Melinda Jennings, owner of Steiner Ranch Yoga, loves to help students become aware of their breath and the beauty of the present moment. Melinda teaches all of her classes in the Hatha Yoga style, specifically in the Viniyoga and Yin Yoga traditions. The Viniyoga method rests on the principle of “function over form.”  Postures are adapted to serve a student's structure and needs, rather than forcing a body into a pose that looks like a picture in a magazine or book. Yin Yoga emphasizes postures that stretch connective tissues, creating lower body flexibility and upper body strength, and prepares the body for meditation. 

The postures in Melinda’s classes focus on mindful movement and using the breath to develop body and mind awareness. Meditation and mindfulness exercises play a large part of her classes.  Melinda’s background in T’ai Ch'i and Ch'i Kung lend a special element to her teachings, and many movements are grounded in blended philosophies from both India and China.

Melinda’s hometown is Kansas City, Kansas, and she’s been living in Austin for 6 years, after moving here from Scottsdale, Arizona, where she lived for 5 years. Prior to Arizona, she lived in Denver, Colorado for 5 years. 

She completed her ACE (American Council on Exercise) Personal Trainer certification in 2009, and loves learning how specific muscles interact in the movement of the physical body. She has integrated ACE’s Lifestyle and Weight Management courses into her teachings, and believes a healthy attitude towards weight management is a lifelong pursuit. Melinda continues to practice T’ai Ch'i and Ch'i Kung, and is especially thankful to Master David Breckenridge of Villari's Martial Arts of Texas.  She is also certified through the American Heart Association's Heartsaver First Aid program, with completed curriculum in Adult/Child AED and Adult/Child CPR With Mask.

Melinda has been practicing yoga for over 20 years, and completed Yoga Yoga's 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program in 2010, and is a RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) with the Yoga Alliance.  She gratefully acknowledges many teachers, including Sapphire Bell, Mary (Prema) Vaughan, Ellen Stansell, Everitt Allen, Ana Pilar Cruz, Susan Snyder, Libby Dembe, and Leslie B. Melinda is also grateful to have studied with Richard Miller in Yoga Nidra, Body Sensing, and "The Ease of Being and the Path of Meditation."  She has also assisted at Everitt Allen's Restorative Workshops at Yoga Yoga, and has attended his Tibetan Singing Bowl and Gong workshop.  She enjoys playing the Tibetan Bowls and Gong, and believes they interact with and enhance our inner harmony.  She is very grateful to her teachers and those who have been and continue to be such bright lights on the path before her.

Melinda’s first experience with yoga was at Hatha classes in Kansas City.  Melinda appreciated the quieting of her "monkey mind," along with the pranayama, or breath work, and liked how the teacher said, “There is an imaginary box outside the door of this room.  Put all of your troubles and worries in it as you come in – you can pick them up again when you leave.”  She is a former Systems Analyst and Software Applications Trainer with 15 years experience. Melinda has a special affinity for computer users, and understands the stresses placed on the body while sitting at a computer all day.  Melinda also has an old injury from playing volleyball – a herniated L4-L5 disk, and focuses close attention on keeping the lower back safe in all postures.

In her free time, Melinda likes being in nature, reading, and listening to music. She loves music of all kinds, and loves to sing and share music with her friends. She was trained in classical music and sang in musicals and opera throughout school, but now enjoys singing folk, rock and pop songs. She also writes poetry and prose. Her Golden Retriever Irie and husband George love to join her for walks, playing aerobie, and swimming.

Melinda recommends: