Meet Melissa
Melissa (she/they) deeply believes in applying the culture and teachings of yoga to bring to light the long standing disparities in wellness spaces. She is passionate about bringing yoga and Ayurveda back to its roots, and reclaiming representation within the wellness community. Originally from Munsee Lenape land (Queens, NY) she currently lives on Tongva, Chumash and Kizh land (Los Angeles) where she works to make yoga accessible through yoga therapy, mentoring yoga teachers, and mantra. Melissa also utilizes her background in public health to integrate yoga into schools and clinical settings.
She has been practicing yoga since she was a child, thanks to her mother, and has been studying it deeply since the age of 18. Melissa firmly believes in continuously adapting the practice to the individual as they move through human experiences. Melissa has had asthma since she was 2 years old, and has seen firsthand the positive effects that yoga and pranayama can have not only on chronic illnesses, but how we perceive the world.
Present Work
Currently, Melissa works individually with clients offering yoga therapy in the Viniyoga tradition. She offers weekly community chanting classes, as well as pranayama classes for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). Her offerings focus on the intersection between yoga and social justice, and how to tune into our true self and dharma (calling, purpose) when it comes to taking action toward what we believe in. When Melissa isn't teaching, she loves to practice singing, bike ride, and experiment with Ayurvedic cooking! Click here to see her current live offerings or connect with her on IG at @findyourbreath.
Training Experience
Melissa has had the deep privilege of having over 2000 hrs of training in yoga and yoga therapy. She holds certifications from SVYASA, Yoga Works, Integral Yoga Institute (Prenatal), Ritam Healing Arts, and the Yoga Well Institute, where she recently completed their 1000-hour Professional Yoga Therapist Program. She also holds a Master in Public Health, with a focus on health policy.
Connect with me on Instagram
