Our yoga teachers bring life to Nest Yoga. Each teacher is passionate, welcoming and unique. Some have been teaching yoga for decades while others have been instructing for a few years. Because of their desire to learn, we are able to offer a variety of classes including SmartFLOW® Yoga, Yoga Tune Up®, Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Restorative and Yin Yoga, Egoscue Method, Yoga for People with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions and Meditation.

Nest Yoga is thrilled to have Melina Meza on the team! She joined us after the unfortunate closing of Namaste Yoga. Melina has been teaching yoga since 1997 and created Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga, a holistic approach focusing on diet, lifestyle and yoga that moves with the seasons. You can learn more about Melina’s upcoming workshop with Nest Yoga here: Winter Seasonal Health and Wellness – Change Your Life One Week At A Time.

Tell us about yourself. Anything you want the Nest community to know.

I moved to the East Bay about 8 years ago after living in Seattle for most of my adult life. I am so grateful for the weather in Oakland, the diversity, and the variety of avocados at the farmer’s markets! I started teaching yoga almost 25 years ago and have enjoyed teaching weekly classes, workshops, teacher trainings, retreats, and now Seasonal Health and Wellness Programs (next one starts December 4, 2020).

In addition to my love for yoga, Ayurveda, seasonal foods, music, hiking/biking/tennis, community and my husband, I am a photographer! In my free time, I’m usually dreaming up some place to visit with color, texture, or water to play with reflections.

Check out Melina’s photography here: Melina Meza

What style of yoga do you teach? Why did you choose this method or style?

I teach mostly Gentle, Yin and Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga classes. I love the Gentle style classes right now because they attract people who like to practice the way I do! I think I originally started shifting to more Gentle style classes when I had back issues and started doing PT about 10 years ago. Before that...I taught pretty strong flow classes and Yin. As an aging yogini, Gentle is what I crave and feels like the kind of yoga I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. I”m sold!

The Seasonal Yoga classes or workshops are my specialty. In a typical Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga session, I weave in asanas, the wisdom of Ayurveda, healthy lifestyle tips, nutrition and seasonal dharma (truth). I truly believe nature heals and the more we align our lifestyle with her, the healthier we will be. My greatest joy comes from teaching people to reconnect to their environment and the gifts each season brings.

I do Yin Yoga PopUps and enjoy this style of practice because it feels like a bridge to me between asana and meditation. Yin classes also give me a great excuse to read poetry and share yoga philosophy relevant to our times.

If you could instantly become an expert in something what would it be?

Guitar

What are three things still left on your bucket list?

Hike the full P.C.T. (it doesn’t have to be all at once)

Have a solo photography show in a beautiful gallery

Host a Yoga and Photography Retreat

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?

A few years ago we took a yoga group to India and were treated to a puppet show at the PALACE we were staying at. The content took us all by surprise and we laughed until we cried. You had to be there!

What are you currently reading, watching or listening to?

Reading The Overstory by Richard Powers

Watching - Just finished, The Queen’s Gambit and loved it!

Listening to: Lady Gaga/Fiona Apple, Sturgill (Cuttin’ Grass) Simpson, Women Sing Tom Waits, and East West for yoga (Prana)

What do you love most about your hometown?

I grew up in Pacific Grove California and love the OCEAN! Asilomar beach at sunset is the best.

Flashback to when you were 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A cook - Mexican food

What are you happiest doing when you’re not working?

Outside taking photographs

If you had one day to live over again, what would you pick?

I’ve been blessed with too many incredible days to pick just one!!!