Frequently Asked Questions

About Be . Motivated Wellness Center

  • BMWC is not a spa, gym or yoga studio in the traditional sense. It is a place to receive private therapeutic treatments for your Dis-Ease. It is also a place to ground, connect and feel whole again through group classes. 

    Our Somatic Yoga Therapy programs incorporate elements of yoga, exercise, and somatics—movements that retrain your brain and body to work together in new, healing ways. It’s more than yoga, more than stretching, more than traditional exercise routines that you have done before. 

    • be = Just be. Be still and know that I am. When we take time to get still and listen within, the answers are there.

    • motivated = Get moving. Start now. From stillness we ground, find center, and the motivation to move—toward purpose and goals.

    • The dot ( . ) = The Pause. A reminder to slow down. Whether it’s a breath, a moment before speaking, or the pause after a somatic movement—this is essential.

    • Wellness Center = A gathering place for movement, stillness, healing, and wholeness.

Programs & Classes

  • Currently, all Somatic Yoga Therapy programs are offered as:

    • Courses/Series (3, 4, or 6 weeks)

    • Workshops (75, 90, or 120 minutes)

    For the purpose of this FAQ page everything is being referred to as a “class.” 

  • Perfect. You have come to the right place. 

    We all have self-doubts but at BMWC, you are welcome just as you are, right now. These practices are gentle and safe for every body. 

    As for that pesky _________ (fill in the blank), Somatic Yoga Therapy programs can help you enhance your workouts and activities. 

    In other words, no matter where you are at in your wellness journey – perfect – if you are experiencing ongoing stress, tension, pain (on any level), or simply are searching for a gentler, more sustainable path to long-term health and wellness – you have come to the right place.

  • Look for chair-based classes! Most somatic work can be done seated, and many classes are offered in this format.

  • No. Somatics focuses on interoception—awareness of your inner experience. Mirrors distract from this and can invite self-judgment. We want you tuned in to what’s happening inside.

  • Here are a few helpful hints on appropriate etiquette for the BMWC practice space.

    • Class Size: The practice space is limited to 16 students maximum. I intentionally keep classes small, typically around 8 to 10. Some events will be even smaller due to the nature of the topic and/or content. Somatics is highly experiential, the movements are small, and I want to be available for you—therefore classes must be small.  

    • Ask Questions: If you’re thinking it, someone else probably is, too. You learn when you ask. We have open discussion and question times, and times for quiet – I will be walking you through it all. You will not find yourself wondering. 

    • Arrive Early: Make it part of your yoga practice to arrive early. Give yourself time to check-in and quiet your mind before class. 

      • If you do arrive late, please enter, remove your shoes, gather your props quietly, put away your belongings, and prepare to enter the practice space by: 1. Breathe in; 2. Breathe out; 3. AHHHHHHHH…. be . still; 4. Enter the space quietly.

    • Stay for the entire class: Please plan to stay for the whole class. I make absolutely every effort to start on time and end on time. If I will go over for any reason, I will notify everyone during the class. If for any reason you need to leave early, please notify me prior to starting and set yourself up near the door so you can quietly slip out – prior to savasana. 

    • The practice room is a “cell phone-free” zone: Please silence all ringers on phones and smartwatches (unless medically necessary) and put them away before or upon entering the space. 

      • The practice room is your space to be; to let go of the outside world and take time for yourself. Don’t worry – the world will still be there when you leave.  

      • For that reason, it is strongly suggested that you remove all distractions from your practice space somewhere else.

    • Flip the Chip—Hands on | Hands off:  In the prop room is a basket of wood chips that say “yes” on one side and “no” on the other. Grab one of these as part of your prop set. Yes = Yes, it is OK for Michelle to put hands on appropriate areas to assist me in my discovery of certain bossy muscles (and quiet ones, too).  No = No, I prefer not to have hands on today. 

      • You can change your mind at any point – just flip the chip. I am a trauma-informed somatic instructor first and foremost. Honoring you and your body was, is, and will always be my primary responsibility. This is NOT about me or anyone else in the room. You feeling safe, comfortable and at ease is where it ALL starts in somatics. I repeat – all starts. If you are uncomfortable for any reason, especially out of fear that the teacher will be coming up to you and touching you when you don’t want that – the work becomes more challenging (really, cannot even begin) for your body. BMWC is a safe place to explore and discover your own healing journey. Remember – just flip the chip! 

    • Fragrances/Oils/Scents: 

      • Please avoid wearing strong fragrances out of respect for others’ allergies and sensitivities

      • I do use high quality essential oils and a wood called palo santo on occasion. If you have any sensitivities – please notify me in advance. 

    • Propasana: If you use the center’s props, please follow posted instructions for cleaning and putting away neatly. 

Preparing for Your Session

  • You’re welcome to bring your own mat or use one provided at the center. Commonly used props include straps, yoga blocks, blankets, and chairs—available at the center. You’re also welcome to bring your own. After class, we clean the mats with homemade, organic cleaner and hand-crocheted rags. All props are regularly cleaned.

  • It is important that you be . you! Choose comfortable, breathable clothing that allows you to move and feel at ease. Be prepared to be barefoot or in socks, as we remove shoes upon entering the center.

  • BMWC shares public bathrooms with other offices in the plaza, which can be used for changing. There are no showers, but most sessions are gentle and typically don't involve heavy sweating.

  • Supporting wellness throughout The Villages and neighboring areas of Florida

Registration & Attendance 

  • Registering for your first class is easy!  Find a class that speaks to you. If the class being offered requires any previous experience, it will state that in the description. 

    If you don’t see what you're looking for, reach out: info@bemotivatedwellness.com

  • A wise person once said to me: “Michelle, if you are on time, you are already late.” If I show up for a 1pm class at 1pm – I am already late. I need to get in the door, get my shoes off, collect my props, say hello to my friends, get in the practice space, set up my props, get on my mat and ahhhhhhhh – take a breath! 😊 This takes time!

    Please make every effort to arrive 15 minutes before the class starts so you can be . present. If you know you are going to be late, call or text me. We want you to arrive safely. 

Cancellations & Make-Ups

    • Workshops: Cancel 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

    • Series/Courses: Cancel 24 hours before the first class for a full refund. No partial refunds once the program starts.

    • If you are interested in a series and you know in advance that you will miss one or more of the dates, contact me to discuss setting up a private make-up session at a reduced rate. If you are new to somatics and BMWC programs, it can be very difficult to miss a session in the middle of a series. 

    • For courses (different from series), attendance is essential. If you expect to miss a session, let’s chat about it up front to determine if the course is right for you.

    Bottom Line: Life happens, I get it. Please call or text if something comes up. Every business has strong cancellation policies for a reason, and I will make every effort to work with you, along side you. AND I also ask you to understand that events at Be . Motivated Wellness Center are based on you – you be-ing here, present – and if you don’t show up, it may very well affect the event for everyone else. The number of people in each series or course matters to the whole. You matter to the whole. So please, call me and text me if you need to cancel as soon as you know if it is short notice.  

Payment & Discounts

  • For massage services, I accept cash or checks for the full amount. If you prefer to pay by credit card, please note that a 3% service fee will be added.

    All classes, workshops, and series must be paid for in advance to complete registration. These payments are processed online by credit card, and no additional service fee is charged.

  • Yes, I offer packages for multiple massage treatments and Somatic Yoga Therapy. Ask for details.