Shelby Loewen
500hr E-RYT, YACEP, Studio Owner, International Retreat Host, Practitioner, and Student
Have you seen the movie Big Fish? Do you remember the scene when Edward Bloom takes a shortcut and arrives in the town of Spectre? When he arrives, the mayor tells him they were expecting him… but he’s early.
My first encounter with yoga felt a lot like that.
It wasn’t even a yoga class. Someone simply asked me if I practiced yoga, and the question triggered something profound inside me. At the time, I wasn’t ready for yoga. It had arrived too early in my story.
Many years later, I found it again—at exactly the right moment. I was out looking for tacos when I stumbled into a yoga studio. It’s funny what finds you in life when you stop searching so hard for answers.
My name is Shelby, and I found yoga when I was ready.
Like many people, I navigate daily life with challenges. I live with an anxiety disorder and MCAS, and yoga has become one of the most powerful tools for managing my symptoms and supporting my overall well-being. Through both practice and teaching, yoga has helped me build a life rooted in health, knowledge, and purpose.
In January 2021, I founded Muni Muni Yoga & Wellness, a yoga studio in Vancouver, Washington. What began as a hot yoga studio has evolved into a thriving community space offering heated, warm, non-heated, aerial, and fitness-based classes , workshops, and trainings that blend both modern and traditional approaches to movement and wellness.
Today, Muni Muni hosts more than 50 classes each week, along with monthly specialty offerings such as Conscious Breathwork, Kids Aerial Yoga, Queer Yoga Club, and Moon Day classes. My goal for Muni Muni has always been simple: to create a welcoming space where everyone can find something that supports their unique journey.
Beyond the studio, I teach pop-up workshops and specialty classes throughout the United States and lead international yoga retreats around the world.
I began hosting retreats in 2023 and have since guided experiences in Mexico, Peru, and Costa Rica. I've also taught internationally in Guatemala, Bali, and Bhutan. The retreats I create are designed to be a blend of yoga, culture, exploration, and personal discovery. They are open to everyone, whether you have an established yoga practice or are simply seeking a meaningful experience.
What is your yoga philosophy?
I believe that yoga should be available to anyone who wishes to practice, regardless of body type, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, or financial status. I believe there is no single "right" way to practice yoga. Whether you are drawn to asana, meditation, breathwork, self-study, philosophy, or simply moments of mindful presence, your practice is valid. Yoga is a deeply personal journey, and each individual deserves the freedom to explore it in a way that feels meaningful, accessible, and authentic to them.
Yoga instructors should always teach from a place of knowledge, compassion, and accessibility. As teachers, our role is to offer guidance rather than absolutes, recognizing that each student's experience is unique. True growth, healing, and transformation arise from the practice of yoga itself, not from the teacher. We are simply facilitators, creating space for students to connect with their own wisdom, strength, and potential.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I love teaching yoga because I love yoga, but it isn't my first teaching role. Before becoming a yoga instructor, I taught swim lessons, and I discovered that I genuinely enjoy helping others learn and grow. My passion for teaching comes from my love of learning. When I find something meaningful, I can't help but share it with others. Whether it's yoga, swimming, or a random piece of knowledge I've picked up along the way, I find joy in making information accessible and helping people build confidence in themselves.
Why do you teach yoga?
How do you balance teaching and practicing yoga?
No matter how many classes I teach, I believe deeply in remaining a student. Whenever possible, I attend retreats, trainings, and intensive programs with my teachers and fellow practitioners whose knowledge and approach resonate with my own practice. These experiences allow me to step away from the demands of daily life, deepen my understanding of yoga, and continue growing both personally and professionally. Retreats and practice intensives are how I refill my cup. They help me maintain balance and stay connected to the many roles I hold as a teacher, studio owner, and lifelong student of yoga.
My personal practice consists of asana (Ashtanga and Rocket), pranayama, and meditation (Tibetan Buddhism).