​A perpetual student, my biggest teacher is my three year old son. My little "movement guru" inspires me to practice in a myriad of playful and adaptive ways serving as a powerful reminder of human creativity and the importance of variability and FUN. Motherhood has also sparked a new found interest in developmental movement patterns, motor learning and women's reproductive health. Other big influences include fellow movement optimists, pain researchers, and "modern" yogis like Todd Hargrove, Greg Lehman, Trina Altman, and Jenni Rawlings.

I have thousands of hours of teaching experience and include among my clients children, seniors, athletic organizations and corporations. When I'm not chasing my son around, I'm leading and developing curriculum for 200 and 300-hr YTT's, or hosting workshops and retreats. 
Hey ya’ll! 
​
Melissa here...thanks for stopping by! I’m a 500-hr professional yoga instructor, new mom and self-proclaimed "movement optimist".  I earned my teaching certifications from the Nosara Yoga Institute of Costa Rica where I credit my teachers Don and Amba Stapleton for my unique, interdisciplinary style of yoga. My approach to asana is FUNctional, skills-based and dogma free, allowing me to incorporate a variety of other movement modalities into my practice. At the heart of my teaching is a humble deference to the body's innate intelligence and a reverence for the complexity and uniqueness of human form and function. 

My Offerings

Private Instruction​

practice with me! 
i offer private instruction and group classes all along the Emerald Coast. 

Teacher Training

learn with me!
​i offer 200-hr and 300-hr Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Trainings in Destin, FL.  

Workshops/Retreats

 play with me!
i offer fun, engaging yoga workshops and wellness retreats in local and non-local destinations.     

My Approach 

My approach to yoga asana
is functional, skills-based
and dogma-free!

This allows me to incorporate
a wealth of knowledge 
from other movement modalities,
such as Functional Range Conditioning (FRC), Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)
​and Thomas Hanna Somatics.

I believe truth and authority lies
in an individual's own experience
and consider no movement right or wrong, good or bad, only safe and/or accessible. 
photo by: Sarah Hickman of Zzare Perspective

Find me at the following studios! 
​

A perpetual student, I approach yoga like i approach life - with an insatiable curiosity and an open mind and heart! I teach a PLAYFUL, creative flow where laughter is encouraged and discovery the pinnacle experience. I hold space for the miraculous and meet people where they are. Join me and experience the joyful and sacred practice of yoga for yourself!
Dragonfly Yoga 
​Tuesdays at 9am
Hot Yoga Om
Mondays at 6pm
 
My Manifesto

i like to keep things simple.
i laugh often and out loud. 
i love completely and without condition. 
​
i think freedom lies in choice
and choice lies in every waking moment. 
and there is nothing sweeter
than the present moment.

i choose to inspire and empower.
i practice mindfulness and forgiveness. 
​i honor my intuition and encourage others to do the same. 
i trust that the universe conspires with me
and try to see beauty in all things.

i model authenticity rather than perfection.
i embrace polarities and celebrate differences.
i am passionately curious and hold experience as the ultimate authority.

i consider everyone whole and look at each new day
as an opportunity to move toward a truer, fuller expression of one's self.   
i believe far more is possible than we could ever imagine.

my world is gray, not black and white.
i speak my truth softly, knowing that it changes.
i listen closely, especially to silence.
i walk with purpose and connect.
i make love the bottom line.