Deb Sommerhalder, Founder of Inner Sun Yoga Studio, Llc
E-RYT (Experienced Yoga Teacher/Teacher Trainer), CYT, CPT, Certified Peter Hess Sound Massage Practitioner
Deb is known for her authentic, compassionate teaching style. She encourages growth of the physical and spiritual self through breath, movement and meditation, inviting her students to use their intuition to explore their practice at their own pace. Deb weaves a variety of modalities into her classes to create an inspiring, nurturing, safe practice that is accessible for everyone.
“Yoga has been a big part of my life for over 18 years and my practice has helped me learn to live in the moment, be strong and fearless, and most of all to love myself and others unconditionally. I believe that with patience and dedication you too can open your heart or "inner sun" and discover the true connection to who you are.”
*As member of Yoga Alliance, Deb offers continuing education credits for yoga teachers.
Education:
Certified Peter Hess® Sound Massage Practitioner / Peter Hess Academy, Gina Armstrong - 2018
Tune Up Fitness® Breath & Bliss / Lauri Streff - 2017
Aromatouch Practitioner - 2017
Roll Model® Method - The Science of Rolling / Jill Miller - 2015
BhakImmersion / Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band - 2015 & 2013
Founded Inner Sun Aerial Yoga Teacher Training - 2015
Certified Aerial Teacher / Aircat Aerial Yoga - 2013
Embodying the Flow Teacher Training with Aubree Saia 2013
Kirtan College / David Newman - 2011
Christouch Energy Healing (Reiki) Practitioner / Authentic Freedom Academy - 2010
SEVA Stress Release Practitioner / Soul Lightening International 2010
Thai Massage Bodywork Fundamentals Practitioner / Julie Zuleger - 2007
E-RYT Certified Experienced Yoga Teacher / Midwest Power Yoga, Deborah Williamson - 2004
Certified Mat Pilates Teacher / American Aerobic Association 2002
Mantra Lessons with Girish - 2016-2018
International presenter at yoga retreats.
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Christine Ellickson, RYT
Hatha | Vinyasa Christine moved to Appleton from Madison in 1976 newly married to begin her Dental Hygiene career. Soon she trained to be an aerobic dancing instructor and started running. Sam and Christine had a baby girl in 1985. Unfortunately, life unexpectedly changed when Sam had a stroke in 2000. To calm the brain and ease her stress Christine tried yoga. She practiced at Midwest Power Yoga, a Baron Baptiste hot yoga studio under the guidance of Debbie Williamson. She continued running and her affection for yoga grew. Since that initial beginning Christine has continued to practice yoga. She has had many teachers including Debbie Sommerhalder. In 2012 her path was guided, Chris calls it a God-thing, to pursue a 200-hour yoga teacher training at Empower. After graduation she began to teach at the Y and for Deb at Inner Sun. Most recently she has become interested in Iyengar, a yoga style focusing on alignment. She practices this with Kathy Davis. The books by Loren Fishman, MD, Yoga for Osteoporosis and Yoga for Arthritis are used as reference in her classes. Passion is defined as “an intense desire or enthusiasm for something.” Christine has a passion for teaching and studying yoga. She uses a style called Vinyasa, a “union of of breath and movement” to guide students safely through the steps. Each class is new incorporating alignment and balance, softness and strength, breath and mindfulness using various levels of intensity. Since 2000 her joy and enthusiasm for yoga continues to grow. 
Kelly Ellington, RYT
Vinyasa | Aerial Family has always been the most important thing to me. After 12 years of teaching special education, I took a step back from working in the schools to better focus on my health and family, mainly my beautiful daughters Mazie, age 9 and Emeline, age 7. Through this process, I learned how important a yoga practice and consistent running are in maintaining these priorities. I also discovered how it’s possible to fit these activities of self-preservation into a very busy life. I am so lucky to be sharing in others growth through teaching yoga and coaching runners. It is truly the best job for me. I was born to be a mother, teacher and coach. My hope is this site will guide you to find what I have found in yoga and running, by leading you to the places I am sharing yoga and how I can help you with your running goals. Be inspired to follow your heart and run with your true passion. I hope you reach out and connect with me today! www.ellingtonkelly.com 
Shelly Maxwell
Hatha | Aerial Shelly began practicing yoga 20 years ago while finishing her graduate studies in St. Louis, Missouri. She moved to Oshkosh, WI in 2002 and has been practicing at Inner Sun Yoga Studio for almost ten years. To celebrate two decades as a yoga student, she completed yoga teacher training RYT200 at the Fond du Lac Center for Spirituality and Healing through the Himalayan Institute. Shelly is dedicated to the ancient wisdom principles of yoga and incorporates them into her classes. During the day, Shelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and sees clients of all ages for mental health counseling. In the Fall of 2017 Shelly self-published, Finding My Intention, a memoir of how yoga and dancing helped her cope through the death of her mother and divorce while raising two small children. |
Gloria Simon-Kuzma, RYT
Hatha | Vinyasa | Aerial Gloria received her 200 hour level certification through the Himalayan Institute in Fond du Lac in 2003. From HI’s classical raja yoga teachings, she gained appreciation that yoga’s benefits extend far beyond the mat. It’s strength and beauty is that it’s a lifestyle, one that can be adapted to circumstances and abilities across the lifespan. Her yoga practice has diverse flavorings from buddhist philosophy to middle eastern dance. Yoga and Buddhism have common threads of self knowledge through meditation, the development of equanimity, and compassion towards all beings. Gloria’s teaching style incorporates classical and vinyasa yoga, and her instruction aims to bring clarity of alignment to release the breath and movement. She encourages a tolerant and playful class atmosphere, where yogis feel comfortable to practice and grow at their own pace. She has been teaching at the Oshkosh YMCA since 2003, and more recently at the Inner Sun, and the YMCA of the Fox Cities. Gloria is a certified aerial yoga teacher through the auspices of the IS. She loves combining grounding yoga practice with aerial tricks and flips. She is also a certified Level I Essentrics instructor. Essentrics is a fitness practice that rebalances the body and helps prevent injury and pain. Gloria has had a long career in human services, and lives with her husband and two rescue mutts of mayhem, Freckles and Max. In their spare time, they are renovating a barn and breathing life into the old farm. Gloria is an avid sustainable gardener, and hopes to weave her various passions into life on the farm. 
Jen Wenner
Hatha Jen started practicing yoga in 2005 as a way to deal with a particularly stressful time at work. The deep breathing, relaxation, meditation and asana associated with hatha yoga have been instrumental in balancing Jen's life and relieving stress. In 2017, she decided to commit herself to bringing that deep relaxation and stress release to other practitioners of yoga and took the 200-hour yoga teacher training offered through the Himalayan Institute at the Fond du Lac Center for Spirituality and Healing. In May 2018, Jen was certified as a yoga teacher and started teaching at Inner Sun Yoga Studio in August 2018. Jen is particularly passionate about helping beginning yoga practitioners to find their bliss and relaxation through restorative yoga practice. When she is not teaching and practicing yoga, Jen is a Professor of Geology at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping, baking and just hanging out on her deck, reading a good novel or socializing with good friends. |