LEAD RETREAT HOST + INSTRUCTOR + FOUNDER OF MYND CONSERVATORY

Blake has spent a lifetime following movement to the edges of the known world — teaching children English and yoga in the shadow of the Himalayas, training in the contemporary dance studios of Berlin, and bringing musical theatre to life in South Korea. Blake has spent an extended period of time traveling through India and discovering the truest meaning of yoga. 

He holds an MFA in Dance from Hollins University and a BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, with additional studies at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, NYU, Danceworks Berlin, and the Palucca Hochschule für Tanz Dresden. 

For over two decades, yoga has been his most constant companion. Now the founder of MYND Conservatory in Richmond, Virginia: his practices weave together somatic movement, breathwork, meditation, traditional postures, and sound healing — all threaded through with the philosophies of yoga, vedanta, tantra, and mysticism. He does not teach classes so much as open inquiries: invitations to use physical sensation as a doorway into higher truth and deeper knowing. In his hands, every practice becomes a conversation between the body and something larger than itself.

Blake is fluent in English and German. 

LEAD RETREAT HOST + INSTRUCTOR +FOUNDER OF WILDFIRE WELLNESS

Melanie is a multi-disciplinary artist, visionary entrepreneur, multi-sensory branding specialist, intuitive guide, and yoga teacher whose work has always centered on one thing: creating sacred space for people to come home to themselves.

Based in Richmond, Virginia, she is the founder of Wildfire Wellness and co-founder of MYND Conservatory — both sharing a collaborative wellness ecosystem offering yoga, somatic movement, intuitive reading, creative expression, and intentional community. Her bespoke branding agency, Muse Marketing, extends this ethos into the world of conscious business, weaving together storytelling, photography, and design to help similar businesses share their story.

For nearly a decade, she has sat across from people at the edge of something — and helped them name it. Through tarot, astrology, and the wisdom of the body in motion, Melanie illuminates what is true and shines light on what is possible. 

Melanie has lived abroad, traveled across seven countries, and navigated the open water on a multi-day sailing journey — each adventure deepening her reverence for slowness, presence, and the wisdom that arrives when we leave the familiar behind. It is this same spirit she brings to her retreat work: thoughtfully held, sensory-rich experiences that use movement, ritual, nature, and intuition as portals to deeper self-inquiry.

SUPPORTING RETREAT HOST + MASSAGE THERAPIST

Jasmina is a licensed massage therapist serving as the lead therapist at Wildfire Wellness, based in Richmond, Virginia, whose path into holistic wellness has been guided by a lifelong pull toward nature, connection, and deep introspection. Her approach is rooted in presence, shaped by a cultural upbringing centered on care, service, and community.

With strong ties to her Central American heritage, she has spent meaningful time in El Salvador reconnecting with her culture and the energetic traditions carried through it. These influences live within her work, guiding the way she holds space with quiet attentiveness.

She carries a deep commitment to advocacy, especially in support of marginalized communities and individuals with disabilities, bringing a thoughtful, inclusive awareness into all aspects of her work.

All of these threads have led Jasmina into massage and bodywork, where she offers deeply attuned sessions grounded in slow, intentional touch. Her work integrates modalities such as myofascial release, deep tissue, craniosacral therapy, and relaxation-based techniques—supporting both the physical body and the nervous system. She is also trained in prenatal and oncology massage, allowing her to hold space for individuals in more sensitive and specific stages of care.

SUPPORTING RETREAT HOST + INSTRUCTOR

Nina brings a grounded, globally informed perspective to her retreat leadership, shaped by a lifelong connection to travel and culture. Born and raised in Latin America and having explored over 17 countries—including Portugal—she weaves curiosity, cultural appreciation, and a spirit of exploration into each experience she creates. Drawing on her own retreat experiences, Nina designs spaces that feel intentional, supportive, and restorative.

Bilingual in English and Spanish, she fosters connection and accessibility among diverse groups. With over 20 years of leadership experience in global organizations, Nina offers a steady, thoughtful presence that supports both personal reflection and group connection. Currently completing her advanced 300-hour training with a focus on yoga philosophy, she integrates mindful movement, reflection, and meaningful connection—guiding a retreat experience rooted in presence, curiosity, and growth.

Rooted in the belief that yoga cultivates confidence, resilience, and mindfulness, her classes invite students to explore yoga as both a personal and collective path toward healing. Students of Nina can expect to leave class with a reclaimed sense of compassion, resilience, and joy.