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Michelle RyanTeacher

What year did you first start practicing yoga?
I went to my first yoga class, which happened to be my first Bikram class, in October of 2011.

Was there any particular reason you started practicing yoga?
A friend told me about it, I bought an introductory deal and it gave me some purpose and structure that I needed after I lost a full-time job the same year.

Favorite posture and why?
Half Moon – Backbend. It’s a posture in which you have to overcome fear and trust yourself. I consider it quite an accomplishment — physically and mentally — to have progressed as much as I have in it.

Why do you currently practice this yoga?
Second to writing, this yoga has awakened a passion in me. It’s one of the few things that I’ve picked up in life that I’ve stuck with. It’s easy when it’s makes you feel so good — and it’s so good for you!

What do you love about teaching yoga?
I love watching students progress in their practice and cheering them on. Sometimes people need someone else to believe in them before they can believe in themselves. To be a small part of that process is both humbling and inspiring.

Two things most people don’t know about you?
I am a big sports fan — college football, NFL, NCAA basketball, hockey, soccer, curling, fantasy football, etc.
I am a published writer and I have won awards for non-fiction and poetry.

Yoga Training

Sterling Hot Yoga Works TT3, Summer 2015
E-RYT 200 Hour
Sterling Iron Hour Teacher Training, August 2015
Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Bernie Clark and Diana Batts, 50 Hour and Intensive, Semperviva Yoga, Vancouver, May 2016
Inferno Hot Pilates, June 2016
Mindful Resilience Therapy for Trauma Recovery, Yoga Teacher Training, Level 1, Veterans Yoga Project, Fall 2016
Bryan Kest Power Yoga Online Teacher Training, Fall 2018
yoga4cancer trained with Tari Prinster (y4c founder), October 2019

Education

B.A., English (Creative Writing) and Communications (Journalism), University of South Alabama, 1997
M.A., Journalism, University of Alabama, 2000

Hometown

Mobile, AL

Favorite Pose

Half Moon – Backbend

Hobbies

Reading, writing, learning new things, spoiling my dog