ABOUT MELISSA

Melissa is a yoga instructor (RYT-500) and Reiki Practitioner based in Los Angeles, California. She completed both her 200-hour and 300-hour teacher training through YogaWorks Los Angeles, studying under David Lynch and Jorge Luna; and completed Therapeutics Teacher Training at the Green Yogi Manhattan Beach under Chelsea Rothert and Wendy Garafalo. 

Melissa has taught vinyasa flow, hatha, yin and restorative yoga since 2014 for various yoga, wellness, and fitness studios, private students, corporate clients, and led a yoga retreat to the Big Island of Hawaii. Melissa completed her Usui Reiki Master Training in 2021. As a host/ facilitator of Women's Circles, Melissa is passionate about empowering women to connect with their Divine Feminine energy, inner beauty and radiance, and self-love; bringing people together as community; and is humbled by the practice of yoga which is a constant, beautiful reminder of change, self awareness, and being true to ourselves.

Melissa was born and raised in Torrance, California and educated at The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), American University of Paris, and La Sorbonne.

After returning from Paris, France, she originally started practicing yoga for fitness reasons, but quickly realized it was also so beneficial to re-center herself mentally and emotionally during this transitionary period of her life. Melissa loved the mind-body connection, and the worry-free bliss after a great Savasana. However, it wasn't until Melissa started consistently practicing with John Neidlinger at YogaWorks South Bay that she truly fell in love with this practice.

“His classes were challenging- there were many times I wanted to physically "give up" or come out of a difficult pose, but when I allowed myself to stay just one breath longer, I learned how mentally strong I was. Over time, 1 breath longer became 10, and those poses I thought I'd never be able to do, became familiar and a welcomed challenge.”, says Melissa.

In 2013, Melissa decided to do her first 200 Hour Teacher Training at YogaWorks South Bay with David Lynch and Jorge Luna. At that time, she had no anticipation to teach at all, she simply wanted to deepen her practice. However, David and Jorge encouraged Melissa to give it a shot, and she is so very grateful they did. 

After graduating from the 200 Hour Program, Melissa began teaching a weekly Vinyasa Flow class in Redondo Beach. 

From there, Melissa continued her yoga education with a Therapeutics Teacher Training in 2014 with Wendy Garafalo and Chelsea Rothert at the Green Yogi Manhattan Beach. This training provided further practical training and modifications for injury management, chronic conditions, pregnancy, and yin/restorative instruction. 

Finally, in 2015, Melissa completed the 300 Hours Professional Program through YogaWorks Los Angeles, under the mentorship of David Lynch.

In 2018, Melissa co-led a Sold-Out Yoga Retreat to the Big Island of Hawaii, alongside her dear friend and fellow yoga instructor colleague, Kalina Salvador.

In 2021, Melissa completed her Usui Reiki Master Training with Sonya Arias.

“I hope to pass on the gift of yoga to my students just as my inspiring instructors have done for me. I hope to provide a space for grounding and centering, self awareness, self confidence, self-love, and spiritual growth.”

Photos copy right of melissa okabe,

Professional Photo Credit: Kevin Nakasone