Mary Hilliker, RDN, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT
Certified Viniyoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, and Lead Yoga Teacher for River Flow Yoga
“The journey begins with a focus on you and your personal practice as a means for understanding and living yoga. From that foundation, you will learn and practice the most important skills for teaching so that you can facilitate yoga for individuals and groups.”
Mary Hilliker, RD, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT has been a student of yoga for over 27 years and a teacher for 20 years. She has over 5000 hours of teaching experience. Her interest is in seeing each student in the training gain ease and confidence as a practitioner and as a teacher. She mentors each student in the training. Mary feels a commitment to seeing the group as a whole progress in their knowledge and skills.
Mentoring and teaching practitioners and teachers in the yoga tradition is a passion for Mary. Working in administrative and faculty roles for the American Viniyoga Institute over the past 10 years, Mary co-taught the 200 hr. Viniyoga Wellness Instructor Training Program in 2012 in Warrenville, IL and was lead teacher for the program in Wausau, WI in 2014, 2016 and 2018. She has been Faculty with the Viniyoga Therapist Training for 2012, 2014 and is Faculty and Curriculum Coordinator for the 2016 and 2018 programs. She coordinated the 2009 Foundation for Yoga Therapy Training. One of her most interesting projects with the American Viniyoga Institute has been coordinating a strategic alliance with Aetna, Inc. to pilot and evaluate the Viniyoga Stress Reduction Program.
Mary credits her teachers and their training programs for her development personally and professionally: a 200 hour hatha yoga teacher training with Elizabeth (Chandler) Patric, and 500 hour Viniyoga Teacher Training (2006) and Viniyoga Therapist Training (2009) with Gary Kraftsow. She continues to study annually with Gary Kraftsow.
Mary is the owner, operator, and lead yoga teacher for River Flow Yoga, LLC in Wausau, WI, a yoga teacher training school approved by the WI Educational Approval Board. She is also a partner in 5 Koshas Yoga & Wellness, a yoga and wellness studio in Wausau, WI, where she provides individualized Yoga Therapy and teaches general, senior and therapeutic classes, workshops and retreats. She has a special interest in helping each student reach their full potential even in the face of challenging health conditions or life-changing situations.
A 30+ year career in public health nutrition and wellness influences Mary’s work and her ability to build bridges with traditional and complementary health care providers, senior services, schools and employers. Her practical approach and ability to think of people in a multi-dimensional way helps her make yoga accessible for a variety of individuals, groups and community settings.