Melissa Moulton first set out on a path of pursuing a degree in Exercise Science at The University of North Florida. This would later line her up with her real passion for helping others through healing from within. This is where Yoga 4 Change came in and provided her an outlet for combining her knowledge of physical activity with the ability to turn that into a tool for those who needed control over their own bodies. Sometimes all we need is access to these tools to be able to utilize all the potential we have inside us. Melissa joined Yoga 4 Change five years ago now and she has found a sense of community with not only her fellow yoga teachers, but also the individuals that she works with. She gives these individuals an opportunity to achieve a sense of self that they may have lost. Her goal for those who attend these yoga classes has always been to leave with more knowledge of the mind and body. She does this by including facts about the body itself and creating that knowledge further enhances the healing, growth, and strength that we all have inside us.
Melissa enjoys seeing the progress one can make overtime and finds it rewarding to work with individuals long term. She has worked closely with the Jacksonville Center for Children’s Rights and has a lot of experience working with underserved communities, specifically youth. She finds it extremely important to utilize restorative justice practices to transform the criminal justice system. She especially works to interrupt the school to prison pipeline which imposes harsh disciplinary practices on primarily Black and Latino students to push them out of school and into the criminal justice system. With this she is now working to be a licensed clinical social worker to try and assist further with this growing issue within our youth, along with helping families prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
Overall, Melissa is an amazing individual that has put in the work and dedicated her time to serve those who need it most. She really is an inspiration to me personally because I have the same desire to help and heal people. Being able to speak with Melissa has given me even more admiration for likeminded individuals that want to add more love and care into the world.
Blog written by Julianna Martinez
