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Hi I am Melanie Hale-The Movement Mystic!
I am a certified yoga instructor. I have a BA in Psychology and Master of Arts in Public Administration. I am an explorer of movement, an explorer of my mind, and an explorer of my heart. As the Movement Mystic, I help people feel at home- At home in their own skin, in their own hearts, in their own minds, in their own way. I believe that we are all in the process of transformation and I am committed to channeling transformation for myself and for others. I have dedicated my career to providing social services to others because I believe that we must work together to care for each other and love each other. Over the years, I have also learned that movement is a crucial part of self discovery and I want to share that experience with you. |
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I came to yoga through my exploration of Nature. I live near the Holden Arboretum and I love the outdoors. During one of my nature walks, I noticed a bunch of yogis in the garden and thought ‘maybe I should give this a try!’.
From the first practice, I was in love. I loved the way it made it me feel, the way it made me move and the way it transformed my negative thoughts, my connection with my body and my relationship to the universe, god(dess), source.
After several years of practicing in the garden, I started taking regular classes at a local studio and eventually decided to become a yoga instructor. I took an intensive yoga teacher training with Todd Norian and his wife Anne Green. The certification process took over a year to complete.
Teaching Yoga did not come easy for me and I grappled with confidence, understanding the philosophy and learning about anatomy. It took me an extra 6 months to become fully certified in July 2012. I learned so much during that process, but mostly I learned how much I still needed to learn about movement. Eventually, I began by teaching one class at a time, and added more classes as my confidence and skills as an instructor improved and now I enjoy teaching so very much.
I have always loved to move my body.
Some of my earliest memories include movement.
I remember being swirled around as a child by my Dad and feeling like I was soaring in the air. I remember jumping up and down on a bouncy ball in the grass and jumping on my bed just for fun.
I remember riding my bike for hours or running around the neighborhood, then jumping rope, playing hopscotch and dancing around my room at night.
I remember swimming with my Mom at the beach and learning how to swim at the local pool. I remember taking dance classes throughout my college years and performing on stage with my friends.
I remember running my first 5k, 10ks and my only half marathon. I love to move. I move to feel alive, I move to feel free, I move to connect with me. This love of movement is what has brought me to yoga and my practice as The Movement Mystic.
Over the years I have continued to learn more and more about yoga and movement through attending workshops, classes, reading, watching online videos, and listening to my body.
In 2018, I decided to complete a 300 hour certification at Yoga 108 with Tracy Rhinehart to deepen my practice and strengthen my skills as a movement educator. Shortly after that I completed the Yoga Tune Up teacher training certification to hone my skills even further.
These experiences have allowed me to question my self limiting beliefs, take my understanding of yoga to the next level, gain confidence in my teaching and my ability to help others through through movement.
My journey with movement has also taught me to look at movement from a variety of perspectives.
Asking questions helps me change perspectives. So I continuously revisit these questions about movement and yoga...
What am I offering my students? How can I help them connect more with their body? Am I providing too much/too little information; am I confusing them? Do I provide a safe environment for all bodies? Do I challenge my students to think differently about their movement? Do I help students impact body imbalances or blindspots? Do I help them disconnect with unconscious movement patterns that don’t serve them? Do I incorporate enough philosophy into my classes? How can I offer other movement modalities? Am I fully present for my students?
The answers to these questions change often, depending on my focus, my attention, and my class offering. I am always making adjustments to my teaching style and deepening my understanding of movement.
I believe that the questions I ask myself and the answers I find along the way allow me to stay connected with my body, continue to grow as a movement specialist and meet people right where they are in this moment. I pride myself in continuously learning about movement and it's connection to our true identity.
Asking questions helps me change perspectives. So I continuously revisit these questions about movement and yoga...
What am I offering my students? How can I help them connect more with their body? Am I providing too much/too little information; am I confusing them? Do I provide a safe environment for all bodies? Do I challenge my students to think differently about their movement? Do I help students impact body imbalances or blindspots? Do I help them disconnect with unconscious movement patterns that don’t serve them? Do I incorporate enough philosophy into my classes? How can I offer other movement modalities? Am I fully present for my students?
The answers to these questions change often, depending on my focus, my attention, and my class offering. I am always making adjustments to my teaching style and deepening my understanding of movement.
I believe that the questions I ask myself and the answers I find along the way allow me to stay connected with my body, continue to grow as a movement specialist and meet people right where they are in this moment. I pride myself in continuously learning about movement and it's connection to our true identity.
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Staying connected to your body and your breath is not always easy, there are so many ways that we can disconnect from ourselves, our bodies and our true self. When this happens, we need to recenter and reconnect with nature, our purpose and our inner light.
My purpose as the movement mystic is to continue on my journey of self discovery through movement so that I can support others on their journey. We cannot do it all alone; we all need support, encouragement, a mentor, a coach, and a friend helping us along the way. I would love to be that support for you. |
Continuing Education Hours
2013:
Empower Yourself to Heal: A Yoga Therapy Intensive-Todd Norian
Doug Keller Yoga Therapy Weekend Immersion
2014:
Mastering Hands on Adjustments with Todd Norian
Advanced Chakra Teacher Training- Anodea Judith and Todd Norian
Balance and Bliss: Thriving through the Holidays - online training
Doug Keller Yoga Therapy Weekend Immersion
2015:
Weekend Workshop Vinyasa with Jason Crandell
Academy of Surfing Academy Paddleboard Instructor Course
Yin Yoga weekend workshop Richard Gartner
2016:
Embodying the 5 Elements through Yoga with Todd Norian
Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Stephanie Keach
Vinyasa Weekend Workshop with Bryan Kest
2017:
Weekend workshop with Desiree Rumbaugh
Breathwork weekend workshop with Max Strom
Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Program with Anne Ondrey
2018:
Yoga108 300 hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Certification
Holy Fire II Level One Reiki Certification
2019:
Usui Level One Reiki Certification
Yoga Deconstructed with Trina Altman
Yoga Teacher Tune Up Certification with Laurel Beversdorf
Yoga Tune up Roll Model Method Training with Sandy Gross
Yoga Tune up Breath and Bliss Immersion with Laurie Streff
EFT Tapping certification-online program
2020:
Weekend Workshop Yoga balls, bands and Bliss Laurel Beversdorf
Sacred Business Women 2.0 Remaking ourselves in a transforming world
