It was October of 2010 when Keeley took her first Yoga breath.
If the journey of a thousand miles does begin with one single step, then I suppose my pivotal single step began with a retail store in West Suburban Illinois.
During my mid-twenties, I began working for the yoga-inspired apparel company, lululemon athletica. With prior and successful retail management experience, I knew I would enjoy the professional role and the company culture. However, I was unaware of the transformative, quarter-life Soul Journey on which I was embarking. Immersing myself in team leadership and devoted brand enthusiasm, I quickly became interested in the practice of yoga. I had always felt connected to my spirituality, and was conscientious of health and wellness. Yoga seemed a natural extension of these traits. As a result, a to-be-expected physical metamorphosis was accompanied by the most gratifying and visceral sense of: physiological awareness, peace, calm, and clarity. I witnessed both my body and mind connect to my most balanced being. I noticed as my 20-something-self got centered, and I felt self reflective and free. This culminated into a permanent spiritual shift. I understood the power of yoga because I had experienced it firsthand. I uncovered something too important to keep to myself. Yoga turned from hobby to ritual. From then on, I knew this was a practice I wanted to pay forward. And so it began. |
It was October of 2013 when Keeley began searching for a deeper connection to her profession.
At work, I was stuck. I was following a path, but felt oddly restless. I wasn’t having an identity crisis, but I knew I needed to make a transition from retail management to... where?
Something was missing. I didn’t have the answers, but I began with a question that changed my life:
Something was missing. I didn’t have the answers, but I began with a question that changed my life:
If not this...then what?
Wasting no time, I hired a life coach, became a dedicated and personal mentee of notable Yoga Therapist, Laura Jane Mellencamp, and set out on a voyage to fuse everything I knew I loved about yoga, and everything I had yet to discover about yoga.
Over the span of the following two years - and in the midst of getting engaged, married and relocating one thousand miles away with my new husband - I logged hundreds of hours of Yoga Alliance training, yoga teaching, and goal coaching. I have held yoga teaching positions in fitness and wellness group settings, and served clients one-on-one.
Today, I work alongside dedicated clients to heal and strengthen their body, mind, and emotional wellbeing.
Over the span of the following two years - and in the midst of getting engaged, married and relocating one thousand miles away with my new husband - I logged hundreds of hours of Yoga Alliance training, yoga teaching, and goal coaching. I have held yoga teaching positions in fitness and wellness group settings, and served clients one-on-one.
Today, I work alongside dedicated clients to heal and strengthen their body, mind, and emotional wellbeing.
And in 2017, that’s how my passion meets my purpose.
A member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), Keeley Michael is 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified through Yoga Well Institute. She has been a committed practicioner of yoga since 2010 and has dedicatedly studied under Yoga Therapist, Laura Jane Mellencamp, since 2012. Keeley has served clients one-on-one using yoga as therapy for Dan’s House of Hope. Today, Keeley has started a yoga program for cancer rehabilitation at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia, MO. She also teaches group classes at alleyCat Yoga and serves clients as Founder of Keeley Michael Yoga. As a life-long student, Keeley continues her Yoga Therapy training through Surya Chandra Healing Yoga School.
