About
Verena – aka Yogamelia – is a Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher and Parental Burnout Coach based in Crassier (Nyon), Switzerland.
The Beginning
She began her yoga journey 16 years ago in 2008 when, while working 60-hour weeks and spending more nights in hotels than at home, she suffered from a burnout.
Determined to get her health back on track, she joined a week-long yoga intensive in Switzerland and yoga, meditation and mindfulness became a key part of her life.
Training
Verena completed her first 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2017 with the Africa Yoga Project in Nairobi, Kenya. She went on to complete her pre- and postnatal training in 2019 with Bliss Baby Yoga, while pregnant (and subsequently postpartum) with her daughter Amelia. An eternal student, Verena has completed her 500-hour advanced yoga teacher training with Brett Larkin in 2022.
Initially drawn to the powerful, meditative nature of the Ashtanga practice, since having her daughter, Verena has gravitated towards teaching – and practising – vinyasa flow, yin and restorative, as well as pregnancy and postnatal yoga.
As her journey unfolds, her passion for supporting mothers in all phases of their lives continues to grow, and she completed training as a Mental Health First Aider and Parental Burnout Expert in 2023.
Verena's Philosophy
Verena credits yoga as a steady companion and lifeline during times of upheaval. As a busy mum juggling her passions – a demanding career in global health and a thriving yoga business – she understands first hand the pressures we all face and knows what a powerful tool yoga is for finding balance, reducing stress and optimising our physical and mental health.
Known for her pragmatic approach, Verena combines her passion for yoga and meditation with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, nutrition, ayurveda and aromatherapy to create a multi-layered approach to wellbeing. She continues to deepen her learning by studying regularly with teachers who inspire her, such as Petri Räisänen, Kino MacGregor, Grischa Steffen and Caroline Kila.
Verena's Yoga CV
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), 8-week course, Switzerland, 2014
200hr YTT, Africa Yoga Project, Kenya, 2017
500hr Advanced YTT, Brett Larkin, USA, 2021 - 2022
65hr Pre- and Postnatal YTT, Bliss Baby Yoga, Australia, 2019
500hr Advanced YTT, Brett Larkin, USA, 2021 - 2022
ensa Mental Health First Aider, Switzerland - 2023
Parental Burnout: Diagnostic & Treatment, Belgium - 2023
Mindful Parenting Teacher Training, Netherlands - 2024
