Dennis M.

MÖv classic

Dennis’ classes are overflowing with meditative wisdom and a strong reverence for yoga’s roots. His grounding energy creates an atmosphere of stability and peace, which is a lovely complement to the heat and power of the Classic sequence. To his students he says, “It is my deepest wish to share my love and passion for this practice each time I step into the hot room to guide a class, and I am humbled to teach in this community.”

How did you find your way to yoga?

I was introduced to hot yoga in 2008 on a second date with Kim, who is now my wife.  Surviving the class without throwing up, I was hooked! The embodied asana practice blended well with my meditation practice, which brought a deep intention with me every time I entered the studio. In 2012, I was diagnosed with liver cancer and placed on the transplant list at Mayo Clinic. During the 18 months I waited for my transplant, I deepened both my meditation and yoga practices to find peace and to keep a keen awareness of what was happening in my body.  My enhanced body awareness guided me into lifestyle changes as I moved into a 100% organic vegan diet, including daily juicing, and a strict routine of daily practice and exercise, all while maintaining my full-time work schedule. Yoga was a vital part of maintaining my mental and physical health, allowing me to stay alive to receive my liver transplant in 2013. Yoga continued to play an important role as I recovered from the surgery and slowly rebuilt my immune system. I don’t know if I would have survived without my meditation and asana practices. Yoga is part of my being now, as it probably always was, and the benefits of my practice blossom in new ways every day.

what should we know about your background?

I started my teacher training with Modo Yoga in 2021, but the pandemic delayed my in-person asana training until 2024. I attended training in Montreal in July, and continued my development under the mentorship of the teachers at MÖV through August and September. The magic of our yoga practice is creating and strengthening the mind-body connection that fosters awareness in ourselves, and thus the capacity for compassion as we move through our lives.

What else should we know about you?

I am a Zen meditation practitioner and a sangha member at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center just across the lake from MÖV. There are four beautiful souls that call me father, five loving beings that call me granddad, and two precious girls that know I am their great granddad! Beyond yoga and meditation, I love kayaking and mountain biking. I also ride a BMW RT1200 motorcycle and savor long day trips and the occasional road trip.