Mindful Movement
& Meditation, LLC
Mary Frances
Founder
Mindful Mentor & Wellness Advocate
Mary Frances began her yoga journey in 2009 after completing a 200-hour, Iyengar Style RYT, at Ganesh College of Yoga. In 2010, Mary studied at Newington Yoga Center, diving into Embodyoga and Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans. She went on to complete an additional 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certification at Be.Yoga, in 2022.Mary is a Usui Reiki Master Practitioner and IET Practitioner. Her love of energy shines with each person she meets.
Along with being Trauma Informed, Mary has been certified as a Grief Educator through David Kessler Grief Educator Training, a Recovery Support Specialist for mental health and substance use recovery with the State of CT and Hartford Healthcare Behavioral Health Network and is a SMART Facilitator for YouthRecoveryCT. She works with several non-profits and mental health agencies throughout CT.
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Mary teaches all ages and abilities; EVERYONE is welcome.
You will find her playfully moving into poses with children, laughing and sharing the art of self-regulation. Settling into a gentle or restorative practice with adults and chair yoga for all abilities. She shares a passion for working within the recovery community for both mental health and substance use; stemming from her own lived experiences, she brings a genuine kindness, removing stigma and judgement, creating a safe space to practice the art of breathing, mindful movement and pausing from our everyday, welcoming the energy of being our own authentic self. Mary credits her life experiences alongside mindful, energy practices to the person she is today. "Yoga and the art of energy saved me. I'm alive today because of it."
Outside of sharing her passion with the community, Mary enjoys spending time with family, especially her teenage son Ryan. An aspiring author and speaker. She LOVES traveling to new places, nature, photography, writing and has an extensive love for books. Mary finds enjoyment in storytelling, meeting new people and building community. She encourages all humans to smile and be themselves.
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Ryan
Co-Founder & Creative Developer
Ryan has been practicing yoga with his mom since he was a baby. Ryan is described as an old soul and a natural empath. At just 14 years old, Ryan is Mindful Movements, Co-Founder and Creative Developer.
He brings the knowledge and light-hearted, playful innocence of a child to the practice. He hopes to one day teach his own classes so that he too can bring joy and laughter to kids and adults young at heart. ​
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In addition to yoga, Ryan enjoys spending time at the dojo practicing Sho Biyn Ju Karate and Taekwondo.​ Ryan has a passion for building computers, basketball, reading, a fond love of animals, chamomile tea and loves spending time with his family.