About Michelle
Yoga Educator. Retreat Leader. Movement Enthusiast. Cat Mom.
For over 25 years, Michelle has studied movement, breath and balance; earlier as a professional ballet dancer and as a yoga teacher today. Her accessible, grounded classes integrate anatomical precision, thoughtful vinyasa transitions, breath awareness and intelligent sequencing. Michelle’s articulate, down-to-earth approach educates and inspires, offering techniques that facilitate healthy movement patterns and elevate mind-body awareness.
For the last decade, Michelle has honed her approach through partnering with peers outside of the yoga community, including the fields of physical therapy and sports medicine. Through these collaborative partnerships, Michelle has been able to create a bridge between the techniques of traditional yoga practice and modern, evidence-based movement therapy. This approach enables Michelle to offer the most up-to-date information as it relates to healthy postural alignment, injury management techniques and the ongoing practice of accessing ease in mind and body everyday.
Based on years of practice, study, collaboration and teaching, Michelle created a method called Refined Flow. Refined Flow is an alignment-based flowing style that develops skill and longevity in one's practice. Through precise anatomical instruction that deepens understanding of postural technique, this method builds stability and strength, healthy mobility and overall balance in the body. Techniques that facilitate healthy movement patterns and elevate the mind-body connection are introduced, as well as the cultivation of breath awareness in both stillness and motion. Accessible to those new to yoga, and offering challenge to seasoned practitioners, Refined Flow deepens one's understanding of the physical and energetic elements of the practice, while developing comfort in the body and calm in the mind.
Michelle holds the credentials of E-RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance and is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). Her primary teachers are Theresa Elliott and Kathryn Payne of Pacific Yoga in Seattle WA. She offers private and group classes, teacher trainings, retreats and crystal singing bowl sound healing in western North Carolina, online and at various retreat centers across the United States.
“Having Michelle as a yoga teacher has encouraged me to want to do more yoga because I feel so good after her classes! Michelle’s style of teaching is clear and direct, which means it’s easy to follow her instructions. She welcomes all ability levels and encourages exploration and modification for each pose. I feel well cared for when I take a class with Michelle and recommend her as a yoga teacher whole heartedly!” ~Pat R.
“I have been taking Restorative Yoga for the past 7 years, and was so pleased when I first attended Michelle’s class. She adds another dimension of embodied practice. Her knowledge and experience of the body, where tension can be held, and yoga poses to release is so on point. I have benefitted a lot from her specific guidance in releasing my tension patterns in the mid to upper back. Michelle’s pacing and voice cues are exceptional, and she has a warm sense of humor that adds to the whole. I highly recommend Michelle and appreciate all she adds to my Restorative practice.” ~Janet H.
“Michelle’s teachings are so wise…..they guide me to find a beautiful balance between effort and stillness.” ~Cristina C.