Yoga is a Sanskrit word derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj” which means to connect, join or balance.

In the Western society, when we think of yoga as class of fit people twisted into pretzel like poses but yoga is more that the poses or asana. 5,000 years ago in India, yoga came into existence as an all-inclusive system for wellbeing; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It is a system of techniques and guidance for enriching your life. Join one of Melissa’s group classes, he schedule is below.

Benefits of Yoga

• Lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.

• Decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression.

• Reduce inflammation and prevents inflammatory diseases.

• Decrease risk factors for heart disease.

• Improve quality of life and an adjunct therapy for some conditions.

• Reduce chronic pain and migraines.

• Promotes balances, flexibility and lung function and increasing strength.

Melissa received her 200 hour yoga teacher and 85 hour prenatal yoga teacher training with Powerflow Yoga, led by Carrie Parker and Stacey Bell. She is also a certified 35 hour yin and restorative yoga instructor. The style of yoga she received her 200 hours training is Hatha and Vinyasa.

Hatha yoga is a wide-ranging category that includes most yoga styles. It includes the practice of asanas, yoga postures and pranayama, breathing exercises. The practice formulates the mind and body for deeper spiritual practice, meditation.

Vinyasa is when asana is connected in a flow with breath. Melissa completed her yin and restorative yoga teacher training in 2019 with Sacred Sound Yoga in NYC, lead by Masako Miyakawa.

Yin yoga targets the fascia — the deep connective tissue that is around your ligaments, joints, and bones. The practice of yin yoga is based on ancient Chinese philosophies of meridians or energy pathways that run through our bodies. By stretching and deepening into poses, we’re opening up any blockages and releasing the flow of energy. Yin is a slower and more meditated practice usually sequenced to target particular meridians. Yin yoga has uncomfortable sensations due to the longevity in the pose.

Restorative yoga is a sequence of passive stretches to slow down the nervous system. Mostly practiced in studios for the ability to promote complete relaxation.