AUM HOME SHALA INC
CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA

Melinda Atkins, M.ED, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, is the founder and director of AUM hOMe Shala. She was a member of the first graduating class of the only university-based yoga therapy program in the nation, at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. A professional-level yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) with more than 7,500 hours of documented yoga teaching experience, Melinda completed 200 hours of preliminary work in Astanga Yoga before receiving a 500-hour yoga teacher training certification from Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. She was one of the first yoga therapists in Florida to be certified as a yoga therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapists through their grandfathering process, documenting 2,100 hours of yoga therapy experience. Also a veteran high-school English teacher, Melinda early on recognized yoga’s ability to improve students’ focus and performance. The yoga curriculum she designed has been taught for more than a decade at a South Florida prep school. She also incorporated yoga as a form of cross-training for student athletic teams. Melinda developed the yoga component of the annual Chill Out program, helping middle and high school students relax and focus in preparation for the FCATs. Melinda Atkins, M.ED, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, is the founder and director of AUM hOMe Shala. She was a member of the first graduating class of the only university-based yoga therapy program in the nation, at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. A professional-level yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) with more than 7,500 hours of documented yoga teaching experience, Melinda completed 200 hours of preliminary work in Astanga Yoga before receiving a 500-hour yoga teacher training certification from Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. She was one of the first yoga therapists in Florida to be certified as a yoga therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapists through their grandfathering process, documenting 2,100 hours of yoga therapy experience. Also a veteran high-school English teacher, Melinda early on recognized yoga’s ability to improve students’ focus and performance. The yoga curriculum she designed has been taught for more than a decade at a South Florida prep school. She also incorporated yoga as a form of cross-training for student athletic teams. Melinda developed the yoga component of the annual Chill Out program, helping middle and high school students relax and focus in preparation for the FCATs. AUM's Yoga Therapy Community Clinic provided me with a detailed set of yoga protocols and an amazing range of strategies for thriving. It's a true sanctuary devoted to integrative healing. As both a yoga instructor and a teacher, I was looking for a program to help me share the benefits of yoga with my special-needs students. AUM's Yoga Therapy program has exceeded my expectations. I am participating in the clinical program and am excited by the results after only two sessions. My instructor is wonderful and the Shala is a beautiful, serene place to have healing happen! I am so thankful for the help I am receiving. Feeling amazing after my last [yoga therapy] session, and was very happy to tell my best friend and family that I'm making great improvement. For the first time, I have reached my weight-loss goal, and I couldn't have done it without Melinda! She helped me get mentally focused and truly changed my life. I have so much to thank her for. If you think you have helped your body with a regular yoga class, yoga therapy will reshape your body and improve alignment and balance.