📍 Update: Now teaching online from Vietnam. Private therapeutic sessions worldwide.

After 12 years in Bali, Maya is now based in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, where she continues to offer private Iyengar Yoga sessions, trauma release work, and holistic coaching—online and in person. Her global teaching journey continues, with regular guest teaching, workshops and retreats throughout Southeast Asia. Book your session by clicking the green WhatsApp button (mobile view) or DM Maya on Instagram @mayaiyengartherapeutics.

About Maya

Maya Michelle wears many hats, and she likes it that way. She is a multidisciplinary practitioner because healing is multidimensional—and because she carries the blood of many worlds.

Maya is a descendant of Caddoan and Indigenous Latin American peoples, as well as African and European lineages. She carries their resilience, and honors them by living with integrity—acknowledging that she does not speak for their traditions, only for her own experience of their legacy. This ancestral weave is part of why she speaks multiple languages, has lived in 6 countries, and shifts between disciplines with ease.

Quick Credentials:
✅ Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT)
✅ Trained under Senior Advanced Teacher Christian Pisano (direct student of BKS Iyengar)
✅ Studied at RIMYI, Pune with the Iyengar family
✅ 15+ years teaching experience
✅ Trauma Release & Metaphysical Anatomy Practitioner

As a Holistic Facilitator and Coach, Maya's varied interests and ability to master multiple skill sets might also be due to the fact that she was born left-handed, grew up ambidextrous, and moved from state to state in the USA before she turned 18. So maybe her brain works a bit differently. Or perhaps instead, as she discovered while living in Indonesia, contrary to the formative and rigid ideas of the USA and Europe, there are actually many people around the world who speak multiple languages and manage to excel and thrive through the competent and passionate expression of multiple disciplines.

Maya's insistence to pursue all of her interests began during her younger years. A graduate of Northwestern University, she began her studies with two years of Civil Engineering before pursuing her interests in Performance Studies and Communication Studies; while still spending all of her free time as a Health & Wellness Advocate, and as a student liaison and peer counselor for the NU Student Health Clinic.

She also served on the advisory board for Marriott Food Services, as a forerunner for insisting that university meals can be both tasty and nutritious. It's probably from this experience when her penchant for developing or revising menus for private homes and restaurants was first seeded. Maya also chaired the Student Health Aide Programs, taught CPR and first aid, and as a Peer Sex Educator, she led Sexual Health Education workshops and counseled survivors of Sexual Assault.

CIYT

Maya Michelle is a Certified Iyengar®Yoga Teacher with nearly two decades of rigorous training, study, and teaching experience. She's a student of Christian Pisano (Nice, France)—one of only two recipients worldwide to receive the Senior Advanced title from Yogacharya BKS Iyengar before his passing. Maya is passionate about her practice and fascinated by the body. She continued her practice and study directly with Dr Geetaji Iyengar in Pune at RIMYI, as well as online with Prashant Iyengar and at Iyengar Conferences. She's also followed professional development training programs with Iyengar Senior Teachers: Judith Adank and Carole Beillargeon, and trained for many years with June Whittaker, former President of the Teacher's Association at RIMYI in Pune.

"I bought a piano because I missed playing when I was younger. The first thing I noticed was that the reach in my hand wasn't what it used to be. I was disappointed and thought old age was finally imposing limits to my life. Maya gave me yoga hand stretches and in just one session, my hand extension was restored and my keystrokes were rapid again, just like during my younger days! I was shocked. I didn't know the body could change so quickly like that."

— Lenny, Singapore

About Iyengar Yoga

Mr. Iyengar created a rigorous certification process for CIYTs which was not comparable with Yoga Alliance. At the time of Maya's training, the certification process for Iyengar Yoga Teachers might instead have been compared to a Master's or Doctoral Program.

Prospective students must apply for admission to the teacher training program, which included proof of a minimum 3 years consecutive practice and recommendation from a CIYT who had followed and can verify their practice during that time. Upon approval, the candidate must then pass an entry examination, a final assessment for program admission.

Once the candidate was accepted to the teacher training program, which was a three-year program, the candidate must then pass 2 rigorous assessments that were critiqued by 3 outside examiners, who were not teachers from the training program. If the candidate passed their first assessment, the certification Intermediate 1 was valid only for 1 year. To become a CIYT, the candidate must continue the 3-year program, prepare for and pass the second assessment.

After an Iyengar Teacher achieved Intermediate 2 certification, they continued studying and apprenticing with Senior CIYTs, which might be compared to CEUs or continuing education credits for professionals with Master Degrees.

In addition to Iyengar Yoga, Maya is also a trauma release practitioner and nutrition coach. As a Holistic Facilitator and Coach, she's spent more than two decades teaching and encouraging others to reconnect with their health and re-establish well-being. Practicing with a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher (CIYT) is an excellent way to understand, release and/or manage specified physical and mental injury or pain, to take charge of your health, correct misalignments in the mind and body, and to improve one's general overall mind-body disposition.

Explore Iyengar Yoga Therapy →

Book a free 20-min consult to see if private Iyengar therapy is right for you.
Click the floating green WhatsApp button (hand phone view) to text
DM Maya on Instagram @mayaiyengartherapeutics
email at info [at] mindbodysoulretreats [dot] org

"Sessions with Maya Michelle are well worth the investment. In a world where yoga retreats and trainings are taught by people with a mere basic understanding of yoga poses, the depth and quality of her teaching cannot compare with the bare 200 or 800 hour YTT that anyone can buy."

— Mathias, Firenze

Healing Stress & Trauma

As a trauma release practitioner, Maya listens deeply to her clients. She understands that the most important part of trauma release and emotional processing is being witnessed, held safely and listened to. She applies multi-modality techniques, whatever is appropriate for the session, to aid her clients in experiencing relief, while decluttering the conscious and subconscious mind. She's a certified practitioner of Usui Reiki, 8-Breath Pranayama, Trauma Release, Metaphysical Anatomy Technique, NLP, Hypnosis, and Source Awakening.

Maya has a gentle and very subtle touch, while utilizing a very incisive intuition. She combines all of her knowledge gained through decades of studying and practice, helping her clients find the safe space needed to process completely what is buried, but is still affecting the trajectory of life. With sensitivity and skill, Maya competently and carefully assists clients in seeing beyond the symptoms and addressing the core root of their problems.

Explore Trauma & Somatic Healing →

"Maya guides me compassionately, working and nurturing all areas together. This has allowed me to finally move forward without any resistance. The white light energy work she uses is so powerful in assisting in healing the deepest most hidden blockages and I felt safe as we did so. Maya genuinely cares and is completely non-judgmental. I always feel safe, inspired and gently encouraged during the sessions. Maya is patient and comes from a heart-centered, magical soul place. I'm so grateful to be able to work with this amazing woman. I'd recommend her to anyone who is ready to clear the blocks and heal traumas to move forward powerfully in their life."

— Danielle, Melbourne

Soulful Nutrition

As a health, wellness and nutrition coach, Maya is aware that no one diet is right for everyone. While she used to be very opinionated about food, and has been plant-based for over 25 years, Maya understands that food choices are personal and must be respected. Maya has spent years working with clients with their unique goals to establish their desired weight and maintain it or to transition their diets into plant-based, vegan, vegetarian, raw, or gluten-free.

Maya understands that each person has their own relationship and journey with food. Diet and nourishment is dependent upon a variety of lifestyle factors. Her own fasting routines spanning from 1 to 28 days have helped her to fully integrate this understanding. Maya understands that no two people are alike, and that we each have our own unique biome. From this perspective she helps her clients to figure out their own personal culture of eating. She informs clients of how food can be medicine or poison for themselves, empowering them with the knowledge of their own unique bodies. Maya gently guides clients into establishing their unique food lifestyle, one that gives energy and pleasure, one that supports their needs and their goals.

Explore Soulful Nutrition →

Pathway to Healing

Maya Michelle's pathway to healing began after years of suffering from chronic illness and body aches and finding little to no relief or solution from allopathic medicine. That's what led her to uniquely combine yoga, breathwork, trauma release and nutrition, as a Holistic Facilitator and Coach.

A road accident brought her to study Tai Chi Chuan and also led her to an NSA Chiropractor, who sent her to Iyengar Yoga. Asthma and chronic sinusitis paved the way for her to study Pranayama, creating dramatic changes to her personality and temperament, her health, her work and her relationships. Excess candida and chronic constipation guided her to an alternative Internal Medicine Doctor, Family Constellations and Integrated Nutrition. Heartache after the end of a 16-year partnership led her to the Sacred Lands of Peru and Bali.

Her travels and physical and emotional setbacks have each facilitated her understanding that healing paths are individual and unfold true to their own design. As such, she combines the wisdom of both Eastern and Western science, tradition and ancient philosophy to create unique programs that complement each healing journey and inspire long term transformation.

Retreats

Often mixing methods in ways that honor the unique needs of each client, Maya has been teaching classes, coaching and facilitating retreats, bootcamps and workshops since 2010 in France, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Australia and Bali. She has worked with many personal development coaches on a variety of retreats with many themes including but not limited to:

  • Vegan, vegetarian, local and raw food
  • Fasting, cleansing
  • Men's personal development and healing
  • Women's personal development and healing
  • Usui Reiki & Theta Healing
  • Metaphysical Anatomy Technique
  • Balinese Sacred Healing
  • Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
  • Hypnosis Therapy
  • Sacred Indigenous Medicinal Journeys
  • Family Constellations

With over 20 years experience in health and wellness, combined with her Iyengar background, Maya weaves unique retreat programs, workshops, individual healing sessions, nutritional programs and yoga sequences that engage clients to reach their fullest potential. She takes you deep into your own personal retreat to reconnect and align you with yourself with clarity, and guiding you with careful intention and focus, to actualize your vision of peace, ease, and passion.

Explore Retreat Facilitation →

Degrees, Trainings & Certifications

Emotional Stress & Trauma Recovery

  • 2020 Trauma Release Teacher-Trainer. Metaphysical Anatomy Process with Evette Rose. Bali, Indonesia
  • 2015 Trauma Release Practitioner Levels 1 & 2. Metaphysical Anatomy Process with Evette Rose. Bali, Indonesia
  • 2014 Guided Soul Journeying, Healing, Meditation & Sacred Balinese Ceremony. Source Awakening with Errol Campbell. Bali, Indonesia
  • 2013 First Degree Initiation, Usui System of Reiki. Usui Reiki Universal Life Energy with Cat Wheeler. Bali, Indonesia
  • 2010 Master Life Coach. Success NLP & Hypnosis Academy with Roy Martina, MD. Eindhoven, Netherlands
  • 2010 Neurolinguistic Programming and Hypnotherapy. Success NLP & Hypnosis Academy with Roy Martina, MD. Eindhoven, Netherlands
  • 1995 Communication Studies & Performance Studies, Bachelor of Science. Northwestern University. Evanston, IL, USA
  • 1992 Counseling Victims of Sexual Assault with Jamie Jimenez. Survivors of Sexual Assault Support Training. Northwestern University. Chicago, IL, USA

Iyengar Yoga

  • 2025 BKS Iyengar Yoga Shala — Retreat with Nandakumar, Senior Teacher | Hue, Vietnam
  • 2025 Vietnam Iyengar Yoga Association — Workshop with Nandakumar, Senior Teacher | Đà Nẵng, Vietnam
  • 2022 Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) - Online Classes with Sri Prashant S. Iyengar | Pune, India
  • 2019 Iyengar Professional Development — Junior Intermediate I Teacher Trainings with Olop Arpipi, Senior Teacher | Bali, Indonesia
  • 2013-2019 Bali Iyengar Yoga Studio— Weekly Iyengar Classes with Olop Arpipi, Senior Teacher | Bali, Indonesia
  • 2015-2017 Bali Iyengar Yoga Studio— Iyengar Workshops and Retreats with Judith Adank, Senior Teacher | Bali, Indonesia
  • 2015 Iyengar Professional Development — Junior Intermediate I & II Teacher Training with Carole Beillargeon, Senior Teacher | Bali, Indonesia
  • 2014 Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) — Yoganusasanam with Dr. Geeta S. Iyengar | Pune, India
  • 2013 Anuttara Institut de Yoga Iyengar — Certified Iyengar® Yoga Instructor, Introductory II with Christian Pisano, Senior Advanced & June Whittaker, Senior 3 Teacher | Nice, France
  • 2012 Association Française de Yoga Iyengar — Yoga Iyengar Convention Nationale with Senior Iyengar Teachers from RIMYI including Abhijata S. Iyengar & Dr. Rajlaxmi Nidmarti | Nanterre, France
  • 2011-2013 Anuttara Institut de Yoga Iyengar — Iyengar Teaching Apprenticeship with Christian Pisano, Senior Advanced & June Whittaker, Senior 3 Teacher | Nice, France
  • 2008-2013 Anuttara Institut de Yoga Iyengar — Daily Iyengar Yoga Classes with Christian Pisano, Senior Advanced & June Whittaker, Senior 3 Teacher | Nice, France
  • 2007-2008 Milano Instituto di Yoga Iyengar — Weekly Iyengar Yoga Classes with Eugenia Dalla Valle, Senior Teacher | Milan, Italy

Iyengar Yoga Teaching Experience

  • 2013-Present Italy, France, Bali, USA, Peru, Ecuador, Australia, Vietnam — Private one-on-one instruction. Online sessions. Small group classes, workshops and retreats for 6-12 participants. Instruction for Levels 1, 2, 3 Iyengar Yoga practitioners. Syllabus: Intro I/II.
  • 2026 Bali, Indonesia — Workshops. The Pathway Inwards with Forward Extensions.
  • 2026 Saigon, Vietnam — Guest Teacher for general classes. Workshop for Iyengar Teachers: What You Cannot See: Mastering Back Extensions.
  • 2025-2026 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — BKS Iyengar Yoga Shala — Visiting Teacher. Workshops & General Classes. Senior Gentle, Restorative, and Preliminary classes.
  • 2015-2024 Sanur, Bali, Indonesia — Iyengar Studio Tandjung Sari — Instruction for Levels 1, 2, 3 Iyengar Yoga practitioners. Syllabus: Intro I/II and Junior I/II. Weekly classes for 10-20 students.
  • 2015-2019 Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia — Iyengar Yoga Studio — Substitute teacher for Olop Arpipi, Senior Teacher. Instruction for Levels 2 and 3 Iyengar Yoga practitioners. Syllabus: Intro I/II and Junior I/II. Weekly classes with 20-30 students.
  • 2014 Ubud, Bali, Indonesia — The Yoga Barn — Instruction for Level 1 Iyengar Yoga. Friday classes for 60 participants.
  • 2013 Ubud, Bali, Indonesia — Radiantly Alive — Instruction for Level 1 Iyengar Yoga. Weekly classes for 15-20 participants.
  • 2011-2013 Nice, France — Anuttara Institut de Yoga Iyengar — Instruction for Level 1 Iyengar Yoga practitioners. Syllabus: Intro I/II. Weekly classes for up to 25 students.

Iyengar Yoga Certifications

  • Registered Teacher, Vietnam Iyengar Yoga Association (VIYA) | 2025-Present
  • Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT), Introductory II | 2013-Present
  • Registered Teacher, Bali Iyengar Yoga Association | 2016-2019
  • Registered Teacher, Indonesia Iyengar Yoga Association | 2015
  • Registered Teacher, Association Française de Yoga Iyengar (AFYI) | 2012-2013
  • Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT), Introductory I | 2012
  • Registered, Association Française de Yoga Iyengar (AFYI) | 2010-2011

Mind Body Studies

  • 2012 Body Balancing Biodynamic Massage Therapy. Shiastu Scuola, Osho Divine Healing Arts. Milan, ITALY
  • 2010 Ayurvedic, Swedish, Shiatsu techniques (200 hours). Relaxation Massage Therapy with Marc Nouvellot. Nice, FRANCE
  • 2007-2008 Chiropractic Therapy, Network Spinal Analysis with Dr Daniel Blewitt. Milan, ITALY
  • 2007 Pranayama Breathing Techniques Ashram Delhi, India. Eight Tradition Pranayama with Sushma Kanwar. Milan, ITALY
  • 2007 1st Classification, Grand Gala Tai Chi Chuan Yang Style. 11th Annual Tai Chi Festival. Professional Wushu Kung Fu Association. Belgioioso, ITALY
  • 2004-2007 5th Level Ji, Tai Chi Chuan Yang Style. Professional Wushu Kung Fu Association with Diego Zanon & Walter Lorini. Milan, ITALY

Nutrition & Health Sciences

  • 2011 Nutrition & Health Coach, Specialization: Holistic Nutrition. Institute of Integrative Nutrition. New York, NY, USA
  • 1996 Emergency Medical Technician, EMTB Ambulance Emergency Care. State of Illinois Department of Health. Chicago, IL, USA
  • 1995 Communication Studies & Performance Studies, Bachelor of Science. Northwestern University. Evanston, IL, USA
  • 1994 NU Health Services Peer Sexual Educator with Annann Hong. Northwestern University. Chicago, IL, USA
  • 1993 American College Health Association. Annual Wellness Conference. Student Representative for Northwestern University. Baltimore, MD, USA
  • 1992 CPR Instructor-Trainer with Patti Luben. American Heart Association. Northwestern University. Chicago, IL, USA
  • 1991 CPR & First Aid with Patti Luben. American Heart Association. Northwestern University. Chicago, IL, USA

Not sure where to start? Book a free 20-min consult and we'll find the right path for you.
Click the floating green WhatsApp button (hand phone view) to text
DM Maya on Instagram @mayaiyengartherapeutics
email at info [at] mindbodysoulretreats [dot] org