Meet the Founders of YoKid
Ellie Burke, M.Ed., E-RYT 500
Co-Founder
Since 2002, Ellie has worked with youth in a variety of settings: nonprofit programs and organizations for at-risk youth, group homes for kids in crisis, and public and private schools. She received her M.Ed. from George Washington University with a concentration in Special Education and Secondary English.
To take care of herself physically and mentally, Ellie began practicing yoga. With regular practice, she experienced benefits such as increased overall health, a profound sense of mental and emotional balance, a general sense of well being, and greater patience. Ellie realized that yoga practice could help the children whom she served, and would be an extraordinary complement to her work.
By partnering with Michelle to develop YoKid…Stretch Your Limits, Ellie believes that their collective experience, knowledge, and compassion, can bring the countless benefits of kids yoga to a wider audience within her community.
Ellie is registered with Yoga Alliance at the E-RYT 500-hour level. She completed the 200-hour Holistic Teacher Training at Pure Prana Yoga Studio (www.pureprana.com), an Ashtanga Teacher Training with David Swenson, and the YogaWorks 300-hr Professional Program. She continues to study with a variety of teachers in the Ashtanga and Vinyasa traditions. Ellie currently lives in Richmond, VA, and provides regular group and private instruction in yoga and meditation. For more information about Ellie, visit www.ellieburkeyoga.com.
Michelle Kelsey Mitchell, M.S., RYT 500
Co-Founder
Michelle worked in the public school systems of Northern Virginia and Buffalo, New York, for over ten years. She has a M.S. in Counseling & Human services, and an undergraduate degree in Sports Medicine with a minor in Sports Psychology. Her work with students has made her aware of the deep need for the early cultivation of self-awareness in our society. Michelle believes that yoga can help children, as well as adults, reach their fullest potential.
A desire to learn how to teach this practice compelled her to complete the 200-hour Holistic Teacher Training at Pure Prana, Manju Jois’ Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training (www.manjujois.com) the Radiant Child Yoga Program with Shakta Kaur Khalsa (www.childrensyoga.com), and her 500-hour Teacher Training in Annapolis, MD.
Michelle’s eclectic training helps her appreciate yoga in both its traditional and modern forms for practitioners of all ages. Personally, her yoga practice has taught her to fully experience and appreciate patience, love, joy, and the everyday wonderment of life’s journey.
She hopes that YoKid…Stretch Your Limits will allow ALL members of our community to benefit from the timeless practice of yoga.
