FIREHOUSE YOGA STAFF
 

 
Judy Blank: Judy Blank was introduced to yoga more than two decades ago, but at first didn’t fully appreciate its unique appeal. In 2000, she began to practice in earnest and was blown away. After a lifetime in sports, yoga has helped her achieve greater physical strength and flexibility. But it was her discovery of the mind-body connection that made her yoga experience transformative and meaningful. She completed her teacher training at Firehouse Yoga and hopes to help students enjoy the many benefits of yoga.
 

Tracy Barton-Rouse: An Ohio native, Tracy just moved to Des Moines last fall.  Tracy is an educator with 27 years of experience teaching at the college level (communication, English and writing, women’s studies, organizational leadership, and educational foundations).  She is currently an online graduate faculty member for the University of Phoenix.  Tracy has been interested in health and wellness since she was 18 and began reading about nutrition.  She is a vegan, an animal and nature lover, and activist.  She has studied and practiced yoga for about 10 years.  She is particularly interested in how yogic philosophy can be applied to other aspects of life, such as interpersonal relationships.  Because she loves teaching, Tracy really enjoys the opportunity to share with others the benefits of yoga.  Her noon class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is a fairly gentle yoga flow class for all levels, and was designed for busy people to take time out of their day to stretch, de-stress, and center themselves.  Tracy also makes yoga-inspired jewelry (see compassionate creations at www.rousecreations.com).  Contact Tracy at tracylovestofu@gmail.com.
Gail Hardinger-McCarthy: Gail Hardinger-McCarthy, L.P.N., Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and Instructor, Reiki Master, and Energy Coach has been involved in health and healing work for over 25 years.  As a facilitator, mentor, mediator, nurse, and visionary, she uses a holistic approach to help individuals or groups find balance in life.  She integrates her expertise from years of facilitating groups on self-care, resiliency skills, stress management, team building, and healing alternative therapies. 

Her training in adventure based experiential learning, Developing Capable People Program, Health Realization Program, Mediation, Intrinsic R Coaching, and various holistic energy based modalities, supports her passion for helping others help themselves find their best thinking to move forward in life with ease and harmony.

Gail integrates concepts of compassion, unconditional love, gratitude, and positive intention into her heart-centered work, inviting each individual to explore a deeper connection with self and others.  Her ability to assess the energy and access information from the energy field provides a map for discovery with each individual and their priority for creating more balance and health in life. Gail has provided Healing Touch services at Methodist, Lutheran, and Blank hospitals for inpatients, outpatients, and employees for the past 5 years and recently expanded her private practice to full time, having offices in Ankeny and Des Moines.

For more information or to set an appointment for a consultation, please call Gail at 515-201-2848.
 

Julie Jolesch: Julie began studying yoga just a couple of years ago in San Francisco.  She attended the San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference this past January where she studied with many inspiring yogis, then completed teacher training at Firehouse studio in May.  Julie’s preferred practice is vinyasa flow yoga and her early morning class is a fun, free-flowing vinyasa style.  She adds variations for all levels and encourages students to challenge themselves both on and off the mat.  Julie's other hobbies include reading, writing, and photography.  She currently works full time at Wells Fargo and also photographs events for Jolesch Photography throughout the year.  Julie believes that the more flexible you are physically, the more flexible you will become mentally and that yoga will improve your entire outlook on life!
 
Melodie Proffitt, LMT: Melodie has been a massage therapist for 5 years in the Des Moines area, focusing on deep tissue, therapeutic, reflexology, and acupressure/shiatsu. In her practice she has found that patients are her best teachers because everyone has a different story, Melodie loves to learn about each individual that comes to her for massage. She has spent a lot of time working on creating specialized massages for each person that comes in, since everyone is different, each massage must be catered to that person. When someone comes to her with an injury or problem, she wants to take a look at how the whole body is reacting, not just the concentrated area of pain or dis-ease; allowing her to really consider the best therapy possible. Melodie loves being able to help people live a healthier life, and says, "I can honestly say that I love my job".
Carol Reinhard: Carol is 64 years young and has been practicing yoga for 3 ½ years.  She recently retired from the West Des Moines School District.  When she considers her life now, in retirement, she doesn’t know how she ever had time to work!  Carol just completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training program and learned a lot.  She loves all facets of yoga including breath work and meditation.  She particularly loves the practice of yin yoga; she also enjoys teaching yoga to children and retirees.  Carol says, “Through yoga, I have found the body/mind/heart connection that keeps me young.”
 

Mike Rouse: Mike is new to yoga but not to the concepts of wellness and a centered life.  Mike has twenty-six years of social services experience in counseling, addictions, interpersonal communication and conflict, and developmental disabilities.  He has taught workshops on stress management, conflict management and resolution, parenting, and other topics.  He is particularly interested in health and wellness and the connection between thoughts and emotions and physical health.  Mike also studies the martial art of Aikido; he finds yoga to be a good compliment to other forms of physical training.  He uses the philosophies of these disciplines in his work with clients and his own life. 

 

Mike is also a professional photographer (www.rousecreations.com) and uses his skills and experience in that capacity as well as experience with web-site development to enhance the Firehouse Yoga Studio web-site.  Contact Mike at mike@rousecreations.com or mike.nawwal@gmail.com.
 

Dawn Suarez: Morning Rain Massage and Day Spa is honored to have its' home office inside of Firehouse Yoga. Dawn Suarez, LMT, NCTMB, offers many styles of massage and bodywork, ear candling, and air-brushed tanning. A full list of services can be found at http://morningrainmassage.com. In-home massage and spa services available.