Meet our Staff

Mary Hensley

Mary earned her Yoga Alliance 200 hour Certification in 1999 from Nancy Ruby's YogaMotion in Bozeman, Montana and opened the first yoga studio in Rapid City in 2000. Her fitness/wellness career began in 1980 and throughout the years has received certifications in Dance Aerobics, Step Aerobics, Johnny G Spinning, and Kenneth Cooper Aerobic Institute Fitness Training. By attending numerous continuing educational conferences in Yoga, Mary has practiced with the likes of Baron Baptiste, Rodney Yee, Dana Baptiste, Shiva Rea, Judith Lasiter, Richard Freeman, and John Friend. Mary's passion for educating people is reflected in her yoga classes. www.maryhensley.com

Tiffany Knight

Tiffany is a massage and polarity therapist, and a certified iridologist who has been working with herbs and nutrition for over 12 years. She believes strongly in the power of touch and the benefit of a holistic outlook. Her background with aromatherapy, essential oils, shiatsu, and her ability to communicate with people through a combination of words and touch make her an effective therapist, and an incredible teacher who will not only motivate you to open your mind to new knowledge and growth, but whose energy, drive and passion for learning will inspire you to consider your health and healthy choices in new light. www.teamblackhills.com

Britton Freeland

Britton Freeland was educated in Maui, Hawaii where she personally trained in healing touch for balancing the mind, body, and spirit. She has continued her study of bodywork in Chi Nei Tsang (abdominal massage and organ manipulation), energy medicine of the Chakras and meridians, and several other modalities that facilitate the body's natural ability to heal. She is a mother, wife, an instructor of massage therapy, and has been working as a massage therapist for 6 years. She currently massages at It's Your Place Salon & Day Spa in Rapid City, SD. www.teamblackhills.com

Linda Kushman

After graduating from SDSU with a degree in Health Education, her professional mission has been to help others achieve high levels of wellness. Linda has 15 years combined experience as a teacher at all levels; University through Elementary. Positions in the health and fitness arena range from Gymnastics coach, Program Manager in private health centers, Dance Instructor, Nutrition Educator, Aerobics Instructor/ Weight Coach, Personal Trainer and Personal Health Coach. She is currently self- employed following her life long passion of teaching and training others how to wisely care for their bodies. www.teamblackhills.com

Melanie Lien Palm

A native of Rapid City, Melanie Lien Palm has enjoyed a professional dance career for twenty years, performing in eleven countries throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and teaching and choreographing across the United States. Melanie is very grateful for 25 years of being a yoga student, for the Iyengar based yoga teacher training she received from Catherine Ross in 1992, for the continuing teacher training in Estes Park, for the most recent training of Levels 1 and 2 of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, and particularly for all the students who have been her most humbling teachers. Melanie lives in the Black Hills with her husband, two children, and 4 four-legged's and is currently a tree farmer.

Doc Savage

After a 22 year career serving in the US Air Force, Doc retired back home to Rapid City. He started practicing yoga to help with his trail running and mountain biking, but over the past 3 years his practice has deepened and taken a more significant role in his life. Doc recently completed his Yoga Alliance 200 certification through Nancy Ruby's YogaMotion. In May of 2007, Doc and his wife Donna purchased The Yoga Studio in Rapid City. He is married to his high-school sweetheart Donna and they have 2 kids, both have 4 legs and a tail, Cody and Ben, their Golden Retrievers. www.rapidcityyoga.com

Donna Savage

Donna completed the Yoga Alliance 200 hour Certification in 2007 from Nancy Ruby's YogaMotion in Bozeman, Montana. She's enjoyed running as an activity, a means to better health and a stress reliever for over 24 years. Since 2003, Donna completed several half-marathons, 4 marathons and 2 ultra-marathons. She initially came to practice yoga to augment her running. Yoga took a larger role in her life than running, eventually leading her to co-own The Yoga Studio in Rapid City with her husband Doc in 2007. Donna retired from the US Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant after 22 years of service. She is an active member of two local running organizations and co-directs the local chapter of Girls on the Run, a running-based, character development program for 8-14 year old girls. Donna believes yogic breathing and core strengthening significantly enhanced her running ability. www.rapidcityyoga.com

Kerri Severson Stover

Even though she's lived in the Black Hills nearly all her life, Kerri Severson Stover can't imagine being anywhere other than here. Where else can you enjoy a million acre, forested playground? After several years in education and the non-profit work world, Kerri loves her current role as high school guidance counselor. She also teaches yoga at the Yoga Studio in Rapid City. Kerri also teaches all levels of yoga at the Yoga Studio in Rapid City and is loved by her students!

Lezlie Haggerty

Lezlie's love for cooking and entertaining for her family helped her discover her special niche in the culinary world. She continually contributes to the artistic vision of the menu at the Corn Exchange, shares many of her fabulous recipes with MJ Adams (owner), and on some evenings you will find her back in the kitchen. Lezlie was responsible for cooking all of the meals at the 2006 Reflections of Stillness Retreat. She started teaching aerobics in 1982 and enjoys a wide variety of dance.

Kim Dyce

Kim has over 19 years of experience in the fitness industry, including 17 years as a yoga instructor and personal trainer. Kim is a certified Pilates instructor and graduate of the Physical Minds Institute. Kim currently teaches a wide variety of classes - yoga, Pilates, circuit training, steps, spinning - at The Weight Room, Fitness Plus, and the Yoga Studio. She has 3 wonderful children and specializes in "goofing off" in her spare time!

Kelly Leonard

Kelly is a Registered Dietitian with a private nutrition practice in Longmont/Boulder, CO, and is a dedicated yoga practitioner and instructor, trained primarily in the Astanga tradition. She teaches numerous nutrition classes, but especially enjoys teaching cooking classes because this is where participants really learn to make positive dietary changes. Kelly is also an animal lover, and believes everyone would be happier and healthier if they practice yoga and have a dog! For more information about Kelly, visit her web site at www.Healthful-Lifestyle.com.

Tennille Hensley

Tennille graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, completed Level I yoga training in Hawaii with Baron Baptist, and furthered her education by earning a Master's in Physician Assistant studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. The love of the outdoors and the opportunity to be part of a bone marrow transplant team at the University of Utah hospital took her to Salt Lake City to start her career as a PA-C. She ran her first marathon in 2007 in the Black Hills. She currently is a hospitalist at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. Click here to learn more about Tennille.

Loren Mague

The qualifications of this massage therapist are extensive. Loren is certified in deep tissue massage, myofascial release, reflexology, maternity massage, craniosacral therapy, and medical massage. She is a graduate of Garden State Center for Holistic Health Care in Lakewood, NJ and The Upledger Institute - Craniosacral Level 1 in West Palm Beach, Fl. Loren's husband is currently stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. We feel very fortunate to have her on our staff while her family lives in the Black Hills. Email Loren

John "Butch" Knight

John "Butch" Knight has been cycling in the Black Hills of South Dakota his entire life. From the days of a small child jumping off of every conceivable object on a BMX bike to racing road and mountain bikes in national events across the US, John enthusiam for cycling continues to grow. Recent pursuits have involved owning and operating a bicycle shop, president and race director for the Black Hills Mountain Bike Association, sub-24 hour-110 mile Centennial Trail record holder, and pirate trail builder.

Teresa Rathbun

Teresa Rathbun grew up in the Black Hills and has ultimately found herself back there, making a home and life for her family. Growing up in a family that has been involved in athletics and the arts, she now find herself doing both, simultaneously. Using a variety of dance genres, she has developed dance fitness classes that incorporate dance movement to music ranging from blues, swing, latin, african, hiphop, middle eastern, and more. After finding interest in a small business venture with her sisters, she decided to expand her studio and create a great space in downtown Rapid City for pilates, dance, and yoga. Prior to the move she traveled to Los Angeles to become certified in Zumba, an international dance fitness organization. Teresa also earned a joint degree from the University of South Dakota in Music and Political Science. However, her most challenging and rewarding job is being a full time mother to her two boys Wilem, 3, and Weston, 1, and a wife to her husband Oakley. www.stretchstudiofitness.com

Kathy Smith

Kathy's love of wine brought her to open Smith's Liquor Gallery in Rapid City with her husband, Steve, and son, Tim. By profession, Kathy is an English teacher at Douglas Middle School. She writes a monthly article for the Rapid City Journal's food page about wine, beer, and other spirits. Born in Spearfish, Kathy has lived in the Black Hills most of her life. She loves running, hiking, rock climbing, reading, and of course, yoga.