all sukha somatics space holders are lgbtq+ allies, trauma informed, and highly trained in their specialties. together, we specialize in helping alleviate the suffering of mental health issues – including but not limited to: PTSD, CPTSD, SUD, body dysmorphia, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral addictions, eating disorders, and more.
Alisa:
My name is Alisa and I’m a Yoga Therapist, e-RYT500 Yoga Teacher, Somatic Healer, Trauma-Informed Educator, and Ecotherapy Facilitator based in Madison, WI. I am also an animal rescuer, foster parent, and nature enthusiast. I specialize in trauma processing and addiction (substance and behavioral), where I help folks regulate their nervous systems and establish healthy coping skills rooted in somatics and nature.
I teach at Madison’s top residential addiction treatment centers: 5 Door Recovery and Tellurian and provide complimentary yoga therapy to folks at DAIS. In 2021, I opened up a tiny studio space to help those impacted by trauma and substance abuse and in 2022 we expanded as a community into this space. If you are currently in recovery yourself or supporting someone dealing with either trauma or addiction, please know that this studio was built on the foundation of helping you.
Through my offerings, I hope to show you that you are whole just as you are, you are enough, and you are resilient. You are not damaged goods, not just another inmate, another survivor, another addict, another stat. You are worthy of your recovery and a deeply fulfilling life. We will work together to befriend and restore your nervous system, prioritize rest, establish healthy habits, and answer some of the “why’s” to your story.
When working with clients, people often ask me if I’m a recovering addict and what’s my story. So, here it is: My personal journey started out in 2009 when my first of many sexual assaults and intimate partner violence experiences occurred. I guess you could say my journey started well before that as I grew up surrounded by addiction and I was often warned that I was prone to addiction since it runs in the family. I spent years in silence and in denial of my own trauma hoping for it to simply go away. The harder I wished it away and disassociated myself with my past, the more triggers I experienced. As years went on, I became known as a strong, driven, independent, highly successful woman. What people couldn’t see was that those came at a great cost; an inability to ask for help, a blockage in vulnerability or deep connections, an eating disorder, abuse of substances, codependency, and paranoia. So, after several failed long term relationships and while experiencing multiple paranoia triggers a day, I picked up yoga and began to learn about vulnerability and trauma and how to heal myself. Throughout my journey, nature, animals, movement, and holistic healing modalities have been profound. It is something I wish to share with whomever is open to the experience.
I went on to be certified as a yoga teacher in 2017 and have been studying trauma responses, brain development, neurology, addiction, and ecotherapy ever since. I am certified as a C-IAYT Yoga Therapist and e-500RYT yoga teacher. I offer yoga therapy sessions, community classes, workshops, and yoga teacher trainings throughout the world and love every moment of my job.
I hope you’ll join me on the mat or immersed in nature soon.
Class Descriptions:
yin: movement-based practice where every posture is intentionally structured so that the more you let go, the deeper gravity will invite you into the expression. it is a beautiful opportunity to release deeply held tension and learn how to cope with the presence of discomfort on the mat, so that we can do so off the mat. for the physical realm, this practice: improves flexibility, releases fascia, improves joint mobility, increases circulation, balances the internal organs along meridian lines, and improves the flow of chi/prana.
all levels flow: 45min + 60min movement-based offerings that are catered to whoever walks in the room. the practice is vinyasa-based, meaning the movements are linked together like a dance. it is an all-levels experience and modifications are offered for every posture that you experience. this class is excellent for those looking to still the mind through movement, increase muscular strength, body flexibility, promote respiratory and cardiovascular function, and incorporate a sense of play and curiosity in their lives. you’ll hear the words “you may choose”, “see if you’d like to”, “play for a couple breathes”, “maybe”, “yogi’s choice” throughout the practice to promote a sense of individuality, empowerment, and overall body autonomy. all bodies + experience levels are welcome.
roll release stabilize: this class teaches folks how to care for their physical bodies by rolling (self-myofascial release), releasing tension (gentle yoga postures), and strengthening (functional fitness). This is a very beginner-friendly, curious, and light-hearted class that complements other passive stretching experiences. It also addresses the held emotions and trauma stored in the tissues on the subtle layer.
recovery yoga: donation-based offering – the characteristics and effects of addiction can easily be described as separation. addictive behaviors disconnect us from ourselves, our loved ones, our environment and so much more. conversely, yoga itself means union, integration, balance. recovery yoga is based on the y12sr model (‘yoga + 12 step recovery’). it is a holistic offering that addresses the physical, mental and spiritual dis-ease of addiction. recovery yoga is open to anyone and everyone dealing with their own addictive behavior or affected by the addictive behavior of others. this is an open and inclusive group. ‘all A’s are welcome’ (alcohol, narcotics, shopping, sex, self harm, eating disorders, and more).
grab some warm tea, a couple of comfy yoga props, and ground down in our cozy studio space (warm lighting and candles). we meet to learn, share, breathe, and move together.
Jordann Mason:
Jordann is a 200-hour CYT in Madison, Wisconsin. Her yoga journey began 12 years ago when she decided to tag along to a class with her sister, and she now works to share this practice with others.
Jordann has a passion for working with people who have experienced trauma, and her first teaching experience was leading survivors of sexual and domestic violence through gentle flow classes. She also led sessions for the staff at the emergency shelter she worked at, as a way to address the vicarious trauma they had experienced. Currently, Jordann works with children and adults with disabilities, providing individual and group yoga sessions, and she hopes to continue to make yoga more available and accessible to the disability community.
She has completed Restorative Yoga Teacher Training, Chair Yoga Teacher Training, Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga Training with Zabie Yamaski, and Yoga for All with Dianne Bondy. Jordann is also a Level 1 Internal Family Systems Practitioner, and she enjoys incorporating this framework into her yoga sessions.
One of her favorite instructors always says, “Gentle is the new advanced,” and that’s the approach she brings to her mat and hopes to share with others.
Class Descriptions:
foundational flow (optional chair): this practice can be done with or without a chair, allowing each person to choose the most supportive and sustainable shape for their body that day. Like mat-based classes, we’ll connect with the breath, warm up the body with gentle stretches, explore standing and balancing poses, and find a comfortable shape for final relaxation. Each person is encouraged to make the practice their own, finding the right balance of support and effort for themselves. This class is for anyone who is curious about, or could benefit from, an elevated practice (i.e. joint pain, surgery recovery, larger bodies, desk jobs, seated hobbies, etc.). Open to all folks who are able to ascend a flight of stairs, and stand with the support of a chair.
sustainable strength: this offering combines slow flow with optional strength-building movements throughout the practice. Students will be invited to incorporate actions like squats, static holds with/without blocks, presses with/without blocks, and other strength-building shapes. Each person is encouraged to make the practice their own, finding the right balance of ease and effort for themselves. Open to all folks who are interested in enhancing their strength, balance, and flexibility. All abilities welcome.
gentle flow: a combination of vinyasa slow flow yoga and longer held restorative poses. open to all levels, students are encouraged to explore variations of each pose to find what works best for their body. the class will start and end with a glimpse into ‘internal family systems’ therapy, where clients are welcome to check in with their parts before and after their practice (this will be done internally/individually – no group dialogue necessary).
yin: movement-based practice where every posture is intentionally structured so that the more you let go, the deeper gravity will invite you into the expression. it is a beautiful opportunity to release deeply held tension and learn how to cope with the presence of discomfort on the mat, so that we can do so off the mat. for the physical realm, this practice: improves flexibility, releases fascia, improves joint mobility, increases circulation, balances the internal organs along meridian lines, and improves the flow of chi/prana
Crystall Howe:
Crystall was drawn to the practice of yoga initially after experiencing complex trauma and grief. Coupled with a background in molecular biology, she finds the intersection of modern science and the ancient tradition of yoga to be highly fertile soil for the seeds of our true selves to blossom from. She weaves yogic philosophy and techniques into all aspects of her life, and believes yoga to be a powerful method of transformation.
Her life and her yoga classes offer a beautiful balance of her creative spirit and clear intentionality. She’s warm and joyful, endlessly exploring what it means to be human. She encourages students to listen to the inherent wisdom of their own hearts and lived truths while she takes them on a journey of self-exploration. She believes that practicing yoga doesn’t always teach us to be calm, but to discover greater depths of inner harmony by staying connected to our true selves while we experience different emotional states and sensations. With a reverence for the body and soul alike, she infuses both somatic concepts and yoga philosophy lessons into her offerings.
Class Description:
gentle flow & sound bath: this class aims to draw you closer into connection with yourself for a greater sense of harmony and healing. class begins with a guided meditation themed around a concept in yoga philosophy or somatics, meant to shift you into presence and a sense of being rooted in your body. meditation will lead into a gentle flow to find some ease within the body before a sound bath infused with yoga nidra elements.
Ali Zuba:
Alison (Ali) Zuba is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT). She has been practicing, studying, and teaching yoga for 10+ years. Yoga involves working together with compassionate self-discipline, introspective self-study, and trust in the whole process. She believes that daily connection practices, on and off the mat, allow us to feel into and manage self-regulating energies.She offers the teachings of Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa, Ayurveda, and Somatics centered on whole-being well-being. Her specialty SomaYoga integrates Somatics and Yoga practices specifically for relieving pain and surpassing plateaus. Having relieved much of her own pain and discomfort through the connection practices of yoga, she wishes to share these potent techniques with all who wish to reduce their suffering. Join her classes for connection practices that seamlessly link body, breath, and mind.
Ali teaches weekly classes in Madison and surrounding areas. She is also available for private sessions. She received an advanced yoga teacher and yoga therapist certification from Yoga North International SomaYoga Institute (Molly McManus and Ann Maxwell) in Duluth, MN. She started her studies with 21st Century Yoga on the Mat (Alex Pfeiffer) in Madison. You can learn more her at www.somalivewellbeing.com.
Class Description:
recovery yoga: donation-based offering – the characteristics and effects of addiction can easily be described as separation. addictive behaviors disconnect us from ourselves, our loved ones, our environment and so much more. conversely, yoga itself means union, integration, balance. recovery yoga is a holistic offering that addresses the physical, mental and spiritual dis-ease of addiction. recovery yoga is open to anyone and everyone dealing with their own addictive behavior or affected by the addictive behavior of others. this is an open and inclusive group. ‘all A’s are welcome’ (alcohol, narcotics, shopping, sex, self harm, eating disorders, and more).
grab some warm tea, a couple of comfy yoga props, and ground down in our cozy studio space (warm lighting and candles). we meet to learn, share, breathe, and move together.
David Sparer (Rosebud)
David Sparer (aka Rosebud) started studying Taiji and Qigong in 1975. He has
continued to practice and study with various teachers since then. He has also
been a committed Buddhist practitioner since about 2003 and received Jukai in
2020. He began Taiji study with Tricia Yu, in 1975, and then studied Yang style
Taiji with Master Waysun Liao, and his top students, Domingo Tiu and Rich
Hanby. He has also studied Qigong with Peter Moy, a student of Mantak Chia,
and learned Drawing Silk practice with a dharma heir of the Chen family, and
studied for the last several years with Ken Cohen. In addition he has studied Nei
Gong following teachings of Damo Mitchell, and incorporated them into his sitting
practice.
Class Description:
qigong: Qigong is a movement / meditation practice developed in China perhaps as long ago as 5000 BC or BCE. We don’t really know. All we know is that it seems clear that it already existed that long ago. It is a movement practice. Very slow and focused, gentle, very gentle. Done almost exclusively standing, not sitting. We use our mental focus, while continuously moving, and coordinating our breathing with our movements, to open our body gently and allow the basic authentic life force to flow within us. We continuously keep aware of our grounding and connection with the earth, while we move. This practice helps our spirits, making us happy. It helps our balance and physical well being. It energizes us, yet calms us at the same time. It leads us to feel peaceful, and also wide awake. We will learn very basic standing practice, and movements of various sorts. We will learn how to move with intention and focus, yet following a natural flow as well. Over several sessions we will learn more movements, of course, but also learn how to increase our awareness of subtle shifts within our bodies as we do those movements. Qigong means – Qi is energy, the vital universal energy that flows through our own body and everywhere else, and Gong, which means study. We will study the movement of energy within our bodies and our awareness of that movement, and thereby enhance our happiness, groundedness, and awareness.