Today we’d like to introduce you to Malissa Whited.
Hi Malissa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Thirty years ago, at the age of 21, I discovered yoga in a way that was completely unexpected. I didn’t have the money to attend public classes, so my first teacher was a VHS tape—Yoga Mind & Body with Ali MacGraw and Erich Schiffmann. I think I still have that tape tucked away in storage.
At the time, I was drawn to high-intensity exercise, but my body was beginning to push back. Instead of reaching for another knee brace, I decided to try yoga. That one decision quietly changed the direction of my life.
What began as a physical practice soon became something much deeper. Yoga taught me that healing isn’t just about muscles and joints—it is about learning how to care for the whole person. That realization inspired me to spend the last three decades studying anatomy, movement, philosophy, mindfulness, and therapeutic approaches so I could help others move with greater ease and live with greater compassion.
Like everyone, life has brought seasons of heartbreak and profound change. Yoga became the steady place I returned to through grief, divorce, difficult family experiences, and moments that challenged everything I thought I knew. It also taught me to welcome joy again—to open my heart to love, deepen my faith, and trust that healing is not a destination but a lifelong practice.
Today, I see yoga as so much more than exercise. It is a way of paying attention. It teaches us to honor ourselves, to extend grace to others, and to meet each moment with curiosity, courage, and compassion. Every time I step into the studio, my hope isn’t simply that someone becomes more flexible. I hope they leave feeling a little more connected to themselves and a little more at peace than when they arrived.
When I look back over the last thirty years, I sometimes smile at where it all began. It’s amazing to think that a worn-out VHS tape sitting in a storage box became the first step toward a life I never could have imagined.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think any meaningful path is completely smooth, and mine certainly hasn’t been.
Like many people, I’ve experienced seasons of loss, heartbreak, uncertainty, and change. There were times when I questioned myself, wondered if I was enough, or tried to balance caring for everyone else while forgetting to care for myself. Building a small business has also come with its share of challenges, requiring resilience, long hours, and a willingness to keep showing up even when the path wasn’t clear.
Looking back, those experiences have shaped me into a more compassionate teacher. They reminded me that every person who walks into a yoga studio carries a story we may never fully know. Some come with physical pain, others with grief, anxiety, loneliness, or simply the weight of everyday life.
Those experiences changed the way I teach. I became less interested in helping people achieve the “perfect” pose and more interested in helping them feel safe, supported, and at home in their own bodies. My goal has never been perfection. It has always been connection.
One of the greatest lessons yoga has taught me is that strength isn’t measured by how much we can endure alone. Real strength is found in learning to soften, to ask for help, to begin again, and to keep our hearts open even after life has tested them.
In many ways, the difficult seasons didn’t take me away from yoga—they brought me closer to its true purpose. They taught me that healing isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who we’ve been all along.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Mindful Movement Yoga was founded on a simple belief: yoga should be accessible, welcoming, and rooted in compassion. Whether someone is stepping onto a mat for the very first time or has been practicing for decades, I want them to feel that they belong.
Over the past twenty years, our studio has become more than a place to exercise. It has grown into a community where people come to move, breathe, learn, heal, laugh, and support one another through every season of life.
We offer a variety of classes, including yoga, Pilates, meditation, functional movement, workshops, retreats, and special events designed to help people improve not only their physical well-being but also their overall quality of life. My background in therapeutic movement and anatomy has shaped the way I teach, allowing me to adapt practices for a wide range of ages, abilities, and life experiences. Whether someone is recovering from an injury, managing stress, or simply looking to move with greater ease, my goal is to meet them where they are.
What I’m most proud of isn’t the number of classes we’ve taught or the years we’ve been in business. It’s the community we’ve built. Kindness, respect, lifelong learning, and service are values that guide every decision we make. We strive to honor the rich traditions of yoga while presenting them in a way that is welcoming, practical, and relevant to modern life.
If there’s one thing I hope people know about Mindful Movement Yoga, it’s that our classes are about so much more than flexibility. They’re about helping people reconnect with themselves and with one another. When someone leaves feeling stronger, calmer, more hopeful, or simply knowing they were cared for, we’ve accomplished what we set out to do.
To me, that is the true heart of yoga.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There is no way I could answer this question by naming just one person. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from many gifted teachers and mentors throughout my journey, each of whom has shaped the way I practice, teach, and serve others. I’m deeply grateful for every lesson they shared with me.
One person I especially want to recognize is Todd Tesen, who has been both a teacher and a trusted friend since 2013. His guidance, wisdom, and encouragement have had a meaningful impact on my growth as both a yoga teacher and a person. I will always be grateful for his mentorship.
Beyond my teachers, my greatest influences have been love and the people who have walked beside me. My family, my dear friends, my wonderful partner Brian, and my yoga community—my kula—have supported me through life’s celebrations and its deepest challenges. They have reminded me that none of us are meant to walk this path alone.
There was a season in my life when I felt disconnected—not only from myself, but also from my faith. Like many people, I made choices that didn’t always reflect the person I wanted to be. Looking back, I don’t see that time with shame. I see it as part of my journey. It deepened my compassion, taught me humility, and reminded me that healing is rarely a straight line.
In many ways, I feel that God gently called me home. Through love, grace, and the unwavering support of the people around me, I found my way back to the values that have always mattered most. Today, my faith, my relationships, and my yoga practice continue to shape not only my life, but also the culture of Mindful Movement Yoga.
If I’ve accomplished anything over the past thirty years, it is because I have been surrounded by people who believed in me, encouraged me, challenged me, forgave me, and loved me well. I hope the studio reflects that same spirit—that everyone who walks through our doors feels welcomed, valued, and accepted exactly where they are.
Pricing:
- Drop-in’s: $20.00
- 10 classes: $135.00
- Monthly Membership: $125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindfulmovementmonroe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmovementmonroe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulmovementyogastudio
