Melissa Smith, eRYT 500

Melissa embodies all things yoga and holds true to her personal belief in moksha (freedom). She is truly an example of living life! Her philosophy of teaching to the body in front of you, rather than from a memorized script, is what she believes is one of the key ingredients to cultivating authenticity as a teacher along with being present and practice, practice, practice.

She began teaching Group Fitness in 1991 while attending Texas A&M. After a Marketing degree and an adventurous corporate career, she took time off to be a Mom of 2 cool boys. She has lived and traveled all over the US and most recently lives abroad in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her 200-RYT (350 hours) is from Inspyrayoga in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2005 where Melissa specialized in pre/post natal for over 3 years. Melissa has grown her practice and training by earning her 500-ERYT and blogging about her experiences as a student and teacher. She currently leads 200 and 500 hour teacher trainings, specializing in Restorative Yoga and Yoga Therapeutics.  She's also a level 2 certified AcroYoga Teacher. Melissa’s in depth Thai Massage Training began in 2009. Studying from several Thai masters, she has completed more than 500 hours of studies to date, and she continues her studies throughout the year. She utilizes and incorporates sensitivity to touch while adjusting students and the energy work that she has learned from her Thai massage teachers in her yoga therapy sessions.

Melissa is the author of Pregnancy Yoga, A Simple Illustrated Guide to Self Practice for both Pre and Post Natal, Published 2008. She is an ambassador and contributor for Origin and Yoga + Mantra Magazine, writer for Elephant Journal and Rebelle Society. Passionate about building connections, community and giving back through yoga, she's the founding ambassador for Houston's Breakfast Yoga Club, which builds friendship and cohesiveness within the yoga communities while drawing awareness to various charities. Melissa is a speaker and advocate for research for a non-profit Alzheimer's Group and holds weekly donation classes to raise awareness for Alzheimer's near Houston, TX.  With the belief that love and service is what connects us beyond ourselves, Melissa’s Grace Yoga Retreats generally offers a service component to every retreat by serving at a local nonprofit. Most recently, she was a part of a team who raised funds to build a school and a library for the Bali Children’s Project, a non-profit devoted to providing educational resources to rural Balinese children.

She extends much gratitude and appreciation for her yoga teachers and influences including: Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer (AcroYoga), Leeann  Carey (Restorative, California), Chrys Kub (Yoga Therapy, North  Carolina), Sadhvi Abha (Kriya, India), Judith Lasater (Anatomy, California), Lance Schuler (Hatha, Australia), Stephanie Adams (mentor, Oregon), and Mandy Eubanks (Anusara, US).  Melissa has also studied with and taken immersions and workshops from: Nicolai Bachman, Anna Forrest, Ricky Tran, Sadie Nardini, Les Leventhal, Jonas Westring, Jonny Nobles, Jeremy Simon, Christina Sells, Robert Sherman, Gary Kraftsow, Duncan Wong, Brian Kest, Doug Swenson, and Vincent Tam. Thai Massage teachers include: Jack Chia (Nerve Touch, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Beginner’s to Advanced courses), Sunshine Massage School (Chiang Mai Thailand), Jennifer Yarro (Tripple Gem School of Thai Massage,The Berkshires, Massachusetts), David Lutt (Lulyani, Osetothai), Bonnie Argo, Pau Castellsague, Ale Ruiz and Adam Ryder.