Marcia Appel

Yoga & Meditation Teacher, Writer and Author

Marcia stepped onto her mat in 2000 to ease grief caused when her beloved father developed a serious illness and also to combat the effects of fibromyalgia. Her practice deepened, her mind calmed, her body strengthened, and her spirit renewed. The fibromyalgia ended, and she felt as vital as she had in years. "Yoga and meditation changed everything for me and for my family," she says.

In 2007, after a rewarding career as a journalist and Fortune 500 senior executive, she founded Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center. In late 2024, Marcia sold her share of the business to Merry Beth Freienmuth, her long-time partner, who now leads the company, a pioneer in integrative healing.

Marcia has studied with talented and compassionate teachers, including Baron Baptiste for power vinyasa and Judith Lasater to become a registered Relax & Renew instructor.

In May 2013 Marcia completed the RYT 300-hour program – Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training - at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. It explored the integration of mindfulness meditation and yoga with teachers Phillip Moffitt, Mark Coleman, Anna Douglas, Janice Gates, Anne Cushman, Richard Miller, and Chip Hartranft. She now is credentialed to teach Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation, including Yoga Nidra. She completed Level 1 of iRest training in 2018; based on the ancient practice of Yoga Nidra and made accessible for the modern world. iRest Yoga Nidra combats PTSD, sleeplessness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and much more.

Marcia enjoys traveling, writing and reading, biking, swimming, gardening, studying yoga, and nurturing her deep friendships. She adores her family: her co-parent, Vince, their daughter and son-in-law; and their son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she dreams of adopting another cat and learning to play piano.