Alexis Lynn believes in wellness. So much so that she went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study athletic training better understand the mental state of athletes, a group of people who she feels are often forgotten.

Now, though originally from Fayetteville, Lynn is the owner and creator of Move to Heal LLC, a holistic healing business. Through her business, she is also the wellness provider for Harmony Health Therapeutic Services, a behavioral health center in Charlotte.

Through yoga, dance, and a technique called “Reiki,” a form of energy healing often used as alternative medicine, Lynn teaches her clients the importance of self-care and mental stability. 

Her own educational journey, however, is far from over. Lynn is currently finishing up her Master’s in social work to become a licensed clinical social worker. Once obtained, the wellness expert plans to combine therapy, yoga, and movement throughout each of her endeavors. 

“Any and everything holistic health, wellness, mind, body, and spirit is pretty much what I do and what I’m about. I’ve been dancing since I was three years old, so that’s a huge part of my identity as well. Movement has such a strong presence throughout life. I think a lot of times we think that we have to think through things to process it and move to heal, and my business is about moving through it,” Lynn said.

Yoga first showed up on Lynn’s radar five years ago when attending yoga classes that didn’t exactly fit her needs. 

“I could not find the class that I was looking for, that was just about restoration and rest and actually connecting both mind and body meditation. So I went and just got certified myself,” said Lynn.

Once certified, one of Lynn’s former dance instructors encouraged her to teach a yoga class, which she really enjoyed. 

“I’m also a Reiki level practitioner and I had friends and family members that would ask ‘Can you give me Reiki?’ Lynn combined her knowledge of both practices and thus her business was born. “have a passion for education and teaching as well and just helping people learn about wellness,” she says.

Lynn sat down with Charlotte PinC to talk about the importance of her work and how she serves her community through yoga and Reiki.

The following transcript was edited for length and clarity.

Your website said that movement helped heal you, –  what prompted you to “move,” and just what kind of movement do you engage in?

“I have been dancing since I was three years old! My tough days were always resolved after leaving the dance studio, and the same was true in college. During COVID, I couldn’t get into dance studios, and it was hard to dance around my apartment. I joined a yoga certification course because I wanted to do something that would give me movement and provide me with the same mental benefits as dance, and yoga has done that. 

How did Move to Heal come to be?

“Move to Heal came to be after I received my yoga certification. At first, I did yoga for myself, and then friends and family started to request sessions. I got asked to host a few workshops, and I realized that I found joy in teaching others how to improve their wellness. When thinking of a business name, I started thinking of things I loved. I thought, ‘You are simply moving to heal’, and here we are!”

What do you say to people who think they aren’t fit enough for yoga?

“This is a great question! I say that yoga is just like healing, it’s a journey and not a destination! My goal is not to get to the perfect or most complicated pose, it’s about the intention that you put into the work.

One of your services includes meditation. For those of us whose minds are always racing, how do you help people turn off all of the noise to meditate?

“One of the biggest misconceptions about meditation is that the noise will turn off whenever you meditate. The truth is that noise continues, it is your focus that changes. I do guided meditations that have specific topics like self-love to help clients focus. For example, take slow, deep breaths, and repeat the words inhale and exhale as you breathe in and out. As you continue, you’ll notice that your focus is on your breathing, and everything else will begin to disappear. If your mind gets off track..that’s okay! Repeat your words and your breath and get right back in.”

Do you do group classes or is all of your work 1-on1?

“Although most of my sessions are one-on-one, I do offer group classes as well! Currently, I have Wind Down Wednesday every week at 7:00pm which is a virtual yoga flow, and I also am available for group workshops for businesses, events, parties, and more.”

What is Reiki and how does it benefit someone?

“Reiki uses gentle touch therapy to promote a sense of relaxation and calmness. Its positive energy assists individuals on a mental, physical, and spiritual level. As a Reiki practitioner, I serve as a conduit to the universal energy that flows to a client so that they may release what does not serve them. It helps to stimulate relaxation, reduce pain and tension, boost mood, enhance the quality of sleep, reduce stress, and more.”

What do you find most rewarding about your job and your business?

“Connecting with people. Seeing their growth and saying how they are consistent in it and committed to it. And knowing that we’ve built that relationship and that trust with each other, where once she trusts me to help guide her along this journey and I trust her to continue. Just seeing people grow and being able to assist people and becoming well is probably one of the biggest things I love.”