ABOUT

MH Yoga began as a yoga practice led by Mary Helen Richards. Classes were held in the loft space over the Parish Hall at The Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Dothan, Alabama. Mary Helen began with a few students and the practice grew to 5 classes per week. 

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As she saw the interest in yoga increase, Mary Helen began looking for a new location to hold classes. Mary Helen knew that 2312 West Main was the perfect place by the energy of the space and it's central location. Her vision was to recreate it into a yoga center for Dothan.

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After an extensive project renovating the home built in the 1940's, Mary Helen and Danny opened MH Yoga Health Studio in January, 2014 after completing their RYT® 200-hour training with Kelli Precourt of Balance Health Studio in Seagrove Beach, FL.  In addition to offering yoga to the Dothan area, it was also their intention to provide a place where health and fitness could become a lifestyle. Massage therapy, health coaching  and aesthetics are now included at the studio as well as a retail boutique. 

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Mary Helen has over 30 years of experience in the health and fitness industry as a trainer, teacher, and health coach. She is also a former marathon and triathlon competitor.  She has extensive experience as a physique athlete with titles including Ms. Dothan and placing first in both the Alabama and Florida Open Lightweight Division Competitions. A hamstring injury led Mary Helen to yoga. In looking back, she is now grateful for that injury that began her yoga journey. It has changed her life and perspective  by transforming a body-builder fitness, athlete into a passionate yogini. 

 

Mary Helen is currently credited as E-RYT® 500-hour and YACEP teacher. She is the director and lead instructor of MH Yoga RYT® 200 hour and RYT® 300 hour yoga teacher trainings with Yoga Alliance. Mary Helen completed extensive training at Balance Studio in Seagrove, Florida for her 200-hour and 300-hour. Yoga Alliance Certification in Vinyasa flow.  Vinyasa flow is an active and health-enriching style of yoga that links movement with the breath. 

 

As a teacher, Mary Helen believes in the power of inspiring by action. Recently, she expanded her studentship diving into an RYT® 200-hour Ashtanga Practitioners Intensive with Tim Feldmann and Kino MacGregor at the Miami Life Center/Miami Yoga Garage. Mary Helen believes that being a teacher is finding your way to knowledge by sharing with other people.  Mary Helen leads an athletic and playful style of hot vinyasa flow infused with yoga philosophy. For MH, yoga is a tool, a healing art, that teaches us how to best take care of ourselves and others, a physical practice with a spiritual intention.