Our Instructors
Suzanne Larsen, Studio Director
Experienced Yoga Teacher
Yoga Therapist
Suzanne earned her first teaching certification in 2002 from At One Yoga in Arizona which offered a robust program built around alignment-based yoga. She learned from a faculty of international teachers sharing their specialties.
Since then Suzanne has completed many more trainings, taught thousands of hours of yoga in a variety of styles, and is qualified to train teachers. She holds Yoga Alliance’s highly experienced credentials of E-RYT and YACEP.
Suzanne completed her Level I Yoga Therapy training through International SomaYoga Institute Yoga North in Duluth, MN and is working toward Yoga Therapist certification. Yoga North is a well-established and accredited program by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and graduates receive C-IAYT designation.
In April 2023, Suzanne, who founded Ease Yoga and Wellness, teamed up with Matt Lerner, founder of Main Street Yoga Center in Madison. She serves as the studio director for Main Street Yoga - Stoughton at Ease, a non-profit community yoga space in support of the mission to offer a safe and welcoming practice space for everyone to ease suffering and support Self-realization.
Matt Lerner, Founder
Experienced Yoga Teacher
Continuing Education Trainer
Matt came on to the yoga scene early in its blossoming in the United States. He has been teaching yoga since 1976 and training yoga teachers for many years. He trained with early teachers who helped introduce Yoga to the States: Yogiraj Behramji, Swami Rama, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Swami Veda, Rudolph M. Ballentine, MD, Swami Shantanand, and Swami Ajaya. He lived and trained at the Himalayan Institute for a total of one year.
Matt has served as the president of the Yoga Meditation Society of Madison and is the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at Spiritual Life Society. He has a wealth of yoga knowledge and wisdom to share and loves teaching all aspects of traditional Astanga Yoga including meditation, Yoga Nidra, and asana classes.
Alison (Ali) Zuba
Experienced Yoga Teacher
Certified Yoga Therapist
Ali has dedicated 10+ years to the study and practice of Yoga. She teaches locally in Madison, surrounding areas, and online. She is an active mentor and teacher for students in the community. She practices and offers the teachings of Hatha, Vinyasa (Flow), Ashtanga, Ayurveda, and Somatics centered on whole-being wellbeing.
Ali received her Yoga Therapist certification from the International SomaYoga Institute with Ann Maxwell and Molly McManus. SomaYoga is an integrative method that meets students at the intersection of classic Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga along with the relief & pain reduction modality of Somatics. During 1:1 sessions we work on all layers of our being, calling on models from Yogic philosophy, as well as elements from Ayurvedic wisdom. Ali shares SomaYoga Therapy with those seeking relief from pain or plateaus, and those ready to move forward.
Ali started her Yoga studies with Alex Pfeiffer (21st Century Yoga on the Mat) in Madison, WI. She realized then that Yoga practice is much more than physical postures. It involves working together with compassionate self-discipline, introspective 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 holds the following credentials: C-IAYT, E-RYT, YACEP, MBA.
Chris Schlapper
Experienced Yoga Teacher
Yoga Therapist
Chris has taught many styles of group fitness classes for over 35 years. In addition, he's an experienced Yoga teacher, having taught for over fifteen years in Madison and surrounding communities. Chris is currently studying in a two-year program at the Yoga North International SomaYoga Institute in Duluth, Minnesota, expanding his knowledge and expertise to become a Certified Yoga Therapist. He completed his 200-hour Yoga certification in Alignment Yoga, taught by Andrea Russell and Scott Anderson. His 500-hour Yoga certification is in the SomaYoga therapeutic style, taught by Ann Maxwell and Molly McManus at the Yoga North International SomaYoga Institute.
Chris specializes in understanding and supporting the anatomy and physiology of movement, as well as its connection to the nervous system, the breath, and the mind. This informs both his restorative classes and how he creates and breaks down sequences for his flow classes. He offers a deeper exploration of the Yoga asana postures through the lens of functional movement and biomechanics to enhance physical sustainability in practice and daily life. He is passionate about the art of aging well, and how Yoga can help maintain and support function, health, and an active life. Chris also offers individual Yoga Therapy sessions for people seeking to deepen their practice and to offer more personalized support.