The principles of the ancient science of Yoga are essential for balanced living in today's world. Our Yoga & Meditation Training and Behavioral Modification Programs in Lexington, Kentucky can help you build vibrant health, neutralize stress, and discover greater calm and well-being.

What Makes Our Center Unique?

• Small Classes, Personal Attention, Peaceful Setting
• Teachings Based on Traditional Principles of Yoga and Meditation, as well as Personal Practice
• After years of study, practice and reflection, our Founder, Shelley Smith, was asked by her teacher to establish a school in America, to share the ancient tradition of Yoga health and its underlying philosophy in a way that is meaningful and effective for people today. Shelley offers Yoga and Meditation Retreats at our Center, as well as Yoga-Vedanta Classes featuring selected passages from the Bhagavad Gita. She presented "NON-DUALITY DISCUSSION & PRACTICE: The Necessary Tension Between Self-Assertion and Mutual Recognition." These programs are designed for those who have completed our introductory Meditation Course, "Mindful Awareness & Kindness." Please contact us for more information or to reserve space in a retreat or class.
• Shelley has trained all of our instructors, who have experienced the benefits of Yoga and Meditation and are inspired to share what they have learned with others. Our instructors have each trained for a minimum of four years and are teacher-certified. The Center's staff includes Jim Holzman, Martine Holzman.
• Our Services include:
  • Yoga Instruction
  • Mindfulness Meditation Training
  • Behavioral Modification Approaches
  • Yoga Therapy
• Non-profit; Operating Since 1981.

Yoga and Meditation Services

 

For details about these programs, please see our Yoga Programs and Meditation Training, and News & Updates.

Behavioral Modification Approaches and Yoga Therapy Programs

In addition to Yoga and Meditation instruction, we offer special programs which integrate Yoga principles to help participants play an active role in building their own health and well-being. These include Dream Work, and Psychodynamic Yoga Workshops (see our Meditation Training page for details) as well as Stress Management Classes and Yoga Therapy Sessions (see our Yoga Programs page for details). You may also contact the Center for information about all of these programs. Also Announcing: "GAME ON! LET'S DREAM." Impulse and desire often create our nocturnal dreams. Recognizing the emotional content of a mere dream symbol* in waking state is an instinctive moment of self-understanding. A true opportunity for self-compassion to naturally happen. HAVE A GREAT DREAM TONIGHT. Classes start APRIL 14. *reinventing yourself with dream symbols by Shelley Smith, Huffington Post; Buzzfeed.

Non-profit; Operating Since 1981

The Yoga Meditation & Therapy Center/Mental Wellness Therapeutics, Inc. has served the community continuously since 1981, promoting health and well-being for our students, and for the public, through lectures, workshops and classes. A partial list of agencies we have worked with appears below.

We Have Provided Programs for the following agencies (and others):

• Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
• Central Baptist Hospital
• Dixie Elementary School
• Kentucky National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program
• St. Joseph Hospital
• Lexington Public Library
• National M.S. Society, Kentucky Chapter
• Tates Creek Middle School
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc.
• University of Georgia, College of Nursing
• University of Kentucky, College of Medicine

Our Founder, Director

Shelley Smith , our Founder and Director, is a Behavioral Therapist specializing in cognitive behavioral modification techniques. She is also a registered Yoga Therapist and a certified Yoga Teachers' Trainer, in addition to being an author and a public speaker.

Ms. Smith has been teaching Yoga and training Yoga instructors for over 35 years. In addition to teaching, she offers retreats and training for health professionals using behavioral modification techniques, throughout the United States. She also offers in-depth study of classic Yoga texts. Her book of reflections, Mother Light, was published in 1994 and describes her meditative path of self-discovery. The book's foreword was written by a former Archbishop of Canterbury, who used the book for his morning meditation.

Sleep Yoga and Dream Awakening

In 2011, AOL's Huffington Post featured an interview with Shelley Smith about her "Dream Awakening" techniques. To read the articles featured on AOL's Huffington Post, please visit "Dream Awakening" on our desktop website for more in-depth information.

Dream images originate from our imagination as well as feed our creativity. If you can imagine it, it can be done. Every dream is so alive with creative energy for healing and self-understanding! When the dream's message is activated in waking state, we benefit most from the energy of the dream, which exists only as potential in the sleep state.

- Shelley Smith

Huffington Post

For more information about the program or to request a "Sleep Yoga" or Dream Awakening Session with Ms. Smith, please call or email the Center.