Michael began his yoga journey while in grad school in 2014 when he desperately needed a way to relax and disconnect during his Master’s program. Discovering year after year the ways in which he can move and be present in his body developed into a passion and advocacy for the benefits of yoga for health, wellness, mental clarity, and finding community. Michael believes in the power of yoga to help with mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, addiction, and trauma, including helping to heal the mind-body connection that can be severed by trauma.

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Michael completed his 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2022 through Charlotte Family Yoga Center under Vicie Moran and Kara Vincent. His practice style is primarily Vinyasa-based from the Desikachar and Baptiste traditions which combines mindful, flowing movement with intentional breath.

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Outside of yoga, Michael is a licensed mental health therapist working in private practice at BlueStone Psychotherapy in Cornelius, NC. He has a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UNC Charlotte and has lived in Charlotte since 2008. Originally from Waynesville, NC, Michael loves spending time with wife Hayley, their toy poodle, Bilbo, being outside worshiping the sun, creating costumes and generally being a huge nerd at comicons as many weekends as he can!