogs of Puerto Rico. “I am truly blessed to have found my purpose and to be able to combine my passions to make a difference in the lives of others through both rescue and yoga. “ “I started practicing yoga about 16 years ago and at that time I was looking for a new way to exercise. Once I started I realized that there was so much more to yoga and the practice itself then just the physical benefits. Yoga and meditation have changed my life for the better. It brings much needed nourishment to my mind, body and spirit. It has also allowed me to give myself permission to let go and to be compassionate to myself. I am grateful and eager to share my love of the practice with others.”

  Link: Bridget Vargas, CYT

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  Laura Stephan , PsyD

  Psychology Resident

  Dr. Stephan's interest in meditation and yoga practice began early in life. Throughout her academic career she has seen how these practices can help individuals access well-being in ways that traditional psychotherapy sometimes cannot. Her doctoral degree in psychology, as well as specific training in the integration of mindfulness and yoga with therapy, give her a unique ability to help people cultivate these skills. “I am passionate about helping individuals develop skills for balance and awareness. I think we can lose these abilities in our modern lives, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. My focus is on teaching others the skills to help them develop mindful awareness and calm. These abilities assist ones’ emotional regulation and attunement, which allows a person to live more intuitively. My teaching approach is genuine and light-hearted and meant to help individuals integrate these techniques into their busy lives. I recognize the fact that not everyone has time for lengthy, intense practice, and I focus on helping individuals find small and creative ways to integrate wellbeing practices into their lives.”

  Link: Laura Stephan , PsyD

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  Britta Lundberg, PhD

  Psychology Resident

  Dr. Lundberg earned a PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She specializes in working with individuals with chronic health conditions and disability. In her psychotherapy practice, she empowers clients to utilize the body’s self-healing resources to reduce distress and improve physical functioning and quality of life. She has taught mindfulness meditation classes to active senior groups across the Twin Cities. She brings a practical, real-world approach to incorporating mindfulness meditation practice into everyday life. “Although mindfulness meditation originated in ancient Eastern religious traditions, similar practices (e.g., contemplative prayer, self-reflection) exist across cultures as means of reducing suffering and cultivating inner peace. I approach meditation from a neuroscience perspective and was first introduced to mindfulness meditation as a research assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I observed brain imaging research on Tibetan monks. This ground-breaking research led by Dr. Richard Davidson showed that meditation has a powerful impact on how the brain and body function, which helped to bring meditation to the forefront of health and mental health care. Inspired by these experiences at UW-Madison, I completed training in mindfulness meditation and mindfulness-based psychotherapy.”

  Link: Britta Lundberg, PhD

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  Stacey Allen, MA, CCLS, LAMFT

  Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

  Stacey is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with Healthwise Behavioral Health in Maple Grove. Stacey is a Certified Child Life Specialist and has experience teaching mind/body techniques for relaxation and pain control in pediatric hospital settings. Stacey specializes in medical issues, chronic illness, and the psychological effects of cancer, and she is devoted to helping kids and adults through grief. Stacey works cooperatively with children, high school age kids, and adults to bring awareness to negative patterns and explore new techniques for success. Stacey enjoys working with the whole family because she believes the entire system contributes to both happiness and chaos. "Many times in my therapy sessions with couples, clients say, 'I wish I would have learned this stuff when I was a kid, Why don’t they teach this to the kids in school?' 'If I would have known some of these things sooner, I think I would have been better at relationships.' So, here we are! A chance to teach our kids not only what psychology has taught us about relationships and behavior, but how philosophies in mind/body balance can help us mindfully respond rather than mindlessly react. I love to hear kids teach others their new mindfulness skills, and to show they can use these skills daily to self-calm, show compassion, and positively participate in life!"

  Link: Stacey Allen, MA, CCLS, LAMFT

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  Tracey McCabe MA., LPCC, RYT

  Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Yoga Teacher

  Tracey received her Master’s degree in Forensic psychology in 2012. She became a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200) in 2013 and has since received specialized education in Yoga Calm, yoga for depression and anxiety. Tracey’s passion lies in teaching adolescents mindfulness practices along with yoga to develop well-being, self-compassion, and connection between mind, body, and soul. “I began my personal yoga practice in 2012 and have experienced firsthand the positive impact that meditation, mindfulness, and yoga has on my life. I sought out yoga as a way to complement my athletic lifestyle and my comfort zone of participating in sports. However, I have found the calming aspects of connecting movement with my breath to have helped to bring more balance to my life. I have since begun studying how mindfulness can be integrated into therapeutic aspects with both children and adolescents. My focus is on creating a non-judgmental environment that supports and promotes self-exploration and personal growth."

  Link: Tracey McCabe MA., LPCC, RYT

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  Lexi Weis, RYT

  Registered Yoga Teacher

  Lexi is a certified product owner for a local Minneapolis technology company, One20, Inc. where she oversees and executes strategic vision for new projects identified by business stakeholders to ensure successful product launches. She balances her chaotic work lifestyle with practicing yoga on a regular basis. Lexi has practiced Vinyasa, Bikram and Restorative styles of yoga for the past 6 years and decided to go through Power Yoga Teacher Training in January 2017. She approaches her practice with positivity and an openness to grow and improve. “I practice to come back to my core - to find what really matters to me, to focus on the positive attributes in my life and get rid of the negative. We are all capable of being positive and calm, but sometimes we need a reminder. Through my personal yoga practice, I am able to refocus my mind and come back to the person I want to be. I enjoy understanding the intent being each posture, asana, and why we practice specific postures. Yoga has emerged as an important component in my life and has become integrated in everything I do. I’m thankful to be apart of this community.”

  Link: Lexi Weis, RYT

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  Caitlan Dula, MSc, RYT

  Registered Yoga Teacher

  Caitlan holds a degree in Psychology from University of Minnesota and a Master’s of Science degree in Physiotherapy (Physical Therapy) in the United Kingdom. Newly returning to her native Minnesota after years of living in the UK, Caitlan is very excited to continue her yoga journey with the growing Healthwise yoga community. Combining her knowledge in human musculoskeletal systems and yogic principles, she believes that yoga is a perfect setting to cultivate mind and body awareness skills; skills that she believes can enhance physical rehabilitation and improve quality of life. As modifications of asanas (yoga poses) are her specialty, Caitlan's unique experience and knowledge assists her in guiding a yoga practice that is accessible to all yogis. "Yoga and meditation have been an important part of my life for the past eight years. Over and over again, as I continue to bring myself to the mat my practice offers a safe and non-judgmental space from which I can continue to nourish my personal resilience. As I ground myself, listen to and strengthen my body, mind and spirit- I practice acknowledging all emotions, including joy!. I am so grateful for the gifts my yoga practice offers me- an opportunity to explore being playful, present and gentle with myself and others. Namaste."

  Link: Caitlan Dula, MSc, RYT

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  Kenzi Allen, RYT

  Registered Yoga Teacher

  Kenzi is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She is the faculty yoga teacher at St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists where she teaches self-care through yoga to high school students. Kenzi has volunteered teaching yoga to children at People Serving People, a shelter in Minneapolis. Her job as the mindfulness program assistant at the Center for Spirituality and Healing helps strengthen her own personal connection to mindfulness. Kenzi is a theatre artist and actor in the Twin Cities interested in work that blends mindfulness, yoga, movement, and performance. “Yoga has been a part of my life since I was very young. My theatre training goes hand in hand with yoga because they are both about the mind-body connection and presence. Growing up, I experienced challenges that impacted my life and I found yoga to be the most helpful path to healing. I want to help young people discover the power of yoga on their journey to a quiet mind and healthy life.”

  Link: Kenzi Allen, RYT

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  Lorilee Virnig, MA, RYT, CC

  Master of Arts Counseling and Psychological Services, Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified ADHD Coach

  Link: Lorilee Virnig, MA, RYT, CC

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  Alex McLaughlin, LGSW, RYT

  Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Registered Yoga Teacher

  Alex received her Master's degree in Social Work in 2015 from George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. She began working as a special education social worker in 2015, working with high school students with emotional and/or behavioral disabilities. She has a passion for working with youth in an education setting, helping to eliminate their barriers to success and finding their own voice and empowering them to make positive live choices for their true selves. She studied trauma-informed practice and mindfulness techniques in graduate school and finds it essential to incorporate both in her work with students with mental health challenges. Since completing her 200-hour yoga certification in 2016, she has begun incorporating yoga in her practice with students, as she found her students benefit from the movement and introspection that a yoga practice can offer. "I began practicing yoga in 2010 at the suggestion of a lacrosse teammate, who recognized that my chaotic life did not allow for a lot of self-care time. After practicing regularly, I began to notice that my mind would chatter less, I held less tension in my body and I approached difficult situations with more calm and flexibility. I also felt physically healthy and began to take better care of my mind, body and spirit on and off the mat. The time I spend on my mat is my sacred space, my time to ground, center and be mindful. Mindfulness, meditation and yoga practice have allowed me to approach life with calm awareness. I am honored to lead others through their practice of yoga and hopeful folks can find their true selves."

  Link: Alex McLaughlin, LGSW, RYT