Michelle Acebo (Umā Devī) is an E-RYT 500-hour yoga instructor and Jivamukti 300-hour certified teacher. She first discovered yoga in 2001 with the goal of getting fit but soon realized its transformative potential. Michelle has trained with many world famous yoga teachers but Shortly after, she completed her certification as a Jivamukti yoga teacher under Sharon Gannon and David Life in New York. During this journey, Michelle found her life’s mission: to intertwine the rich roots of her yoga lineage with her well-established roots in South Texas, a mission she has passionately pursued ever since.

As the Founding Director of the Yoga School of Corpus Christi, Rio Grande Valley, and the DFW Metroplex, Michelle has dedicated over two decades to yoga education and emotional wellness. Based in Decatur, Texas, she launched the Emotional Wellness Through Yoga Educational Series in December 2024. This groundbreaking program is designed to support individuals in achieving emotional balance and resilience through yoga-informed practices, incorporating trauma-informed yoga techniques and complementing traditional therapeutic approaches.

Michelle’s extensive experience includes founding a Yoga Alliance Accredited 200 and 500 Hour School, serving on the faculty for a clinical yoga training, and working one-on-one with military veterans suffering from PTSD at the Corpus Christi Naval Station. As a Board Certified Respiratory Therapist, she brings a unique perspective to her teachings, seamlessly blending her clinical expertise with her deep understanding of yoga’s therapeutic potential.

Moving forward, Michelle’s focus will center on integrating emotional wellness into yoga teacher trainings, empowering instructors to bring these practices to diverse communities. Her passion for emotional wellness and education drives her commitment to fostering collaborative efforts that create meaningful change. Michelle believes deeply in yoga’s power to heal and transform, making it her mission to share this knowledge with others.