Skip to content

The Empower Yoga Project – Safe, Inclusive, and Trauma-Informed Movement Education

Ureka Challenge 2021 participant, Melanie Adams, and founder of Empower Yoga Project, provides movement education that transcends physical distance limitations and aspires to create a safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed yoga platform. Though Empower Yoga Project is a newer venture, Melanie also participated in the Ureka Challenge in 2020 with her craft business, Bralettes by Melanie. She is fortunate to return to the Ureka Challenge this year while continuing both ventures.

As a junior at Clark studying management and psychology with a focus in trauma and holistic mental healthcare, Melanie hopes to combine her education in psychology and training in yoga to build her venture past graduation. She is also completing a minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

One of Melanie’s goals is to give students the mental health tools they need to practice at home in times when coping skills are most needed. She hopes this will improve their sense of happiness and wellbeing on and off the yoga mat.

Melanie earned her 200-hour certification to teach Vinyasa yoga in 2018, and she has been offering classes on-campus since the first week of her freshman year.  Last spring, the Empower Yoga Project was awarded the LEEP Fellowship from Clark University, which funded a summer of continuing education in trauma-conscious yoga. Melanie is also a certified Ganja yoga teacher who aspires to one day lead public yoga classes at a festival or dispensary.

This past year did not slow Melanie down. She adapted online yoga teaching, offering pay-what-you-can yoga classes 2-3 times per week.  She also continues to teach yoga on-campus for Clark Athletics on the soccer field and the green.  Additionally, Melanie teaches blacklight yoga and other outdoor classes off-campus at the Burncoat Center for Arts & Wellness during the warmer months.

Melanie participates in the weekly Clark Collective popups on Wednesdays at Red Square. Stop by to visit her for a free oracle reading, or to get information on upcoming Empower Yoga Project events. Or follow EYP on Instagram.

melanie