Melissa Martinez

About Melissa Martinez

Mel's the owner and creator of the school along with her husband, Dan Chauvin. Together they own Temple Yoga Reno, a yoga studio on California Ave. in their favorite part of Reno--a place they call hOMe. Mel's classes are thoughtful and considerate of all-levels of students. She thinks that the hardest part of yoga class is getting there. Practicing yoga with precision and mindfulness is her key to a life-long sustainable yoga practice. She has taught yoga trainings since 2013 and has collaborated with inspired teachers from across the globe.  

Feeling compelled and driven to give back what yoga has given to me, I aligned with yoga. I showed up on my mat and created a regular practice for nine years before I took my first yoga training. I took my first training with Bikram in 2007 (500+ hours) and taught that series full-time for three years. Then, I experienced Rusty Wells class in San Francisco and the chanting in that room combined with the physical yoga changed my life. After that class, I completed his 300-hour Bhakti Flow teacher training and began teaching Bhakti Flow. During this time, I found Janet Stone and her school inspired me to go on and study another 1,000+ hours all over the world, India, Mexico, Zen monasteries, Greece, and every chance I can, I sit with my teacher wherever she sits. The student teacher relationship that I have with my teacher is lovely. I teach from her offerings and consider her to be one of my greatest mentors. 

Having had so much teacher training experience and longing for a deeper connection with my students, I created this school, We Are One RYTT. The school has brought new life into our community. From the school came many of the teachers you practice with in our small town today.

My intention is pure. I’ve tested it again and again. When I show up, I’m there to serve. The practice of teaching is one way I offer service into the world. I’m a terrible cook so, if I can’t feed the world, I can use my voice. I want to use my voice in a way that helps others. Insert here that we are all working on less harm. My relationships in life show me where I’m contracted and yoga helps me to expand again and again. Teaching yoga won’t make us enlightened beings. It’s the moment-to-moment, the push and pull, the give and take, the day-to-day. This is my sankalpa. All of my arrows point one way and it’s been that way from the very first yoga class that I took.