Hi, I’m Melissa. I’ve been practicing yoga since 1999, starting at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco. Over the years, my journey has been shaped by the teachings of K. Pattabhi Jois, Judith Lasater, Leah Adams, Christopher Wallis, and Rupert Spira, guiding me from the physically demanding Ashtanga Vinyasa practice to more restorative, meditative, and somatic approaches.

Along the way, I’ve had my own share of injuries and surgeries, and balancing a very physical Ashtanga practice with the stresses of working in corporate environments has deeply shaped how I approach teaching. I guide classes with an emphasis on nervous system regulation, mindful movement, and listening to your body. My intention is to help you cultivate strength, flexibility and stillness while leaving the mat feeling grounded, centered and relaxed.

I work as a human-centered designer, consultant, facilitator, and yoga instructor — bringing awareness of systems, environments, and attention to detail into everything I do. In my teaching, this means crafting classes and spaces that support calm, focus, and presence, while my design and facilitation work continues to benefit from the mindfulness and somatic awareness I cultivate through yoga.

My philosophy is that yoga is an invitation to come fully into the present, to feel the body, to sense ease in each moment, and to rest in the awareness that is always already here. My aim is to guide you in noticing this presence in your own practice.