Ivins, UT

I have a little yoga secret which needs to be released to the universe: THE BEST yoga teacher is here in Southern Utah and her name is Elise Mitchell. 

Who knew?!  And…who knew our paths would cross?  

During the 13 years of my on-again-off-again yoga practice and learning from 8 different yoga teachers during those years, I’ve had the opportunity to experience different gifts and styles of teachers.   

Elise’s deep knowledge of yoga, coupled with extensive pre-med physiology knowledge, along with her compassion for individuals and “approachability” is an amazing and truly gifted combination. 

Recently, I ran into two other students of Elise’s at a community event and we all spontaneously gushed effusively about Elise’s abilities (“she’s such a great teacher”, “she really dials into my particular need”).  One of her many gifts includes helping each individual student with particular areas; all of us feeling her love, compassion and wisdom, and none of us feeling chagrined or “called out”. 

Hmmm, I thought, it’s definitely time to share this yoga secret with the world. 

Elise typically starts class with “Is there anything specific you want to work on?”.  In a recent class, my back was feeling achy and twisted, and with a history of back problems in my life I jump on it when I feel the slightest twinge. Elise effortlessly modified the class, its postures and poses, and my back unwound and stretched out, it was the big “ahhhhh”. 

The following week, Elise asked again if there was anything anyone wanted to work on. I kept silent because I felt the last class had been modified for my specific need.  Guess what? Three other students spoke up about their lower back! Guess what was even more impressive? Elise spontaneously developed an entirely separate curriculum of postures, poses and stretches for the lower back.   

Yes, it’s definitely time to share this yoga secret with the world. 

Namaste,
Gayle Bray
Ivins, Utah