Founder of the Life of Wellness Instite, Director of Training and Student Experience, and the Creator of the Be K.I.N.D. Embodiment Methodology for Transforming Stress and Mental Health
Yoga Therapist, Thai Massage Therapist, Transformational Stress Recovery Coach, MBSR, Eat Breathe Thrive™ Facilitator, Yoga Teacher Trainer CYA-ERYTGOLD, E-RYT500, YACEP, RYT800
As a child, Melanie felt like she was the reason everyone around her was in pain… so she tried really hard to be perfect in every way. This led to constant judgment, burnout, and disconnection from her body. She experienced anxiety, depression, pain, illness, self-loathing, PTSD, and an eating disorder.
At 16, her journey with yogic living began when a loving friend saw she was suffering from being assaulted, didn’t know how to help, and invited her to a class. What she discovered in that first class would take decades to be realized. At that time she only knew she had found a way to be with her experience and heal. (Find out more about her recovery journey.)
She was taken under the wing of a teacher, given unconditional love, and training in the timeless and proven principles of Yoga Tradition and Ayurvedic Medicine. The journey they took together turned an awful experience into a lifestyle yet to be realized.
Looking back, Melanie’s 30+ year yoga practice has been a calming place for her to restore her mind and body connection and a gentle place to face struggle through embodied self-regulation.
It was in 2014 that everything came together. Melanie’s work while fulfilling was taking a toll on her mentally and physically and in her healing, she recognized what has now become the foundation of our Institute. She saw that it is the combination of supporting the mind, body, and spirit with loving-kindness and balance that we can awaken our inner strength.
Professional Life
For over 25 years, Melanie has been a dedicated leader in transforming what it means to live with stress, trauma, PTSD, and eating disorders. She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with over 1500 hours of training and over 6000 teaching hours. An ICF certified coach and educator specializing in health, anxiety, depression, stress reduction, trauma recovery, eating disorder recovery. She has additionally studied Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Aroma Therapy, and Trauma-Informed practices.
“Her trauma-informed training, therapeutic insights, and overall nurturing approach lead you through an experience of self-exploration and self-confidence that is unparalleled.”
Melanie guides her students and clients on their own journey to Embrace Embodied Living. Reclaiming their TRUE selves and awakening their inner strength. She stands for waging peace in the war on our bodies, minds, and souls. Together you will discover how to come back home to your body in gentle, loving, ways that fit uniquely for you.
Personal Mantra: Get curious, not furious.
Personal Practice: On her own mat, Melanie thoroughly enjoys diving deeply into a Yin practice, and challenging the stories she finds there. You will often find her loving a hip opener with her favorite prop, a sandbag. Off her mat, she loves hiking and being in nature, family game nights, and deep conversations.
Favorite Yoga Pose: Savasana, because it allows me to be with myself in stillness. To be with who I truly am with unconditional love and acceptance.
Favorite Fictional Book: Harry Potter! We read this series together as a family when our two children were young. Later took a family journey to Hogwarts in London, so much fun! Oh and before you ask, Hufflepuff.
Favorite Non-Fictional Book: The Four Desires, Rod Stryker. Since this book was given to me by a mentor I have re-read it every 2 years. Through this, I have found the practice of passionately connecting with my Dharma.
Bucket List: Learning to surf, Going on the Lord of the Rings tour in New Zealand with my husband and favorite geek. Traveling to Japan with my daughter Caitlin and meditating under a blossoming cherry tree. Being there for that moment when my son gets to travel to space.