Michelle

Michelle took her first yoga class in 2001 in Jefferson City after moving back to Missouri. At the time, she was staying with family and looking for something to do in the evenings. What began as a way to try something new quickly became something much more, and she found a sense of community, a connection to self, and an expansiveness that she has carried with her ever since.

Over the last 25 years, her practice has ebbed and flowed through many different seasons of life. After her son was born in 2004, she thought she would be back in the studio within a few weeks. Instead, recovery took longer, and the demands of a newborn kept her away much longer than expected.

Even during seasons when she wasn't attending classes or practicing regularly, yoga remained present. It gave her a sense of awareness, mindfulness, and grounding that she carried into everyday life.

In each season of the last 25 years, Michelle has practiced for different reasons and in different ways. That is the beauty of yoga — it meets you where you are. Today, she practices for functional movement, to stretch and open her body, to counteract the hours spent sitting at a desk, and to rest and reset her nervous system.

Yoga has been her gateway into greater awareness, consciousness, and connection.

The idea for opening a studio began several years ago. After completing her yoga teacher training, health and wellness coaching certifications, and spending time teaching and coaching virtually, she realized how much she values teaching in person.

While virtual classes have made yoga more accessible for many people, Michelle believes there is something essential about practicing together. Through shared practice, we create real, deep connections, community, and opportunities to truly see and support one another. 

Her hope for Awen is to create a place where people feel welcome, cared for, and supported. A place where people can come home to themselves, feel safe to be fully themselves, connect with others, and find practices that help them feel more grounded, empowered, and whole.

Samantha

Samantha began practicing yoga at the age of 15 when she started tagging along with her mother to classes. During the pandemic, while living in Chicago, Samantha decided to dive deeper into her yoga practice by beginning a RYT 200 yoga teacher training program. Her personal practice, and her teaching, revolve around growing a deeper awareness of and gentler relationship with our bodies, emotional selves, and our nervous systems. Sam's classes are all about deepening our connection to ourselves through curiosity and care.