Marcia Appel

In 2007, she founded Green Lotus Group. It operates facilities in Lakeville and Mendota Heights, MN. These 5,000-square-foot centers offer alternative integrative wellness practices, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, holistic chirpractic, nutritional counseling, Ayurveda consultations, reiki, and other forms of energy work, psychotherapy, and life coaching, all delivered by accredited, licensed, and experienced professionals. It centers offer more than 60 weekly classes in yoga, Pilates, meditation, and other group classes as well as private sessions, led by YA-certified teachers. Green Lotus Group has a licensing program that makes it possible for others to open and manage similar facilities in other cities throughout the U.S. Marcia, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, earned her RYT 200-hour certification from Green Lotus's school, which she launched in 2008 and which now is directed by her business partner, Merry Beth Freienmuth. She completed her RYT 300-hour training at Spirit Rock, the Buddhist retreat center in California, in Mindfulness Yoga and Mediation. She also successfully attended Level 1 of Baptiste Power Vinyasa Training, is a certified Relax and Renew trainer, and received additional accredited yin training and iRest Yoga Nidra training. Integrative wellness techniques, including yoga, helped Marcia to recover from fibromyalgia years ago. Yoga has changed her life one breath at a time.