The founder of Heart and Soul Exercise Method is Merissa Lynn Manley. Born and raised in the small town of Stockton California, Merissa grew deep roots in movement from an early age. Although she resides in the boutique mountain town of Asheville, NC. her method carries with it, tropical Island spirit.
Dance
Her love of movement began, literally in her mother’s womb. Her mother not only taught aerobic classes while pregnant, but also allowed merissa to take classes in the back of the gym studios where she taught. This fueled a desire in Merissa to start dance classes. At the age of 5 until the age of about 15, Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and eventually being selected for a performing dance company at Hot Shoe Dance Company, instilled a deep foundational love and technique for this beloved art form. Countless recitals, performances, and dedication went into developing her dance technique.
Other dance credits include:
Troupe Cabana: A touring Broadway Review, Singing and Dancing Group. Christmas Shows at the Heritage Theater in Lodi to Summer Weeks In Hawaii on the island of Oahu. Treasured memories she will hold in her heart forever.
5 Til’ Midnight: Bob Fosse Dance Review with a cast of 5. Directed by now New York director and choreographer Aaron Salazar.
Theater Arts:
Merissa’s love of dance sparked a performance desire to move into Theater Arts. At the age of 10, she began TAP at The University of the Pacific in Stockton, Ca. Theater Arts Project for youth. Learning voice, Shakespeare, arts and crafts, as well as how to act in a company onstage, set her sail into acting and musical theater. In her second year she landed the lead role in the original musical by Matt Castle, Unstrung as a good witch, Goodwyn and Evil Witch, Evilyn. After 3 years in Children’s theater, and then entering into high school, her call to the stage beckoned even more.
The next chapter in high school was a hyperbole of going from educational studies for her diploma, to theater class after school working on the next show, to dance classes on some evenings… While also juggling SCT: Stockton Civic Theater Community Musicals here and there. Working closely with the amazing Miss Judy (drama teacher) and Terry (set designer), she was taught well in how to bring a story to life for an audience onstage.
Stagg High School shows include: Fiddler On The Roof (Bottle Dancer and Chorus), The Diary Of Anne Frank (supporting role of Mrs. Frank), The Vampire (supporting role of Lydia), Once Upon A Mattress (Dancing Nightingale of Samarkand and Chorus), Rumours (lead role of Linda), Black Comedy (lead role of Audrey), Footloose (lead dancer) and Sweet Charity (lead role of Charity Hope Valentine).
SCT (Stockton Civic Theater): Crazy For You (Follies Girl), Anything Goes (Chorus & Angel Understudy), Rainbow Goblins by New Dance Company as a Purple Goblin.
San Joaquin Delta College: Oliver! (Cameo of The Nurse).
Smiler’s Comedy Playhouse Dinner Theater: Original play British Farce There She Goes (lead character).
Other Endeavors:
ArtsWorksYes! summer movement arts program for children with New Dance Company. Assistant and choreographer for classes and end of summer showcase.
Mable Baron Elementary: Choreographer for the children’s theater musical Annie.
The Nutcracker Regional Performance (cast as governess, but had to resign because of exhaustion with too many shows with too many companies at once).
B.A in Theater Arts: Lighting Design, Sound Design, Acting, Directing, Film, Voice Movement, Musical Theater, Shakespeare, Music Theory, Voice Singing, Jazz dance, Set Design, Tap dance, Contemporary dance, and Journalism, all from Hollywood, Broadway, and lead teachers in their field of expertise.
Yoga
While graduating and starting a career in Wedding/Event Planning, Merissa’s next chapter in movement study came from a deep desire to build grounding, confidence, and to lose weight. She began yoga in her voice movement classes. As time went on, she noticed transformations in how she felt. Strength, consistency, confidence, relieved anxiety, feeling happier in her life, as well as a deeper sense of authenticity flourished over the years. Merissa went on to practice many styles of yoga for 7 years or so before becoming a certified teacher.
Styles practiced over 22 years: Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Restorative, Jivamukti, Yin, Power Yoga, Chair Yoga, and Hatha.
Becoming a 300hr Certified yoga teacher in Rhinbeck, NY at the Omega Institute was nothing short of magical. Working with International Teachers, top in their Industry for a 21 day intensive training lit a burning desire to someday own her own studio. Later doing an apprenticeship in Charleston, SC was icing on the cake. Really delving deeply into all things yoga.
Teaching Yoga and/or Merissa’s method: Jivamukti (yoga), The Yoga House (yoga), Bella Forza Mind Body Studio (yoga), Shakti Body (method and yoga), Yoga Center (yoga), Crunch Fitness (method), Inshape (method and yoga). And in Private homes with many clients.
Fitness
From step aerobics in sweaty gyms to Club Pilates to online studio classes with the Tracy Anderson Method, Merissa has learned how to sculpt the body from going to classes, study, research, and observation over decades.
Nutrition
Merissa became vegetarian in college after 6 months of practicing yoga. 5 years later becoming vegan in 2010. She has been vegan ever since and for nearly 15 years. Occasionally she has some cheese, but other than that, vegan. After becoming vegan she has explored Ayurveda (without consuming dairy), Mediterranean influences, as well as eating for your chakras through feeling what your body needs. Cooking is a passion of Merissa’s and so is food. “There is nothing better than gathering with friends and family, chatting, while enjoying a delicious meal together around the table.”
Other Certificates in the
Healing Arts:
DNA Theta (heart) healing, Reiki One Certified, Crystal Healing Workshop, 100 hr Buddhist Vipassana Meditation Course in Jesup, Georgia, and a Wellness Studio in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
On The Horizon
Her next venture is to share Heart and Soul Exercise Method to clients online through an online studio subscription. From there, perhaps a wellness cookbook entitled: Wellness Love Cookbook: Seasonal Healthy Meals for the Whole Family, and maybe even an in-person studio someday.
“I hope my method helps people look and feel their best with deep heart healing and a rockin’ body. Working out can be fun, especially when you have something to work on, like technique. My online studio will offer videos and content that will help you move into wholeness with exercise momentum and recovery.”