Meet the Team
Lexi Heise - Studio Owner, Yoga Instructor, Workshop Coordinator
After graduating from the University of Arkansas with an English degree, Maddi dove into the world of Digital Content. She still holds a role in this industry today in addition to teaching and building community at Walli’s. When she’s not doing two of her dream jobs, Maddi is working on launching her writing career. She is currently revising her first contemporary romance novel and hopes to become a published author one day.
In her free time, Maddi loves to travel, drink coffee, read with her cats, take Walli on walks, and spend time with friends and family.
Maddi Heise - Yoga Instructor, Workshop Coordinator
Lexi believes that movement and wellness are the foundations of a vibrant life. Armed with an Entrepreneurship degree and a lifelong passion for physical fitness, healthy living, and mindfulness, she originally stepped into the corporate world with big goals. But behind the desk, something felt disconnected. The fast-paced corporate routine left little room for what truly mattered: real human connection, whole-body health, and helping people build lives they genuinely love waking up to.
Realizing that her true calling lay outside the corporate walls, she took the leap— partnering with her sister, Maddi, to turn the vision into reality.
As a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach, and Certified Yoga Teacher, she's blending her sharp business acumen with her deep love for wellness to run a yoga studio, proving that passion truly is the best business plan.
Elisa Bulger - Yoga Instructor
Elisa (she/they) began practicing in 2016 and completed her first teacher training in 2020 with Power Life Yoga. She then studied under Kelly Gough, her inspiration for teaching, when Kelly offered a 200-hour training in 2021. Elisa's primary training is in both powerful, flow-based practices and grounded deep-stretching classes; she loves to explore the difference between unhelpful pain and the healing that can occur when finding the edge in each individual’s practice. Her yoga classes encourage people to play, experiment, and find new ways of taking care of themselves through physical, relational, and emotional growth. She aspires to cultivate yoga spaces that are challenging, accessible, trauma-sensitive, and infused with humor.
When she's not in the studio, Elisa is often cooking elaborate meals, shopping and making friends at farmers markets, talking to her cats in various voices, giggling at her favorite YouTubers, or enjoying a slow potato day with anime and unlimited popcorn.
Emilia Porter - Yoga Instructor
Emilia has spent over ten years guiding others in various forms of movement, and yoga has recently become an anchor in her life. She strives to create a welcoming, inclusive space where every body is welcome and everyone is encouraged to show up just as they are. Emilia’s classes are designed to uplift, empower, and support each individual, making yoga accessible and inviting for all.
Christi Brunner - Yoga Instructor
Hi there! I’m Christi and I started my yoga journey with a DVD I found in the $5 bin of a Walmart when I was 16. Quickly realizing the positive effect it had on my anxiety, I was hooked! Fast forward to moving to “the big city”, KC, and trying a studio out and I was amazed. I earned my 200 hours in 2020, began teaching virtual like most were at that time and now teach all over the city at numerous places. I’ve added continued education hours in Restorative, Nidra, anatomy and hands on assist to my training, and would love to have you join me in class. In my class you can expect me to fully hold space for you, so that you may shut that outside world out, rather it be work, worries, or just the day so far. A safe space to pause and breathe. You’ll be reminded that yoga is breath, the poses are merely decorations and you have succeeded by just walking through that door. Hope to see you soon!
Melanie Kidder - Yoga Instructor
I’m Melanie Kidder — yogi, traveler, wife, mom of two, and proud Aussie pup mom based in Kansas City. In 2024, I answered a calling I’d been putting off for years and stepped into a season of self-discovery, exploring the world and diving deep into my local wellness community.
Then, after over 20 years of practicing yoga, I finally took the leap and completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training. I have continued that passion for learning through additional studies in Yin, Restorative, and TCM for Mental Health.
I show up to my mat with transparency, vulnerability and an open heart. I am ready to hold space where you can move freely and breathe deeply, so that together, we can create something that brings you back to your true self.
Walter (Walli) Heise - Vibes Coordinator
Meet Walter: the sweetest boy, official mascot, and the true boss of the studio. His favorite yoga pose is, naturally, Puppy Pose, and he's mastered it with adorable precision. You'll occasionally find him at the studio, ready to greet everyone with a big smile (yes, it’s a smile!) and a wagging tail.
Very Well KC
Very Well KC is a collective of skilled healers sharing one beautiful space in the heart of Overland Park. Stephanie believes healing isn't linear — sometimes your body needs a chiropractor, your nervous system needs a yoga class, and your soul needs someone to actually listen. That's why she built a place where all of that is possible, in the same building, with practitioners who collaborate on your care.
Book a yoga class now:
Our Mission & Promise to You
We saw a gap in our own lives that was a result of inconsistent and inauthentic self-care practices. After recognizing the issue, we started noticing how many others were negatively affected by it, too.
So, we set off on this adventure with you.
Our mission is to enrich the lives of those in our community through providing intentional self-care practices.
What is “self-care” to us? Self-care is an active effort to nurture one’s mind, body, and soul. Self-care fills a personal cup that is constantly drained by external factors. Self-care ignites passion, love, and contentment from the inside-out.
At Walli’s Wellness Studio, we promise to do everything we can to help guide you on your self-care journey. We promise to be intentional, kind teachers. We promise to create a safe, judgment-free space for you to become the version of yourself that you wish to be.
We’re all in this together, friends.
