Founder of Heart and Soul Method (tm)
Founder of Heart and Soul Hatha Vinyasa Flow
300hr Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher with 450 in apprenticeship hours
20 years as a Yoga Practitioner
14 years as a Cerified Yoga Teacher
14 years in a vegan wellness lifestyle
12 Years Plus in Dance, Theater, and Music Experience: Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Musical Theater etc
Over 25 years in various modalities of movement
Choreographer & Lead Teacher for Children’s Musical Theater/Dance after school program ARTSWORKS YES! (Summer program)
100hr Vipassana Buddhist Meditation Retreat
Reiki 1 Energy Healing Certified
DNA Theta Healing Certified
2 Years as a Wedding/Event Coordinator/Private Event Manager
B.A in Theater Arts
Merissa Manley
Merissa Manley has been teaching yoga for nearly 14 years in group, private, and luxury settings from the East Coast to the West Coast and internationally with a 300hr certificate from Jivamukti Yoga New York as well as thousands of hours in apprenticeship with Jivamukti Yoga Charleston, SC. She has been practicing yoga for 20 years in various methods/styles such as: Ashtanga, Yin, Vinyasa Flow, Jivamukti, Prana Flow, Restorative, Power Yoga, Hatha, Hot Yoga and many other types of yoga at festivals as well as workshops. Pilates and Fitness have also been practiced over the years to develope form and technique.
Her love of dance (Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hiphop, Salsa, Musical Theater etc), yoga, and movement catapulted Merissa’s career in 2013 by creating a cutting edge new hybrid form of movement called Heart and Soul Method (tm), blending Hatha Vinyasa Flow, Dance Movement, and Fitness Fusion Technique. Founded in 2013, she was one the first to introduce different movement modalities into one class. Students agree that the presence of Merissa’s Method is unique and a true treasure.
Merissa’s dance journey began at the age of 5 years old when her parents saw her deep desire to be onstage performing to live audiences. Musical theater, music, acting and dance ran in the family, so naturally it seemed meant to be. Then, at the age of 10, she asked her father to sign her up for acting in a summer youth program, which he did. Landing supporting roles and the lead in the first two years of the TAP youth program, showed she had a knack for performing on stage. Over the years she went on to do many plays, musical theater shows, dinner theater, and a musical theater Broadway style variety show dance troupe. She performed in youth groups, high school, college, and professionally in Hollywood doing extra film work. With a B.A. in Theater Arts from CSUF and over 25 years experience in Yoga, dance, theater, fitness, music, voice, wedding event planning, healing arts, meta-physics, Ayurveda, and teaching, creating Heart and Soul Method (tm) was a progressive natural evolution.
As Merissa’s career has evolved over time, learning deep Vipassana Buddhist Mediation, DNA Theta Healing, Reiki, and the art of asana assists, she has strengthened her energetic quantum therapeutic healing vibration. Clients continue to comment on her deep healing touch assists in her classes, which Merissa says is a deep connection feeling of love and compassion to one’s fellow human being in a professional way. Of wanting her practitioners to feel less pain, more contentment, and more ease within’ their bodies.
“Dance isn’t for everyone within’ a yoga class. But, for some, it is. For those that want to expand their knowledge of movement, to feel the music, to be apart of the music through dance with cute, fun, sexy sequenced choreography, Heart and Sould Method is definitely the method for them.”
Moving forward, she is currently working on a hardcover book called Heart and Soul for Body. Breath. Music. Movement. Online classes and practices will be offered alongside of her book which she is pursuing to publish at some point. Until then, you can take virtual classes, in-person classes, retreats, and teacher trainings simply by signing up. Merissa is also quite passionate about wanting to help more with environmental planet initiatives, philanthropy, and supporting leaders who believe in deep compassion as a huge asset to offer this world.
Merissa dreams of owning her own Wellness Boutique and Movement Studio someday called Heart & Soul Method Studio. She is currently seeking large donations from benefactors to raise $200,000 or more to move forward with this venture. Designed to include movement classes, wellness things/yoga/movement/fitness/dance apparel etc, packaged vegan organic plant based offerings, Heart and Soul Ayurveda Elixirs, Plant- based cooking classes, master class events, yoga/dance/movement workshops with inspiring speakers, and small musical concert gatherings. To donate, please click the button below. You will receive a thank you letter outlining what your donation will go towards for this project.