Melissa McGee

I began practicing yoga over 15 years ago as a way to move my body since I tend to not enjoy working out.  I really liked the way I could see my progress as I got stronger and more flexible.  I finally found something “physical” that I was good at and felt more confident in my body.  The longer I practiced, the more I learned there are other pieces of yoga like breath, mindfulness, and the chakras.  This aligned with my modalities as a mental health therapist.

I am a therapist who helps women and teens with anxiety and trauma to release negative emotions and live a fuller life.  In my personal journey of yoga, I found it to be the one way I could calm my racing thoughts and truly come into a calm space.  I found that yoga doesn’t have to be a workout to be beneficial.  It can be strengthening and stretching for both the mind and body.  When I am consistently practicing I am able to maintain a calm mind, a more confident attitude in daily activities, and trust my body to take care of me.  I joined the Sunshine Yoga Shack RYT 200 last fall to learn more to share with my clients as well as grow in my personal practice.  I have already been implementing yoga with a few of my current therapy clients and look forward to introducing to others upon certification in May 2023.  Yoga isn’t just about the poses, but also about breath and how energy moves through the body.  I have experienced this myself and look forward to seeing the impact it has on others.