Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner is an E-RYT, a certified registered Yoga Instructor with Yoga Alliance. She is also a certified Yoga Therapist in the Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy tradition working with clients one on one to help create emotional, mental and physical release through yoga.

In 1999 Michelle was diagnosed with cancer. With a physical yoga practice already in place she embraced yoga further as a means to help heal her body and mind while fighting illness. She credits her yoga practice as one of the main reasons for being cancer-free today and is grateful for the balance it creates in all aspects of her life. Her passion and curiosity for yoga, along with her personal experience of transformation, transfers to the classroom where she encourages students to practice mindfully and to be curious about their own journey and the sensations that arise on and off the mat. Her teaching style guides her students to find their own path of self-awareness with yoga, through listening and feeling, which she believes ultimately empowers her students.

In 2005, Michelle was trained and certified in the 250-hour Atmananda Yoga Sequence in New York City under the instruction of Atmananda Creator Jhon Tamayo. Atmananda Yoga is a 69-asana vinyasa sequence inspired by Ashtanga with Iyengar alignment. Her training in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy required over 750 hours of study and four residentials in Bristol,Vermont with her teachers Karen Hasskarl and Elissa Cobb. Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy is a deeper engagement with yoga allowing the client to explore mental, emotional, and physical patterns that are often times veiled in our hectic and busy lives. In addition to working with clients individually with Yoga Therapy, Michelle also provides Vibrational Healing as a Reiki II & Tuning Fork practitioner.

Michelle volunteers her time with local Iyengar Yoga Instructor and author, Matthew Sanford, teaching yoga to those who live with disabilities and is actively involved in the Adaptive Yoga Teacher’s Group through Mind Body Solutions in Minnetonka. Michelle’s work with Matt has allowed her to uncover an even deeper listening in her own body and practice as well as in her teaching.