Welcome! I’m Melissa, the founder of Yoga Bee
(The name Melissa comes from the Greek word meaning Bee – see what I did there?!)
Here’s a little bit about me, how Yoga Bee started and what Yoga Bee is all about…
My yoga journey began accidentally in the autumn of 2001. I was looking for an ‘exercise’ class to get back in shape after just having had a baby (and to get out of the house – let’s face it, it’s hard work being a mum!)
Quite specifically (due to child care availability) I needed a class either Monday or Wednesday between 9:30 and 11am.
So, the good news was I found a class. The bad news was it was yoga! Yoga? I wanted to sweat and burn calories. I didn’t want to sit cross-legged and chant Ohm for an hour.
But beggars can’t be choosers and so, reluctantly I signed up (I would have preferred Step Aerobics but that was on a Friday!)
I remember that first class well… the heady smell of incense and the sound of Tibetan monks chanting from the battered CD player in the corner of the stuffy room. And the instructor, Rachel with her scruffy hair and tie-dyed t-shirt.
As it turned out, there was a lot more to yoga than I expected. And I quite enjoyed it. Did I have a lightbulb moment and resolve to practise yoga every day for the rest of my life? No – it was more subtle than that, more of a slow-burner. But a seed was very firmly planted….
Fast forward 23 years, and I now have scruffy hair and a tie-dyed t-shirt.
Over that period I have practiced yoga with many wonderful people all over this country and abroad. I became level 4 qualified with the British Wheel of Yoga and also trained to teach Yin Yoga, Mat Pilates, trigger point Pilates, pre & postnatal yoga & Pilates and yoga & Pilates for older adults. As well I trained in nutrition, reiki and holistic therapies.
For years, I taught all over South Yorkshire: in gyms, studios, village halls, schools, parks, offices, homes etc. It was exhausting but this is how I learnt my craft – teaching as many different people in as many different environments as I could.
After 10 years or so of freelancing, I decided it was time to settle down. So in 2022 Yoga Bee was born. Our home studio. (It’s handy when your partner is a builder).
Yoga Bee is a small & friendly studio that offers a wide range of well-thought-out and planned yoga & Pilates classes. All the daily classes are taught by myself but I regularly work alongside other instructors to deliver Gong Baths, workshops, pop-up classes & events. In addition to this, I hold a nutrition group, a walking group, a book club and regular social events.
From that little seed planted all those years ago, Yoga Bee has grown into a feel-good community and a special haven of well-being.
A happy place to bee 😊🧘♀️🐝
I have many people to thank for realising my dream of owning my own studio and being able to make a living out of doing what I absolutely love. Firstly Rachel (who I have sadly lost contact with) for shining the light; secondly all the inspiring, talented teachers and mentors I have learnt from over the years; also all the wonderful, interesting people who have paid good money to come to my classes – I couldn’t do this without you. And finally to my generous, beloved partner, Steve, for building such a special place.
Namaste
My yoga journey began accidentally in the autumn of 2001. I was looking for an ‘exercise’ class to get back in shape after just having had a baby (and to get out of the house – let’s face it, it’s hard work being a mum!)
Quite specifically (due to child care availability) I needed a class either Monday or Wednesday between 9:30 and 11am.
So, the good news was I found a class. The bad news was it was yoga! Yoga? I wanted to sweat and burn calories. I didn’t want to sit cross-legged and chant Ohm for an hour.
But beggars can’t be choosers and so, reluctantly I signed up (I would have preferred Step Aerobics but that was on a Friday!)
I remember that first class well… the heady smell of incense and the sound of Tibetan monks chanting from the battered CD player in the corner of the stuffy room. And the instructor, Rachel with her scruffy hair and tie-dyed t-shirt.
As it turned out, there was a lot more to yoga than I expected. And I quite enjoyed it. Did I have a lightbulb moment and resolve to practise yoga every day for the rest of my life? No – it was more subtle than that, more of a slow-burner. But a seed was very firmly planted….
Fast forward 23 years, and I now have scruffy hair and a tie-dyed t-shirt.
Over that period I have practiced yoga with many wonderful people all over this country and abroad. I became level 4 qualified with the British Wheel of Yoga and also trained to teach Yin Yoga, Mat Pilates, trigger point Pilates, pre & postnatal yoga & Pilates and yoga & Pilates for older adults. As well I trained in nutrition, reiki and holistic therapies.
For years, I taught all over South Yorkshire: in gyms, studios, village halls, schools, parks, offices, homes etc. It was exhausting but this is how I learnt my craft – teaching as many different people in as many different environments as I could.
After 10 years or so of freelancing, I decided it was time to settle down. So in 2022 Yoga Bee was born. Our home studio. (It’s handy when your partner is a builder).
Yoga Bee is a small & friendly studio that offers a wide range of well-thought-out and planned yoga & Pilates classes. All the daily classes are taught by myself but I regularly work alongside other instructors to deliver Gong Baths, workshops, pop-up classes & events. In addition to this, I hold a nutrition group, a walking group, a book club and regular social events.
From that little seed planted all those years ago, Yoga Bee has grown into a feel-good community and a special haven of well-being.
A happy place to bee 😊🧘♀️🐝
I have many people to thank for realising my dream of owning my own studio and being able to make a living out of doing what I absolutely love. Firstly Rachel (who I have sadly lost contact with) for shining the light; secondly all the inspiring, talented teachers and mentors I have learnt from over the years; also all the wonderful, interesting people who have paid good money to come to my classes – I couldn’t do this without you. And finally to my generous, beloved partner, Steve, for building such a special place.
Namaste