Meet our Team | Rise Yoga

Meet Your Team of Instructors

Judy Redding (she/her) RYT-200

A native of Gettysburg, Judy’s yoga journey poetically began in this very same holistic space nearly 30 years ago. Since then, yoga has provided a sanctuary through difficult moments and a desire to share the joys of yoga with others. After a long career in public relations and fundraising, Judy’s vision of becoming a yoga instructor became a reality. Judy is certified in Vinyasa Flow and has taught All Levels Vinyasa, Slow Flow and Gentle Yoga classes in the Adams County community. Her instructional style focuses on proper alignment in asana poses, safe sequencing, balance, core strength and connection of breath to movement. In Judy's words, "Yoga is a beautiful blend of movement that can bring improved mobility, balance and range of motion." As a more "mature" yogi, she can attest to the benefits of yoga for one's mind, body and soul.

Wendy Machemer (she/her) RYT-500

The desire to find an inner peace within herself led Wendy to start practicing yoga over 10 years ago. Highly passionate about health and wellness, yoga instantly became an everyday adventure. Wendy focuses on the breath while teaching, allowing the body to gently flow from one asana to another. Wendy is certified in Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, Trauma Informed Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Adaptive Yoga. When not on her yoga mat, you can find her teaching elementary physical education during the school year, reading, or vacationing at the beach in the summer and on the ski slopes in the winter!

Heather Seton (she/her) RYT-200

Heather came to yoga, like many of us, in search of her own healing. After a lifetime of working with victims and survivors of violent crime, and as a survivor herself, she was introduced to trauma sensitive yoga and the practice of healing trauma through embodiment. Through her own yoga practice, Heather began to experience the healing power of yoga and mindfulness. As a life-long helper and healer, she couldn't keep this to herself and after completing Yoga Teacher Training through Down Dog Gettysburg, she began sharing her practice with others. Since completing YTT, Heather has received further training in meditation, pranayama, and yoga for mental health. Additionally, she is a licensed massage therapist and a Reiki Master Teacher. Heather brings a trauma informed perspective to the mat, encouraging you to meet yourself exactly as you are in each moment with compassion and curiosity.

Chris Sampson (he/him)

RYT-200

Chris began his journey to yoga while stationed as a Military Training Instructor at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio Texas in 2004. Chris has earned a 200 hour RYT certification at Down Dog Yoga, Gettysburg, PA and has completed Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Ryan Dekis, at Ananda Shala Yoga in Frederick, Maryland. Chris has a passion for yoga, especially Yin Yoga, and wishes to share it with others: especially those who suffer from chronic pain, PTSD, trauma, and depression, as he believes it is an exceptional alternative for healing of the body, mind, and spirit.

Melissa Rosenberger (she/her)

LSW, RYT-200

Melissa is passionate about supporting children, youth and families on their journeys of healing and transformation of mind, body, spirit, and heart through a mindfulness-based and relational approach. Melissa is a Licensed Social Worker, offering a variety of therapeutic interventions for adults, families, couples and children through individual and group therapy at Phoenix Counseling Center. Melissa received her 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification through Breathe For Change, an organization centered in supporting educators and youth in social emotional learning through yoga and mindfulness. She has a creative and fun approach to her instruction of children and family yoga classes at RISE, incorporating storytelling and imaginative play as well as breath work and age-appropriate mindfulness exercises to support emotional regulation. Melissa is also thrilled to offer insurance-based trauma-informed yoga to clients of Phoenix Counseling Center.

Aurora Bonner (she/her)

ERYT-500, RYT-200, YACEP

Aurora was first introduced to yoga as a means of therapy when she was a teenager. Over the next 27 years she returned to yoga over and over, until it became her life practice. Aurora offers challenging and deeply renewing classes that are fun and down-to-earth. She strives to meet you where you are and welcomes all levels, interests, and experiences. Whether this is your first attempt or your thousandth, she'll help you build confidence and rediscover your inner warrior. Aurora trained for her 500hr YTT with Jeannie O’Neill in the Spiritual Warrior program at Yoga Farm Ithaca and for her 200hr YTT with Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Master Teacher Bill Raup at Power Yoga Works in Philadelphia. In addition to training in trauma-informed Kundalini, Vinyasa, and Bikram-style yoga, Aurora also has trained in Ayurveda, the Enneagram, and Lunar Wisdom.

Alli's yoga practice is shaped by her own personal story of resilience. An educator by background, she turned to her work as an instructor of yoga and mindfulness during a prolonged recovery from TBI and persistent post-concussive disorder. Through this healing process, she experienced the many benefits of a routine wellness practice rooted in connection- mind to body, breath to movement, and human to human. In addition to her Yoga Alliance certification, Alli is certified in Restorative Yoga, Children's Yoga and is trained as a facilitator through the Love Your Brain Foundation, a leader in research centered around the benefits of yoga and mindfulness for the brain injury community, including people who have experienced mild to severe traumatic and acquired brain injuries and their caretakers. Alli's style of instruction draws on this experience to support post-traumatic growth by offering a class experience that is adaptive in nature and meets students where they are. Alli is a student of Jivana Heyman and a recent graduate of the Accessible Yoga School, a program centered in equity and accessibility in yoga instruction.

Alli's intention at RISE is to create a warm and welcoming space that promotes healing, resilience and a strong sense of community. We welcome you just as you are, because we believe that yoga is for every body, every mind and every season of life.

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Alli Crowell (she/her)

RYT-200, Owner

RISE Yoga Gettysburg

Yoga for every body, every mind, and every season of life

Meet Your Team of Instructors