Meet the Team: Bios
-
Katie Mullins Denk is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), Ayurvedic Health Counselor, and the Founder and Owner of Moonflower Studio.
Katie discovered yoga at age 12 and has returned to the mat ever since for calm, strength, and healing. Her interest in Ayurveda began during yoga teacher training, where she was drawn to its personalized, intuitive approach. Both yoga and Ayurveda have been central to her healing journey with anxiety, trauma, chronic back pain, and fatigue.
After over a decade in live events, business, and marketing, Katie left the full-time workforce in 2022 to recover from burnout. During that time, she deepened her study of yoga and Ayurveda, eventually founding Moonflower Studio to help others find balance and resilience.
As a yoga teacher, Katie emphasizes slow, grounding practices that foster breath-body connection, stability, and introspection. She believes yoga is for every body and creates space for students to meet themselves with compassion and awareness.
As an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, Katie helps clients understand their unique constitution and restore balance through individualized plans that include daily routines, nutrition, herbal support, and yoga. Katie supports clients with digestive issues, stress management, fatigue, sleep issues, and pain, with special interest in supporting mental health and women’s health.
Katie holds an MBA from Tulane University with a focus in Strategic Management and Leadership. Katie completed her RYT-200 in 2018, and holds additional certifications in restorative, yin, trauma-informed, and children’s yoga. She is also a Level 2 Certified Reiki Practitioner. Katie earned her Ayurvedic Health Counseling certification from Kripalu in 2024 and is currently pursuing her RYT-500 with a focus on Ayurvedic Yoga.
Outside the studio, Katie enjoys time with loved ones including her husband, Alex, and their two dogs and cat; singing, cooking, reading, and making self-care products.
-
Emily McDoniels, M.Ed., is a 500+ E-RYT and founder of Soulshine Yoga, leading local and international yoga retreats. Certified as a 2nd-degree Reiki provider, Trauma-Informed, Brain-Sensitive practitioner and Laughter Yoga Leader,
Emily’s mission is to create nurturing spaces for clients to shine their light into the community from a place of self-awareness and confidence. Emily weaves art, reiki and sound healing into a tapestry of community health.
Embodying a mothering lighthouse, Emily provides calm and refuge to souls seeking compassionate space to fully embrace their own journey. Emily is proud to be a lifelong learner, and enrolls in continuing education each year.
Outside of yoga, Emily is a visual artist inspired by the wonders of Mother Earth and the universe. Teaching Montessori-focused education to master’s level students, Emily is also an adjunct professor for UW-River Falls. She also enjoys being lost in her garden reading and traveling with her musician/producer husband and their fur babies.
-
Taylor is an RYT-200, RPYT, CPES, and owner of Both|And Doula. Taylor is wife, mom of 5, full spectrum doula, placenta specialist, and prenatal/postnatal yoga teacher. As a Both|And Doula, Taylor acknowledges the full, complicated reality of life; that two seemingly contradictory emotions can BOTH be true. No journey is linear, and Taylor found one of the most healing ways to step into this balance is on her yoga mat and in community. Taylor’s desire is to provide a safe space and holistic experience that supports your physical, spiritual and emotional well-being, both on and off the mat.
-
Paula has been practicing yoga for about 6 years and received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher certification last year to dive deeper into the practice. Paula enjoys teaching Vinyasa and restorative, nourishing flow classes and finds peace in all styles of yoga. Paula is a dedicated student and continues to learn more about the practice, especially digging into Yin, Pranayama techniques, prenatal, sound healing and somatic medicine.
Paula believes the practice of yoga is a beautiful way to stretch both the body and the mind, and allows us to appreciate the self while working through the ambient noises in the mind. To Paula, yoga is about finding beauty on the days that are difficult. It’s not about being flexible or being the best at a certain pose: it’s about being good to yourself with patience, kindness and using your existing strength.
Off the mat, you can find Paula spending time with her fur babies and husband, at the pottery wheel, or lovingly crafting drinks at a local coffee shop.
-
Laurie is a dedicated and passionate Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), with health and fitness being central to her lifestyle. Initially drawn to yoga for relief from low back pain, Laurie soon discovered that the practice offered much more than physical benefits—it became a path to deeper self-awareness, personal growth, and emotional healing.
In 2017, Laurie transitioned from a corporate career to pursue a life of greater purpose and authenticity. Yoga became a transformative tool for reclaiming her true self, and she completed her first 200-hour teacher training in 2018. Her passion for teaching and a desire to deepen her practice led her to pursue additional certifications, including a specialized Children’s Yoga certification.
Through her ongoing yoga journey, Laurie has come to view her mat as a sacred space for exploration and solace—where she continually challenges her body and mind. She believes yoga has the power to unlock deeper self-connection, and, in the words of one of her mentors, "Practice and all will come." Laurie’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that yoga is for every body. She is committed to creating an inclusive space where each student can discover their own inner peace, strength, and joy.
Specializing in Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga, and Yin Yoga, Laurie’s classes focus on mindful, flowing sequences that synchronize movement with breath. Her mission is to offer dynamic, inclusive yoga classes that cater to all levels, providing adaptive options to ensure each student feels safe, balanced, and empowered. Whether leading an adult Vinyasa class or guiding a playful session for children, Laurie’s goal is to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of every student—on and off the mat.
Off the mat, Laurie enjoys outdoor adventures such as camping with her husband and dogs, attending music festivals, and spending time with family and friends.
-
Mark is a dedicated yoga teacher, passionate about guiding others on their journey of self-discovery and well-being. A graduate of the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in February 2025, he brings a warm, authentic presence to his teaching, encouraging students to explore movement, breath, and mindfulness.
With a background as a lifelong athlete, Mark’s deep connection to the body informs his practice. Though he has only been practicing yoga for three years, his commitment is evident in his daily practice and his eagerness to continue learning and growing.
Outside the studio, Mark has spent 25 years as a chef, now focusing exclusively on vegetarian cuisine that nourishes both body and soul. He is also a devoted father of two boys, a meditation practitioner, and a passionate Kirtan player and singer. Whether enjoying the outdoors, savoring good food, or experiencing live music, Mark brings the same joyful spirit to every aspect of his life.
Excited to share his love of yoga at Moonflower, Mark looks forward to building a supportive community where students can grow, explore, and embrace the transformative power of the yoga lifestyle.
-
Jill first rolled out her yoga mat in 2012 and felt an instant connection to the practice of yoga. Throughout high school, college, and even into her career, she has used yoga as a safe space to find rest and rejuvenation.
Jill completed her 200hr Teacher Training Program through Empower Yoga in Spring 2024 and is a Registered Yoga Instructor with Yoga Alliance. Her goal in practice is to enhance strength and flexibility while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. She creates a welcoming atmosphere through verbal cues, enjoyable playlists, and a sense of tranquility.
Jill was born and raised in Wales, WI. After earning her degree from UW-La Crosse in 2019, she relocated to Colorado, where she spent the next two and a half years in diverse seasonal roles, including positions at the YMCA of the Rockies and Winter Park Resort. Realizing she missed her family and looking for a full-time job, Jill returned to Wisconsin and has been working in the private country club industry ever since.
Off the mat, Jill loves spending time outside walking her dog, hiking, kayaking, skiing, playing volleyball, and golfing.
-
Miranda V. has been practicing yoga for over 12 years and is currently completing her yoga teacher training. She’s especially drawn to Hatha yoga for its intentional pace, breath-centered focus, and grounding connection to the body.
Miranda is also the owner of Adesse Wellness, a space where science meets soul. With a background in behavioral neuroscience, psychology, and mindfulness meditation, she weaves together evidence-based tools and intuitive guidance to support whole-person wellness. Her training in health and wellness coaching, holistic nutrition, clinical herbalism, trauma-informed care, and non-violent communication adds depth to her well-rounded, heart-centered approach.
Through Adesse Wellness and her work in the studio, Miranda creates supportive spaces for reflection, growth, and transformation.
Outside of yoga, Miranda enjoys with her husband, daughter, and their dog, dancing in the kitchen, playing outdoors, wild harvesting, swimming in the river year-round, enjoying the sauna, gardening, and preserving seasonal foods. A lifelong learner, she continues to deepen her practice and expand her knowledge each year.
-
Movement and creativity are things Sarah M. has worked with her whole life. As a life-long athlete, maker, and health enthusiast, Sarah found her pathway for healing and healthy aging through yoga and is eager to support others on their path. Certified RYT and middle school art teacher, her personal yoga practice helps her maintain inner balance and supports her healing journey.
Infusing Ayurvedic principles into her lifestyle and teaching methodology, Sarah enjoys working with yoga students while encouraging self exploration through awareness and breath while prioritizing stability and comfort. She recognizes the need to personalize one’s own practice, and to take one’s own life path (to follow your own arrow). So no matter what brings you to Yoga, you are in the right place. Right now.
Off the mat, Sarah loves to spend time with like minded folks. Central to her world are her husband and two children. On her own she enjoys creating art, learning, spending time in nature, and eating/preparing healthy, non-processed Ayurvedic foods.