The IW studio Crew
Laura Engelbrecht
Laura Engelbrecht is the Owner and Operator of Integrative Wellness, Eastern Medicine, LLC, and Yoga and Thai Bodywork, LLC. She is an RYT-500, Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB), Esthetician, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM).
With a passion for holistic healing and education, Laura has dedicated her career to creating a supportive space for community, connection, and wellness. Her work blends Eastern and Western approaches to health, with a focus on empowering others through bodywork, movement, education, and self-care.
As a lifelong learner, Laura remains committed to continuing her education and bringing new tools, knowledge, and healing practices to her clients and students, helping support each person on their individual wellness journey.
Jennifer Hernandez, PhD
500 RYS Yoga Instructor
Jennifer is a certified yoga instructor and lifelong educator dedicated to creating spaces for personal awareness, healing, and community connection. With over a decade of personal practice and teaching experience since 2021, she guides students through hot yoga (26+2/Bikram series), vinyasa, and warm flow classes that emphasize breath, alignment, and mindful movement—owner of MiGenteYoga STL.
Jennifer integrates trauma-informed and accessible yoga practices into her teaching, making her classes welcoming to all bodies and experience levels. In addition to studio instruction, she leads community-based and donation classes, reflecting her commitment to equity and collective well-being.
Beyond the mat, Jennifer holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and works as an academic leader and educator, bringing a grounded, compassionate, and inclusive approach to everything she teaches.
Jordan Mendez
Jordan is a teacher of Hatha and Vinyasa style yoga who helps students feel grounded and strong in their practice. She has been practicing yoga for approximately 7 years and teaching for a little over 1 year. Students can expect a slow and gentle approach to yoga and leave class feeling grounded and refreshed. She is a RYT 200 through Healium Hot Yoga and a Bay View native. Outside of the studio, you will usually find her sipping a matcha, at a concert with her husband, or spending time with her 2 daughters.
Sakshi Singh
Sakshi is a dedicated yoga teacher and mindfulness guide with deep roots in the traditional practice of yoga and a strong understanding of modern work-life challenges. Trained in India and teaching in the U.S., her approach blends ancient yogic wisdom with practical tools for stress relief, resilience, and everyday well-being.
Her classes are thoughtfully designed for individuals navigating busy schedules, stress, and mental fatigue, offering sustainable practices that support body, mind and soul. Sakshi emphasizes mindful movement, breathwork, and relaxation techniques that help release physical tension, calm the nervous system, and restore focus and clarity.
Creating inclusive, safe, and welcoming spaces, Sakshi meets students where they are—whether they are new to yoga or returning to deepen their practice. Her teaching is trauma-aware, accessible, and rooted in compassion, making yoga approachable for all bodies and experience levels.
Leading outdoor community classes at the beach and public spaces, Sakshi is passionate about making yoga accessible to all. Her goal is to help students step off the mat feeling more grounded, balanced, and equipped to navigate life with ease.
Jim Bayer
Jim began studying Taijiquan in 1992 and was certified to teach in 1999. Since then he has devoted his life to sharing the art with others, accumulating over 25,000 hours of teaching experience.
Introduction to Traditional Tai Chi
In the early 20th Century, when Tai Chi (Taijiquan) was first publicly taught in China, it was presented primarily as a health exercise centered around a “solo form” of slow, flowing movements. Though this was not the traditional approach, it was later exported to the rest of the world. Previously, the art had been taught quite differently. Traditional Tai Chi practice begins with various exercises to directly transform the mind and body. Those transformations later become the means of movement within the more advanced “solo form” practice. This class is an introduction to those exercises. If you already practice a Tai Chi form, this class will enrich and expand your practice. If you would like to learn traditional Tai Chi, this is the way to begin.