ABOUT
Who We Are & What We Do
Welcome to Esencia Yoga Spa
A Registered Yoga Alliance School & San Miguel’s #1 Wellness Destination
Born from a deep passion to share the power of wellness, Esencia Yoga Spa is rooted in the belief that true well-being comes from the integration of body, mind, and spirit. Every yoga class and spa treatment we offer is thoughtfully designed to guide you toward greater balance, vitality, and self-awareness.
As San Miguel de Allende’s top-rated yoga and spa center on TripAdvisor, we are proud to be an oasis of relaxation, rejuvenation, and inner discovery. Esencia is more than a wellness center—it’s a space to explore, play, grow, and reconnect with your essence.
Our warm and welcoming environment (often literally!) includes:
A full schedule of diverse daily yoga classes
Spacious indoor studios and a stunning rooftop classroom
Male and female changing rooms with showers
A fresh juice bar for healthy post-practice refreshments
A community where new friendships and transformations unfold daily
At Esencia, we believe that compassion for others and love for oneself—wherever we may be on our journey—is the true essence of wellness.
Meet Melinda Marino
Founder and Director of Esencia Yoga Spa
Melinda’s journey into holistic wellness began over 30 years ago, when a series of injuries sustained during her Aikido martial arts training led her to discover yoga as a path to healing. What started as physical rehabilitation soon evolved into a lifelong exploration of mind, body, and soul.
Today, as the founder and director of Esencia Yoga Spa, Melinda has created a sanctuary that seamlessly blends the timeless principles of yoga with nurturing, luxurious spa experiences. Her dedication to excellence is reflected in every detail—from the thoughtfully curated team of yoga teachers to the university-trained, certified spa technicians she personally mentors.
At Esencia, you’ll receive more than a service—you’ll experience the care and expertise of highly vetted specialists committed to your well-being.
At Esencia, wellness is more than a moment—it’s a lifestyle.
meet OUR SPA TEam
Expert Hands. Warm Hearts. True Healing.
At Esencia Yoga Spa, our spa team is handpicked for their expertise, intuition, and dedication to your wellness. Every technician is university-trained, certified, and nurtured under the guidance of founder Melinda Marino to deliver treatments that are not only therapeutic, but transformative. At Esencia Spa, our experts deliver luxury-level treatments at accessible prices—because you deserve to feel extraordinary every day.
meet VANESSA CAMPOs
Spa Director & Senior Bodywork Specialist
Vanessa is the heart and soul of our spa—and a true star of the Esencia experience. As our Spa Director and Senior Technician, she brings over a decade of dedication, expertise, and healing touch to our wellness sanctuary.
A graduate in Wellness Therapies from UTSMA – Technological University of San Miguel de Allende, Vanessa combines her extensive technical training with deeply intuitive bodywork. Her sessions are known to transport you to a state of deep relaxation, melting away pain, stiffness, and stress with what many describe as “magic hands.”
Vanessa has been a cherished part of the Esencia Yoga Spa family for over 10 years, and her personal warmth, professionalism, and attention to detail keep our clients coming back again and again. Whether you're seeking relief, rejuvenation, or simply a moment of stillness, you're in expert hands with Vanessa.
meet cirila ramirez
Massage Therapist & Reflexology Specialist
Ciri brings a deep, heartfelt presence to every treatment she offers. A certified massage therapist through the prestigious Gimmel Certification Program, she combines strength, skill, and intuition to create truly therapeutic experiences.
For the past eight years, Ciri has been an integral part of the Esencia team. Known as one of our strongest massage therapists, she specializes in deep tissue work—ideal for releasing tension and restoring balance. She’s also widely praised for her reflexology and spa pedicures, often described by clients as “incredible for reviving tired souls.”
Ciri is inspired by the joy and relaxation she sees in her clients after every session. Her loving nature, professional dedication, and healing touch make her a beloved and essential member of the Esencia family.
meet ELENA GOMEZ
Spa Treatment Specialist
Elena’s journey into wellness began with a simple but powerful desire—to help people feel better. That passion led her to become a certified massage therapist through the prestigious Gimmel Certification Program five years ago.
Since joining Esencia Yoga Spa, Elena has continued to expand her skills under the expert mentorship of our Spa Director, training in facials, manicures, pedicures, massage, and reflexology. Her hands-on dedication and steady growth have made her a versatile and valued member of our team.
Elena is equally skilled in both deep tissue and relaxing massage techniques, always tailoring each session to her client’s needs. Her goal is to help others release physical tension and reconnect with a sense of calm and well-being.
meet our yoga teacher team
Guiding You with Wisdom, Breath & Presence
At Esencia Yoga Spa, our yoga teachers are more than instructors—they are passionate guides, each bringing their unique experience, heart, and dedication to the practice. Together, they create a welcoming, empowering space for you to explore, heal, and grow.
meet MELINDA MARINO E-RYT500/YACEP
Founder & Yoga Director | Lead Trainer, RYS 200
Melinda Marino’s path to yoga began through Aikido martial arts, where a series of serious injuries led her in search of healing. That search brought her to therapeutic HOT yoga, where she successfully rehabilitated her back and knee—and discovered a lifelong calling.
In 1994, Melinda trained in Bikram Hot Yoga and was invited to teach at the Yoga College of India. In 2002, she taught at her first Teacher training Barkan Method Teacher Training Program, after years of study in 2011, she established Esencia Yoga Spa’s RYS 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program, where she continues to serve as Lead Trainer.
Melinda has studied with a wide range of master teachers across traditions, including:
Bikram Choudhury (Bikram Hot Yoga)
Jimmy Barkan (Hot Yoga)
Amrit Desai (Amrit Yoga)
Swami BE (Beatriz Raydo) – Philosophy & Anatomy
Lucas Rockwood – Yoga Trapeze
Dr. Omanand (Guruji) – Yoga Therapy
Desirée Rumbaugh – Anusara & Bio-mechanics
With over three decades of experience, Melinda specializes in private, therapeutic, and rehabilitative yoga, offering deeply personalized sessions that support recovery, strength, and balance.
Student Testimonial
Kerrie Scott, RN, BSN, RYT 500 – Advanced Yoga Teacher
“Loved, loved, loved the intro to Yoga Trapeze experience. You are SUCH a gifted and educated teacher. Fabulous instruction!”
meet KATIE TYMCHYSHEN RYT500
Instructor | Functional Movement & LYT-Inspired Methodology
Katie’s classes are rooted in anatomy-based, functional movement and inspired by the LYT Yoga Method developed by physical therapist Lara Heimann. Her approach blends intelligent sequencing with education, empowering students to understand how and why their bodies move the way they do.
Each class features a unique theme focused on developing mobility, stability, and strength, all of which contribute to more adaptable and efficient movement patterns. Katie places a strong emphasis on re-mapping compensatory habits, improving postural imbalances, and reducing the risk of injury and chronic pain.
Her goal? To help you move well—not just in your yoga practice, but in your life. Whether you’re working on alignment in asana or simply aiming to stay active and pain-free, Katie’s classes support a sustainable practice so you can keep doing the things you love for years to come.
meet CLAUDIA ANGUIANO RYT200
Psychologist | Yoga & Meditation Teacher | Conscious Movement Guide
Claudia Anguiano is a psychologist, yoga, and meditation teacher with over 12 years of experience sharing yoga as a transformative and healing tool. Her approach is rooted in deep presence, emotional awareness, and the belief that true well-being comes from living fully and consciously.
After discovering yoga herself, Claudia experienced a profound shift in how she understood both the body and the mind. She realized that our bodies are not just physical—they carry emotional and subconscious patterns that can be released through conscious movement, breathwork, and presence. To Claudia, yoga is not just exercise; it’s a gateway to expansion, healing, and inner freedom.
With over 600 hours of certified training, Claudia’s studies include Restorative Alignment, Vinyasa, Hatha, and Prenatal Yoga. Her classes offer a gentle Slow Flow, blending breath awareness, mindful movement, and psychological insight to help students connect deeply to their center—without pressure, and always in the present moment.
Her teaching invites you to move not just your muscles and joints, but also your energy and emotions—creating space for true transformation from the inside out.
meet elena gomez ryT-200
Certified Yoga Instructor | Yoga to Sacred Music
Yoga has been part of my life since I was in elementary school—it's always been something I’ve loved deeply. About five years ago, I decided to take my practice to the next level by completing an intensive Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training right here at Esencia Yoga Spa.
I currently teach “Yoga to Sacred Music” every Friday from 4:30–5:30 PM—a unique class inspired by Bikram Yoga, but with a special twist: there are no verbal instructions. Instead, you’ll flow with me through the sequence, guided by breath, body, and the rhythm of carefully curated sacred music.
This is a meditative, energetic, and heart-opening practice. I look forward to sharing this moving, musical experience with you on the mat.