Meet Merissa Manley | Founder and Movement Teacher of Heart and Soul Method

We had the good fortune of connecting with Merissa Manley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Merissa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

When I first started developing Heart and Soul Method back in 2013, my life was really a mess. I had ended my engagement to my fiancé at the time, I moved back in with my parents at the age of 32, and suffered from a deep depression to where it was difficult to work for more than 5 hours at a time. Needless to say, I was praying, seeking, and searching for something to pull me out of the darkness in which my life had become. Organically one day, I felt a strong guidance with a clear picture to create a movement method that focused on 3 modalities in one class: hatha vinyasa flow, dance movement, and fitness fusion technique with classes for each level and each major chakra area. At the time, no one was creating hybrid movement classes with a focus on yoga asana, so because it was healing me quickly, it was innovative, and cathartic with the dance movement in the middle of the yoga class, I thought this method could also heal others wounds as well. So initially, it came from a very pure place of wanting to move others into better health. Which I feel the best businesses out there, have that mind set. You can feel it in the way they present themselves… there is a compassion for the human condition. It’s this tangible feeling that it came from really wanting to better peoples lives, ya know, not just for profit.

Eventually, I thought, from a business perspective, how can I grow this into a house hold brand. I’m still growing it with hopes in having an in person studio as well as an online studio. Right now I am offering private sessions virtually and in person along with personal retreats, courses, and 300hr teacher trainings. Feeling the need to share what healed my life was really the main reason for moving forward. That passionate pull to bring more joy to others lives in the way that heals me again and again.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Heart and Soul Method is a movement method that moves people into better health. The method itself is about connecting the body, breath, music, and movement together through hatha vinyasa flow, dance movement, and fitness fusion technique allowing each practitioner to tune their energy into a freer flow through these three exercise modalities. When we create freer flow in our human system through exercises that focus on balancing the chakras, we tend to reduce inflammation, lose weight, heal quickly from wounds, build healthy bone/muscle strength and move into more of a sovereign spiritual alignment.

There isn’t a method out there that has these 3 modalities in one class focusing on the chakras in this way. It addresses all layers while keeping the classes personalized to each person as we are all unique.

What gets me inspired and excited is the dance movement. Each core chakra class that I offer is designed around each major chakra. So for example, the root chakra is in the feet, leg, and hip area of the body. It represents the earth element, so in this class we move through a 75 minute hatha vinyasa flow focusing on standing and balancing asanas (yoga postures) that help with creating strength as well as flexibility within’ that area. The dance movement in the middle of the class is to a hip hop song or a song with strong beat rhythms that emphasizes using the down force strength in the legs along with magnetism. Again the theme of our connection with our body to the earth. All aspects of the root chakra. This is part of how I designed each class.

It makes it fun as there is a class for the sacral chakra, water element with dance movement that is more sensual and passionate. The solar plexus chakra, fire element where the dance movement is more jazzy and modern with pop/rock music, heart chakra, air element where the dance movement is more ballet, contemporary, and lyrical inspired which allows the heart to open and soften. The upper chakras class focusing on inversion and arm balances where the dance movement is a prayer arm flow on the ground which is very powerful. So each class is so unique.

I offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes as well as 60-90 minute classical yoga hatha vinyasa flow classes. I customize sessions as well depending on what clients are needing. If you practice 4-5 times a week, you will lose weight because you will feel less stressed.

It’s fun, it’s innovative, and cathartic!!!

I am still growing this method. It really has gone through a few reinventions over the years as most businesses do. I feel that a key to being a successful business owner is to not be afraid to make small changes here and there to keep it fresh and new. Staying  true to the core offerings, but also marketing it in a way that is relatable to the times. My method is quite unique, I am still growing it and yes it has been sooo challenging to take a fairly new hybrid movement exercise concept and get it into the mainstream. People these days are now more open to trying new things, so I feel if I keep the quality of classes up to the level of detailed design I started with along with the pure intention to help others through this method, the success will come.

The challenge for most entrepreneurs is getting over that hill with marketing. If you have a relatable product for your audience and you can master marketing, whether doing it yourself or hiring someone else, the rest will come.

I want the world to know that this method is such a sweet, empowering, fun way to exercise that will bring you back to what feels true to you. It’s not so much about followers or always protecting everything as it is about finding a place within’ your heart and soul that brings steadiness and comfort. When I get on my mat and do these classes, I lay in shavasana, final relaxation, feeling like I’ve taken the time, 75 minutes to really care for my body. It’s not just a quick 15. It’s taking the time of the class for self care that gets into every part of my being. Me time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

There is so much to do here in Asheville, North Carolina. And, of course, I would take my best friend to all of my favorite places.

The first day we would do a spa day at the Omni Grove Inn which is this big beautiful vintage like lodge hotel. Their spa is ranked one of the best in America so naturally we would indulge in massages, cold water plunges, sauna, a wellness spa lunch, and the gorgeous pool it is known for with huge boulders, a grand cathedral ceiling, and underwater music. We would end the day with a lovely meal out on their sunset terrace.

The next day The Biltmore Estate tour would be on our itinerary. It is a huge estate and village in which Asheville is famous for. Tour the grounds, do a little wine tasting, ride horses, and go bike riding among the sunflower gardens. Maybe a home cooked meal at my place with a vintage wine and the record player spinning some good tunes.

The next day, everything downtown from shopping to doing a BREAKOUT escape room game, to having a meal at a few of my favorite places, laughing seed for lunch and then maybe Mountain Madre for dinner. If it was with a romantic partner, I would take him to Zambra for tapas or Capella on 9 for cocktails and tapas. The view there is spectacular. The Montfort Bar is more intimate with beautiful views as well.

The next day, hiking to a nearby waterfall, go for a swim and bring a picnic lunch, being lazy getting a good tan, and ending the day with a sunset glass of vino, then dinner.

The other days could be filled with kayaking, tubing, or if in the winter, visiting a nearby town known for local skiing.

Perhaps do a few yoga classes at Asheville Yoga Center visiting my favorite organic vegan cafe Pulp & Sprout and upscale vegan restaurant PLANT. Ending the trip with a local concert, as there are so many concert venues with such talented musicians. The salvage station, rabbit rabbit, and The Orange Peel are fun places to see a show.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I want to shout out to my parents Teri and Kevin Manley for instilling in me the mindset that I could be and do what I wanted in life. They always made me feel supported, free, and not judged. As a child, I had freedom to play, create, and sursue my dreams.

Also my ex fiancé Brett Cappello who was there for me when I needed home most.

A mentor of mine who has been a presence in my life of whom I love and honor with all of my heart.

And last but not least, the yoga angels who tirelessly loved me when I couldn’t love myself. Thank you.

Website: www.heartandsoulmethod.com

Instagram: heartandsoulmethod

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