Michelle Gierst

Michelle has been stand-up paddling, surfing and practicing yoga and Pilates for many years. She trained with the Yoga Mittra School in Manhattan Beach, California (RYT 300) and advanced her skills with a certification in SUP Yoga training from H2YO in Orlando, Florida.

Michelle’s combined love of the ocean and yoga brought her to start teaching SUP yoga in Southern California back in 2010. SUP yoga changed everything for Michelle and brought her practice back to ground zero. She soon realized the benefits of “FLO YO” (floating yoga on and off the water) and strives to share this love with as many people as possible.

Michelle and long time partner, Jeremy, had a goal of bringing a higher level of awareness to the importance of preserving and saving our oceans on a local level when they founded Beyond The Shore. This non-profit is dedicated to ocean conservation, education and awareness in our local communities and the wider world. Beyond The Shore’s Paddlefest hosted the “Worlds Largest Stand UP Paddle Board Yoga Class” and Michelle taught to more than 160 SUP yogis on October 13, 2014.

Michelle has been teaching “Floating Yoga” all over the globe for the last few years from the waters off Costa Rica to LaPaz and even to England and Spain. Her love of the ocean, yoga and working with people shines through in everything she sets her mind to. Michelle considers “Life” an adventure, everyday.