About Melissa Martin
Hi, my name is Mel. I love teaching classes for people who are brand new to yoga or who are long-time practitioners and are curious about taking things a little deeper—physically or spiritually. I strive to hold a space that is inclusive of your experience level, ability, size, age, gender, race, or religion.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself: I first became curious about yoga during a very cold winter while living in Michigan. I walked past a hot yoga studio and someone opened the door and steam poured out onto the snowy street. A day later I took my first class and something inside me thawed—literally and figuratively. In those first days of yoga I was surprised to learn about the connection between my body and mind. Little did I know that behind yoga was a whole system of philosophy that is curious and committed to making connections between body, mind, and spirit.
When I teach yoga, that is what I like to do: help folks get curious about the connections this practice can illuminate, individually and collectively. When we work on physical balance, what skills do we cultivate that can translate to our work of seeking emotional balance? When we coordinate our breathing as a class, what can this teach us about organizing as a community?
I am incredibly grateful for the curiosity and connectivity of the practice and tradition of yoga. As an ordained minister who now supports non-profits from a variety of religious and social backgrounds, I find so much value in traditions and spiritual practices different from the ones I grew up in. My 200hr yoga teacher training stared me on a journey, digging deeper into this philosophy. It also gave me the opportunity to focus on alignment, anatomy, and physical assists. I look forward to sharing in all this learning with you.
