MELINDA DOWNING A friend once described Melinda as a Renaissance Woman and although she knows this is a huge compliment she also realizes it's another way of saying she can't sit still. When she's not teaching yoga, she can be found in her studio painting, making jewelry, designing a web site, sewing or working on a mosaic, but more than likely she will be on a photo shoot with her Canon 5D or on her computer editing images in photoshop. Visit her website and blog at melindadowning.com. You also might find her hanging out with her kids, Marilyn & Max or doing the crossword with Michael. This self-proclaimed project monster and recovering workaholic knows first-hand how stress can settle into the body. Yoga is an important part of maintaining balance in her chaotic life and she feels yoga, meditation and massage are essentials. The goal in her restorative yin class is to create a place of serenity, so that for seventy five minutes you can escape from the world, completely letting go. In her Skinny Buddha classes, she will motivate you to move and inspire you to look and feel fabulous by making good food choices. Melinda has studied Thai Yoga Massage with Saul David Raye, Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers, Therapeutic Yoga with Cheri Clampett and Anusara style yoga with Martin & Jordan Kirk. She continues to learn about yoga each day from her partner and inspiration Michael Downing.