Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Dierker.
Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was little, I knew I wanted to be a teenager, a singer, and a social worker when I grew up. As a child, we had social workers in and out of our home. I remember feeling safe, scared, overwhelmed, angry, disconnected, and peaceful when our social workers and professionals were supporting my family. I experienced a lot of trauma, grief, and loss as a young child, and these amazing professionals were there every step of the way from hotline reports, therapy sessions, guardian ad litem appointments, termination of parental rights, and my adoption hearings. As a child experiencing so much chaos, I knew supporting kids like me was really important. So, I went to school and got a degree in social work. I worked for the state of Missouri with foster parents, supporting biological families so their child didn’t enter foster care, and then working with families who were waiting to adopt kids from foster care. Once I had my twins, I left the state to work for a local nonprofit. It was there I was able to work and run support groups and summer camps. I really found what I loved working there. I became re-traumatized through a personal experience and realized I needed to find support. I was trying everything I could. began researching and trying everything I could and that’s how I found yoga teacher training. I read about how yoga is so good for not only your body, but your mind, and connecting those two elements. Something I was missing! I also knew that when someone experiences trauma, grief, loss, etc. we store these emotions in our bodies, and mindfulness and movement were key! Because of the trauma, I experienced my body was reacting. My arms were sore from supporting my body, I couldn’t feel and connect with my legs, and my mind was only focused on the event and how to prevent it from ever happening again. After I went through yoga teacher training my life was changed. I even felt my legs again for the first time after this traumatic event, I was able to be in the present moment, I was able to enjoy my life again. I immediately felt that this gift needed to be shared with the amazing youth I have been working with my whole career. In order to do that I knew I needed to adjust a few things to make sure yoga was a safe, welcoming, and a trauma-informed space. Once I continued to read, and learn, and talk to amazing professionals I was able to piece together what Complete Harmony is now. Supporting kids who have experienced trauma or who have mental health needs has always been my passion, my life work, and I was so excited to find a way to offer this valuable mindfulness and yoga practice that was inclusive of these youth and who they are, and what they have experienced. I was then equally grateful to find Grace, who was just as passionate about learning how to support and meet kids and families where they are. Together we are balancing feathers, blowing pom-poms, moving like sad dinosaurs, and eternally grateful to be a space these kids are vulnerable enough to show up in.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I never saw myself as a business person. I truly wanted these services to not be a privilege-based service and for all to feel welcomed. So, learning how to be a business owner was a little bit of a hurdle. I had to find a balance of how to offer programs that would support families from all financial backgrounds, as well as make sure I could sustain a small business. It is still a juggling act, but one I proudly take on so we can meet as many families where they are, as possible. As with most small businesses we have had to also pivot and navigate the pandemic and become creative.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I teach and specialize in trauma-informed yoga for youth. That means I provide a safe and inclusive space for youth to connect to themselves, each other, and the world around them. I love when kids show up exactly as they are. One time I was reading one of our favorite books in class and we got to the page about a sad dinosaur. A 5-year-old in class raised his hand and asked if he could be the sad dinosaur today. He became very sad and began to share in class about how his dad was in jail and how he is in foster care, and how all these things were making him sad. He of course became the sad dinosaur and we all either moved like his dinosaur or did our own sad dinosaur. It was so wonderful to see a small group of 5-year-olds supports this new friend by saying, ” I really felt sad moving like your dinosaur, I’m sorry you are sad.” “What did your dad do?” “I’m not in foster care, but sometimes my sad gets really big.” Watching a room of empathetic kids connecting to their own experience, the experience of others, and moving through it all was so beautiful. I genuinely love holding space for these kids to show up and be themselves. I am really good at being present, remaining calm, and thinking outside the box. No matter who you are, or what you have experienced, you are welcome here. You are welcome to show up in any way that feels best to you!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have lived in St. Louis basically my whole life, and it is where I have chosen to raise my 3 girls with my partner. I think growing up I was exposed to all the parts of living here that people love and enjoy. All the attractions, the yummy restaurants, the unique shops and businesses, and all the great people you meet. St. Louis is a small world and you are bound to run into someone you know at any given time. As I got older, while my tastes in foods changed so did seeing what this city has to offer. St. Louis has great resources for families in need. We have so many wonderful nonprofits that are eager to lend a hand. We have great festivals and events. Some of my family’s favorites are Pride, Let them Eat Art and the Festival of Nations. There are so many amazing people from all walks of life who call St. Louis home. Some of my closest and dearest friends live here. We love Maplewood as a community and how they rally around all of their citizens and businesses, and yay for our first black woman mayor!
St. Louis also comes with its downfalls like many cities do. Our city has gentrification, difficulties with affordable housing, white flight, and racial injustice. I would love to see St. Louis become a leader in taking a stand against injustice everywhere. I want St. Louis to be a welcoming community on all fronts. A place where anyone can walk down the street and feel safe, we’re a family who wants to buy an affordable house in a school district that supports their family is actually achievable. A community that has inclusive bathrooms and safe spaces for our trans community. A community that has mental health and community providers on standby for our unhoused population, domestic violence victims, and citizens with mental health diagnoses when they call for help. A community where everyone is loved and accepted for who they are.
Pricing:
- classes are $14 for a 45-minute class
- Private sessions vary from $45-$65
- Girl Scouts and other events vary
- We also offer a 30% discount to all kids in foster care
- We want to meet you where you are! Reach out!
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@completeharmonystl.com
- Website: www.completeharmonystl.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/completeharmonystl
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/completeharmonystl
Image Credits
Complete Harmony
