MELANIE CAINES
Melanie Caines is a Certified Yoga Teacher and the owner/operator of Nova Yoga in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Melanie is passionate about helping people improve their mental and physical well-being; she has a strong love of movement and teaches multi-level Vinyasa Flow classes infused with spirit, laughter, sweat, and creativity. She also loves to slow down with juicy Restorative Yoga and self Myofascial Release work.
Melanie completed her 200Hr Yoga Teacher Training in Vinyasa (Flow) Yoga at Sonic Yoga in New York City in 2008 and has studied Prana Flow with Vinyasa/Flow goddess Shiva Rea. Melanie also trained with Judith Hanson Lasater to become a Certified Relax and Renew® Restorative Teacher and has completed Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra® Training (led by Jennifer Reis) and Prenatal Yoga Training (led by Janice Clarfield). Melanie has also enjoyed continuing her studies with Yoga Medicine and Tiffany Cruikshank, completing their 60Hr Myofascial Release Training and 30Hr Yoga Anatomy Training.
Melanie has been named one of the Top 100 Health Influencers in Canada by OpTiMYz Magazine in 2018 and in 2017. She has been nominated for the 2017 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards and for the 2017Canada Top 40 Under 40 Awards. She was named a finalist for the 2016 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2015 Awards. Melanie won the Start Up Business of the Year Award from NLOWE (Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs) in 2012.
Melanie is also an actor and has performed in theatres and festivals in Australia, Scotland, England, Ireland, and all across Canada. She graduated from the B.F.A. (Acting) Theatre program at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, which is also her hometown. Melanie performed in the critically acclaimed play Tempting Providence for 8 years and other favorite projects include the 2010 Governor General Award winning play AfterImage by Robert Chafe and CBC’s The Republic of Doyle.
In a word, Nova Yoga Retreats are delicious! Melanie and her co-leaders hold space beautifully, guiding the group through yoga and meditation practices and “off campus” excursions with gentle mastery. You can show up and know that everything has been taken care of. Her groups are always welcoming; I attended two retreats solo and left both with amazing friends. Melanie chooses retreat locations with natural and artistic beauty and most importantly–soul. Her love of travel and exploring new cultures adds so much to the experience. Last, but not least, the food and accomodations are always a delight!
It felt like a true escape from my normal life. I feel like I was able to connect to the area and the people who journeyed with me. Your ability to curate a safe space to be and a place to play for people is truly a gift, Melanie. Thank you.
I can’t recommend Nova Yoga’s retreats highly enough. Melanie put together an amazing week that stretched our bodies and our minds, and left both stronger and more restored. This experience was much more than “just” yoga — it was truly a reset physically and mentally, and a wonderful opportunity to restore and refresh alongside amazing and kind women.
From the moment I arrived, I knew it would be a transformative journey. Each class left me relaxed and rejuvenated. This, along with amazing food and people, made for an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for the perfect yoga getaway.
Melanie finds the best places and brings together the most amazing people.
I love the opportunity to get away from the tourist areas and get to know the local scene. The food was fabulous, staff and accommodations were excellent. The yoga was wonderfully therapeutic. And I really enjoyed getting to know the group. This was a wonderful experience for me and my first time travelling as a single. It gave me the confidence to try it again.
Melanie is the most incredible yoga instructor. Her retreats are absolutely amazing. A magical experience of a lifetime. If you haven’t done one of her retreats, you are really missing out!