Melissa Leach, MS, CNS(c), E-RYT 500, YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider), Tier 3 Certified Baptiste Power Yoga Influencer and lululemon legacy ambassador has led programs and workshops throughout the US including 200 Hour Power Vinyasa Teacher Trainings, 300 Hour Teacher Trainings, 95 Hour Kids Yoga Teacher Trainings, assisting workshops, anatomy workshops and has presented at internationally recognized conferences including Yoga Journal and Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Practicing yoga for over 25 years, Melissa has spent thousands of hours in training with leading experts in both the yoga industry as well as Chiropractors, PhDs, M.D.s and leading Strength & Conditioning coaches to expand her knowledge base and leadership skills to be able to make a significant impact in the teaching and leadership development of others.

She has multiple certifications in trauma informed yoga and supportive practices in mental health.  She also participates in many different modalities of training including powerlifting, metabolic conditioning and kettlebell training.  She has a Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition and is  a Licensed Chek Professional, a Holistic Lifestyle Coach and has Scientific Back, Core and Program Design Certifications from the C.H.E.K Institute.   In addition she has taken spine specific courses from Dr. Stuart McGill.   Melissa has an extensive fitness background and is a Certified Functional Strength Coach, Pre-Script Level 1 Coach and has additional certifications in barre and spinning.

She served as the Programs Director and on the Board of Directors for the Baptiste Foundation where she co-created the Unstoppable program -- a training for educators, first responders and public sector employees to teach yoga, breathing and meditation to youth.  She led this program all over the US and developed a facilitator training program to expand and roll out the training to give access to thousands of educators and hundreds of thousands of kids to the tools of yoga and mindfulness. With a certification to teach Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans with PTSD, she also helped with the development of Unbreakable, a training for people who want to bring yoga, meditation, breathing practices and yoga nidra to veterans, active duty service members and first responders.

In studying anatomy and biomechanics, history and philosophy of yoga and in practical experience in teaching and leading for over 15 years and training hundreds of yoga teachers, she has a passion for developing themes and teaching styles that honor yoga’s roots, but are grounded in functional anatomy and making things relevant and impactful for each and every student.  She is committed to bridging the gap between the way alignment in yoga has been taught with current research in exercise science to optimize people’s health and wellbeing both on and off the yoga mat.