My name is Melissa, the founder of Lemon Balm Yoga & Wellness—a business that began as a brick-and-mortar studio and has since transformed into offerings in a new way. As I continue my journey back in traditional school, I have exciting plans for this venture in the coming years. Lemon Balm Yoga & Wellness has become a deeply meaningful part of my heart and purpose. Here’s a little more about me.

I was raised in extremely humble circumstances, enduring significant loss and trauma at an early age. Moving frequently during my school years—sometimes living in our vehicle until we found our next home—taught me resilience and adaptability. These challenges shaped my compassion and fueled my desire to support others on their journeys.

Although my childhood and youth left me with traumas to address, I was also blessed with meaningful experiences that helped lead me to where I am today.

My father and uncle inspired me to embrace a holistic lifestyle from an early age. My dad would hand me freshly made carrot juice instead of store-bought options, and his favorite book, The Book of You by Charles F. Haanel, became a quiet but profound influence in our home. My uncle nurtured my curiosity as a teenager, sending me books and cassette tapes on frequencies and energy fields. These early influences planted the seeds of mindfulness and awareness, shaping the path I walk today.

My mother, a deeply compassionate person, taught me the importance of empathy. She would always remind me to seek out anyone being left out and to make friends with them. This awareness made me extremely sensitive to the needs of others—something I have, at times, resented in my later years. However, as I continue to heal and find balance, I see my sensitivity and emotionality as gifts that guide how I connect with others.

I’ve been deeply inspired by so many people and experiences along the way and consider myself a lifelong learner, committed to living an authentic, holistic life.

While diplomas, certifications, and trainings are meaningful, I believe my greatest strength as a teacher lies in the lessons I’ve learned through overcoming life’s trials. It is this lived experience that informs my teaching, inspiring me to connect with others in a meaningful and heartfelt way.

Credentials:

• Reiki Practitioner, Level II
• E-RYT 500 Registered Trainer / YACEP Provider
• Primordial Sound Mediation Cert
• Hatha Vinyasa Yoga Cert (200hr)
• Yoga Trapeze Cert (25hr)
• Advanced Integrative Yoga (300hr)
• Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, & Trauma-Informed Yoga Cert
• Sound Healing Trained
• doTERRA Wellness Director
• Sympathy of the Cells Trained

Some of her experience includes:

• School Programs Incorporating Mindfulness Practices
• Hospital Community Yoga Instructor
  • Yoga Program for employees and the community to counteract work-related stressors and to improve overall well-being
  • Yoga Program for Behavior Health Services patients and Long Term Facility residents
• Yoga studio owner
• Yoga teacher trainings