Yoga with Melisa Welcomes You
Yoga is a Journey
About Me
Unlock Your Inner Calm
As a respected Yoga Instructor based in Dorset, my main goal is to lead others down the long path of discovery that yoga provides. Whether you want to be stronger, more flexible, or both, or become calmer and more present, I know you’ll benefit from my practice.
I first discovered yoga in my late teens and it has always been there. But a serious knee injury and difficult times for my family led me to a wonderful mentor who inspired me to practice daily and encouraged me to sign-up for teacher training. It was transformational for me.
My teacher is Ruth White - you can never stop learning. She herself fell at the feet of a Master: B. K. S. Iyengar, and has spent her lifetime spreading the yoga faith. A grand dame of British yoga, she has taught many of us to not only learn the discipline and underpinning theories, but to also intuitively and empathetically understand and feel what is needed.
Having the chance to share all that I’ve learned along the way with others fills me with joy. Something I know for sure is that everyone could use more yoga in their lives.
Yoga Practice
I have been teaching yoga for five years and completed both my 200-hour and 500-hour RYT teacher training under the guidance of Ruth White. My training covered asana, anatomy, pranayama, and yogic philosophy, providing a strong foundation for both physical practice and mindful awareness. I am fully insured and hold a current first-aid certificate.
As my practice continues to evolve, I have recently completed Level 2 training in Yin Yoga, alongside further study in nervous system regulation, somatic approaches to yoga, and Yoga Nidra. I have also trained as a sound practitioner with Alison Palmer, enabling me to offer sound baths and guided meditation as part of my work.
My personal practice draws from a wide range of styles, including Karuna, Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Yin, Restorative, Hot, and Dynamic Flow yoga. The yoga I teach is a thoughtful blend of these influences, shaped by experience, intuition, and care. Every session is carefully tailored to meet your current needs - whether you are looking to build strength and flexibility, recover from injury, cultivate balance and stability, or experience deep rest. This may be through a mixed-ability class, a gentle yoga session, a power sculpt practice, or a restorative Yin and Sound experience.
Through the practice of asanas (postures), we learn to bring our full attention to where our bodies are in space (proprioception), while also tuning into the rhythm of the breath. Over time, this cultivates a deeper awareness of the inner body and our capacity to sense, interpret, and respond to signals arising from within — known as interoception. This centred focus allows the mind to soften and quiet, gently guiding us back to a natural state of balance in the present moment. In a world that so often pulls us into the past or the future, yoga offers the simple yet powerful freedom of presence.
Yoga, for me, is this meeting point between movement and stillness, effort and ease. My intention is to offer practices that feel both grounding and empowering - supporting you to feel more balanced, resilient, and connected in your body and mind.
The wide breadth of yoga, from asanas, to pranaymana, and stillness has the power to calm the mind, strengthen the body, and provide you the tools to navigate life with greater ease. I look forward to sharing and supporting you on your yoga journey with compassion and care.
Yoga is Self Care
My classes are designed to be accessible, supportive, and responsive. Every body, every background, and every level of experience is welcome. Every class is shaped by the people in the room, creating a practice that feels relevant and inclusive.
In mixed-ability sessions - suitable for beginners, experienced practitioners, and everyone in between - I combine intelligently sequenced asanas to build strength and flexibility, while breathwork and somatic techniques help calm the nervous system and encourage release and relaxation.
Whilst in Yin & Sound sessions and guided meditations, the emphasis shifts towards slowing down. Here, the intention is to soften the body, quiet the mind, and reconnect with yourself. Through softly held positions, sound, and breath, we invite the nervous system to settle and tension to dissolve.
Yoga means union - the coming together of mind, body, and spirit. Whether through dynamic movement or deep rest, these practices are designed to leave you feeling grounded, re-energised, and gently supported in your wellbeing. Yoga is more than a physical practice - it is a journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-love. ✨
In our increasingly fast-paced and jam-packed lives, mindful movement and conscious breathing invite us to pause. As B.K.S. Iyengar wrote in Light on Yoga:
“Yoga does not change the way we see things; it transforms the person who sees.”
Yoga is a way of living with awareness. How we move on the mat often reflects how we move through life. And as awareness grows, subtle shifts begin to unfold - in the body, in the breath, and in the way we meet ourselves and the world.✨
Wherever you are on your yoga journey, I will support you in exploring alignment, breath, and technique in a way that feels safe, empowering, and restorative - helping you reconnect with your body and cultivate a deeper sense of ease and wellbeing.
Classes
Wednesdays Buckland Newton Village Hall
18.30 - 19.45
Mixed ability 'Yoga with Melisa' class on Wednesdays during school term.
Perfect class for every level, whether a beginner or a seasoned yogi - especially geared to those who are new or returning to yoga. End of the day stretch and strength to leave you feeling restored and relaxed.
Autumn: 1st October to 17th December (Break 5th Nov)
Spring: 7th January to 25th March (Break 18th Feb)
Summer: 15th April to 15th July (Break 27th May)
Your first Session is FREE! After it is £10 for drop-in, or £8 if you pay for what you can attend on a monthly basis. (If you miss a class you pay for, you can simply come to another).
Thursdays Piddletrenthide Memorial Hall
18.45 -20.00
Mixed ability 'Yoga with Melisa' class on Thursdays during school term.
Perfect class for every level, whether a beginner or a seasoned yogi. A dynamic end of the day stretch and strength class to leave you feeling focused and relaxed.
Autumn: 5th September to 19th December (Break 31st Oct)
Spring: 9th January to 27th March (Break 20th Feb)
Summer: 17th April to 17th July (Break 29th May)
Your first Session is FREE! After it is £10 for drop-in, or £8 if you pay for what you can attend on a monthly basis. (If you miss a class you pay for, you can simply come to another).
Fridays Cerne Abbas Village Hall
10.30 - 11.45
Mixed ability 'Yoga with Melisa' class on Fridays during school term.
Perfect class for every level, whether a beginner or a seasoned yogi. A stretch and strength building class to leave you feeling calm and refreshed.
Autumn: 5th September to 19th December (Break 31st Oct)
Spring: 9th January to 27th March (Break 20th Feb)
Summer: 17th April to 17th July (Break 29th May)
Your first Session is FREE! After it is £10 for drop-in, or £8 if you pay for what you can attend on a monthly basis. (If you miss a class you pay for, you can simply come to another).
Private Sessions
At Your Home, Workplace or Event
Whether you’re drawn to Iyengar, Hatha, Vinyasa or Yin Yoga; a guided meditation and sound bath; or support in developing a personalised routine for injury recovery or strength-building; I offer tailored sessions in your home, at your event, or workplace for individuals or small groups.
In these sessions, we can explore alignment, breathwork and technique in depth, or focus on restorative practices that cultivate calm, balance and wellbeing. Each session is thoughtfully designed to create a holistic experience that meets the unique needs of you or your group.
If you’re seeking guidance for a specific concern - such as an injury, stress, or a health-related goal - I can provide bespoke support and carefully adapted practices.
For enquiries and rates, please contact me directly.
New Restorative Yin & Sound ✨
A village series of restorative Yin Yoga and Sound for deep rest & resonance
Piddlehinton | Charlton Down | Sydling St Nicolas Village Halls
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Monthly on Friday evenings & Sundays
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Your monthly reset, close to home
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To pause, soften and restore
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Deep Rest. Gentle Sound. Shared Stillness.
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Three villages. One invitation to relax.
Step into deep rest with this immersive class combining restorative yin yoga with a meditative sound bath journey.
The first part of the class invites you into gentle, restorative yin yoga using long-held, passive poses to target deep connective tissues, fascia, and joints. This slow practice encourages stillness, enhances flexibility and circulation, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system to reduce stress, release tension, and support better sleep. Poses are fully supported and adaptable, making the class accessible to all levels.
You’ll then be guided into a deep Savasana and meditation with an immersive sound bath of Himalayan and crystal singing bowls and gentle percussion. The sounds help calm the nervous system, ease mental clutter, and guide the brain into deeply relaxed theta states. This dreamlike state mirrors the edge of sleep, allowing you to experience profound rest without prior meditation experience.✨
Together, the stillness of yin yoga combined with a sound meditation invite the body and mind to unwind, rebalance, and return to a deep sense of calm.
Restorative Yin & Sound Booking
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1 hr 30 min
16 British pounds
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1 hr 15 min
16 British pounds
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1 hr 30 min
16 British pounds
