Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Agudo. She and her team share their story with us below:
Michelle is a firm believer in the healing and restorative power of yoga and meditation. She approaches the practice through loving-kindness and interconnectedness, which can then transcend into your day-to-day life. She encourages you to challenge yourself while listening to your body. A Miami native who recently returned back home from living in Ketchikan, Alaska for the last year and half. Michelle introduced mindfulness, different yoga styles, and sound healing to this little southeast Alaskan island during her residence there.
Michelle is an FIU alumni, her bachelor’s in psychology and Political Science guided her to find true purpose in helping others. From there, she proceeded on to complete a Master of Science degree in Forensic Psychology with NSU, and shortly after an E-RYT (Experience Registered Yoga Teacher) 200 in the Vinyasa-Ashtanga lineage; with 10 years of personal practice and 7 years of yoga teaching experience.
Michelle has worked in Public Health & Community Research with FIU, UD, UF, and NSU, for the last 12 years. The main emphasis have been, Epidemiology, HIV & Alcohol Research, Drug and Health Studies involving Criminal Justice and Sociology, Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, and the Evaluation of Youth Substance Use and Prevention Systems of Care.
She is also a certified Yin Yoga and Qigong Instructor. Which has paved a path to incorporate the benefits of slowing down as she guides a flow. She fuses sound healing in all her modalities of teaching with crystal quartz singing bowls. Michelle is currently in her Advanced Integrative Yoga 300hr YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) and Mindfulness Coaching Training. She has a Hatha Yoga background; practiced at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Bahamas. Also, completed various workshops with Bryan Kest creator of Power Yoga, and Kosta Miachin creator of Vikasa Yoga. Michelle is accredited by Yoga Alliance as a YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider).
Learning how to breathe through difficult moments showed her the true meaning of yoga and meditation. Being able to overcome obstacles with the breath, helped her become stronger. Physically and emotionally. Relating asanas (yoga poses) to situations of life, gave her the courage to see that nothing is impossible. She believes we are all worthy of anything we set our minds and souls to do.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been a necessarily smooth road, but it has been an adventurous one. Many lessons and growing pains. Some of the obstacles placed on my path guided me to he three words that changed my life and brought me deeper into the mindful path of yoga and meditation. “Be Here Now.” Living in the present moment. Having a parent with alcoholism, witnessing domestic violence as a child, experiencing codependency, abandonment, addiction, self-sabotage, and living with an anxiety disorder, being in the present seemed nearly impossible. My world was beginning and ending with one issue: how can I heal from my traumas? Some days, weeks, months, I’d feel empowered, and some I didn’t. I’ve always had an urge within me to help others, going with this feeling, I have been able to do so with love and compassion in my heart. Teaching opened doors to help me heal. I never thought that stepping into a role of service would support my healing as much as it has. As painful as some experiences have been I know I needed to live through them, to be who I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Specialization: Yoga, Mindfulness/Meditation, Sound Therapy/Healing, Yoga Psychology. My mission is to provide holistic wellness in the simplest form, by breathing, practicing yoga, learning new meditative modalities, healing through sound therapy, while feeling a sense of home, of a mindful commUNITY, in a sacred space.
I am most proud of taking the risk to leap into this path. It’s a blessing to do what you love and feel so much fulfillment. I’m also proud of all my students who show up for themselves and trust me to be their guide. Hearing their experiences, watching them evolve in their practice, fuels me so deeply. They are constant reminders of why I do what I do. What sets me apart from others is that I focus on providing a “yoga experience” instead of a “yoga class.” A space for transformation, an openness to learning about and loving yourself, if you allow it to be. Exploring personal responsibility, emotional intelligence, and a deeper connection to your mind, body, and soul.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Loving and connecting with others. When I am in a space of deep loving awareness, my heart is open, and I don’t close myself off to the world, that is when I am my happiest.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ompeaceyogi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ompeaceyogi/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTQP6oUI19p3AALsG5JN0fA
Image Credits
John Luke Calderon
