OCTOBER YOGI OF THE MONTH: AMY M.

Name: Amy, but most know me as Ms. Amy

Occupation: Artist and Art Educator

What's your Yoga Story? Inspired by Joya's personal journey to yoga, I started in her backyard. My sisters, Laura and Natalie, really encouraged me to join them. When covid hit, I quit yoga, bought a treadmill, and returned to running. When Joya opened the studio, I returned to yoga with gusto! 1000+ classes strong!

Favorite thing about Santosha?

The instructors:

1. Joya is so f-ing motivating.

2. Wendy's sense of humor and attention to the origins of yoga.

3. Esther's intensity and athleticism.

4. Laura's tough instruction and yet, she is the one that leaves me in tears on my mat in savasana.

4. Katie's friendliness and choreography.

5. Nate's playlist (just kidding). Nate's "Sally".

6. Dana has the best playlists!

7. Brook is 'the doctor's orders.'.

8. Jennifer's fun facts.

9. Kristen and Charity - you get me out of bed on the weekends.

10. Mandi is a QUEEN.

11. I have taken classes from all Santosha instructors and found a reason to take every. single. one. of. them.

Fun Fact: On top of teaching High School and College Art, I have been a bartender at Captain Mike's since 2008.

App you cannot live without? Santosha. I'm serious. I dislike being on the waitlist. I try my best to book often, book ahead, and show up every day.

Fav Yoga Pose? Full Wheel or Head Stand. I don't often have the confidence to get into these poses, but when I do, I feel so damn strong.

Who do you admire most? I admire female artists of the past and present, but most importantly, I admire my grandmothers, who wanted to be educators, but didn't have the opportunities that I did.

The first concert you ever attended? New Kids On the Block at Alpine Valley.

What song always gets you out on the dance floor? The 80s and 90s always get me on the dance floor, but my appreciation for music goes back to the 50s. I love music! I often have to hold myself back at yoga from dancing, pulsing to the beat, or singing the songs out loud. I used to be obsessed with Jazzercise and I can't imagine a yoga class without a playlist.

What is your favorite book/movie of all time and why did it speak to you so much? Movie: Flashdance. I haven't seen it in a long time, but I still love the soundtrack. Book: I recently finished "The Story of Art Without Men" by Katy Hessel.

What is something you think everyone should try at least once? Travel. Visit everywhere you can at least once. Go off the grid. Learn something new and feel uncomfortable.

What song, or album, could you listen to on repeat? Everything by The National. Matt Beringer is both a crooner and a poet.

If you could donate $1 million to any charity, what cause would you choose? Cancer research. Recently, I have feared losing and I lost a lot of young friends to cancer. If there is anything left, mental health complexities - especially suicidal ideation, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

What is one thing we would never guess about you? I have been to Italy 5 times. In 2001, the first trip was with my family and we were featured in the Kenosha news because all of our luggage was stolen in Milan on arrival. I begged my family to stop in Milan to see the Duomo and the Academy before heading to our hotel in Lake Como. When we returned to the van, everything was gone except for our passports, money, and my camera. I did two one month artist residencies, one in Venice and one in Rome, and I taught two study abroads with UW-Parkside.

What was the worst haircut/hairstyle you have ever had? Bangs - my boyfriend dislikes them and they are difficult when it comes to yoga. I secretly love bangs.

Who is your celebrity crush? I don't crush anymore. In 1988 it was Corey Haim and in my 20's it was Ben Afflek.

The zombie apocalypse is coming, who are 3 people you want on your team? I would need my partner and best friend by my side and our two dogs, Birdie and Buckingham.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I knew I wanted to be an artist in the 3rd grade. Genevieve's mom inspired me to be an art teacher.

What's your favorite place of all the places you've travelled? Italy and the UK.

What's something you're looking forward to and why? A Cabo Christmas and a Northern European summer vacation/education.