Friday, January 31, 2020
By Brian Foley, Marketing Supervisor
Milwaukee Recreation's mission is to enrich and strengthen the community by promoting healthy lifestyles, personal development, and fun through memorable recreational and educational experiences for people of all ages and abilities. Few people embody that mantra more than Michelle Corbett, an instructor who leads the gentle yoga and traditional yoga classes at the Riverside Community Center.
Corbett got her start with Milwaukee Recreation as a yoga participant, taking three classes a week for two years while she completed her yoga teacher training.
“I had always planned to teach for Milwaukee Recreation at some point. I really wanted to give back,” Corbett said.
When one of her long-time instructors relocated, Corbett finally joined the Milwaukee Recreation team in September 2018 to fill the void. Ever since, everything about Corbett’s yoga classes has been flowing smoothly, as she draws rave reviews from both her customers and coworkers.
“I love having Michelle on our team,” Milwaukee Recreation Wellness Supervisor Erica Wasserman said. “Her goal to make yoga accessible aligns perfectly with our desire to put more wellness programs in the community. I’ve taken her classes in the past, so I’ve seen first-hand how well she modifies each class for individuals of all ages.”
To begin each session, Corbett calmly maneuvers around the class to complete attendance, using every spare moment to check in with each of her participants. She looks out for everyone in the room, confirming any healthy concerns or recent aches so that she can better tailor her lessons to each person. Even those brief conversations put the entire class at ease, and set the stage for a relaxing, yet impactful session.
“I enjoy the opportunity to share this amazing practice and its benefits with a really diverse group of students. I particularly like seeing participants calmer and lighter at the end of a class,” Corbett said.
Once the yoga session is underway, each piece of Corbett’s class operates seamlessly. Even though she didn’t take a yoga class until she was 40 years old, and has been a Milwaukee Recreation instructor for less than two years, she still leads her class with the poise of a veteran. Corbett’s passion for yoga is evident, but her soothing voice keeps everyone properly centered during the hour-long program. Corbett establishes a rhythmic pace as she leads her frequently sold-out sessions through different poses, providing an even deeper sense of comfort for the participants.
“I encourage participants to move in ways that feel good to them. Regular practice can improve breathing, body and moment awareness, stress relief, and increase strength, balance, and flexibility.”
Even Corbett’s motivations as an instructor pair perfectly with Milwaukee Recreation’s department-wide emphasis on equity in recent years. Milwaukee Recreation works to be a leader for accessibility throughout the city; Corbett brings that same priority into the community on a weekly basis.
“I strive to make my classes as inclusive and accessible as possible. I offer options, encourage the use of props, and adapt poses and sequences to who is in the room,” Corbett said. “I make it clear that this is their practice, and that it is more about what it feels like rather than what it looks like.”
Corbett will lead free beginner yoga sessions at the Hawthorn Glen Nature Center each Wednesday in March, as well as a two-hour yoga basics workshop at Riverside on March 28. Join in to experience one of Milwaukee Recreation’s top instructors!