Melanie began her Yoga practice in her mid-forties and became a Yoga teacher 13 years ago. She took her first four trainings with Jimmy Barkan and received her 500-Hour ERYT in Barkan Method of Hot Yoga. Over the years she has also followed Kelly Green with the Empower Movement Shift Series and has taken 4 of her trainings, plus many of her workshops. Although, like many Americans, she was mainly interested in Vinyasa, but when she discovered Yin Yoga in 2012, she realized that she absolutely needed the balance it provided her. She took two additional Yin Trainings, and that has become her main focus while teaching. She now teaches Yin and Yin Yang classes but continues to honor her lineage once a week by teaching the Barkan Method at her Albuquerque studio. She has taught over 5,000 classes at Blissful Spirits since she opened the Albuquerque Studio in 2009. In 2012 She also opened her Rio Rancho Studio and enjoys teaching there as well. In 2017 she partnered with Denise Gonzales and began Blissful Spirits Teacher Training, and together they have trained many of Blissful Spirits, and Albuquerque’s Yoga teachers. As she enters into her sixties Melanie has slowed down her teaching style and tries to make classes that work for everyBODY and every age. When Melanie opened Blissful Spirits, she simply wanted to help change other people's lives the way hers was changed when she discovered Yoga. The strength of the community created by the beautiful Blissful teachers and students inspires her gratitude and commitment every day.