Open Studio

Open Studio is a welcoming and vibrant platform for classes and connection around yoga. I’m Mel Walbridge, and I started Open Studio in March, 2020 when my go-go-go New York yoga teaching life suddenly shifted online. With Open Studio, I sought to create a virtual space for my classes that mirrors my approach to yoga: exploratory, joyous, inviting and grounding. I hope you feel the same after perusing Open Studio and joining me in class!


Class

In my classes, I create a calm yet focused container for your personal practice. I often incorporate an athletic flow and dynamic breath as a means to access a more subtle, internal awakening. Having come from the fast-paced world of New York City, I present tools for you to land and find presence, despite what may be happening around you. I offer classes in a range of styles and durations, but always invite an air of lightness and joy to permeate my teaching. To me, yoga is a tool for deeper embodiment, both physically and emotionally. I offer small group and private classes, and I’m always looking for suggestions on what you’re looking for in class. If you have ideas to share, or want to schedule a private session, please reach out.


Mel

My passion for movement developed at a young age and evolved through a range of athletic pursuits. After finishing my college volleyball career with a National Championship and All-American honors, I found myself with intense and unrelenting back pain. I originally came to yoga as a means to heal my body; I ended up just as inspired by the emotional practice as the physical one. For the first time, I was able to listen to my body in a way that nurtured it, rather than demanded something from it. I’m originally from San Francisco and after ten years of practice in studios across the country, I completed my 200hr training with Kula Yoga in New York City. Since then, I’ve continued my studies with Nikki Vilella (Kula Flow) and Nevine Michaan (Katonah Yoga), and Tom Meyers (Anatomy Trains). My teaching, like my creative pursuits, is informed by a multidimensional range of influences. I studied psychology for several years, which stokes my interest in the subtle body and how yogic practices can cultivate emotional resilience and inner connection. My background in athletics runs parallel to a deep appreciation for art and the creative process, reflecting the balance of action and introspection that grounds my classes.

See you in class!