Today we’d like to introduce you to Audra Morelock
Hi Audra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Cookeville, TN and moved to Casselberry, FL two years after my father died when I was 7 years old with my two sisters. We spent every summer at an all girls camp in Monterey, TN which is where I cultivated my love of nature and spirituality. I started my undergraduate studies at the University of Florida but was missing TN so I transferred to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and graduated with an degree in English Literature. I was living in Georgia and working for the State when I graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Masters in Public Administration. I spent my career working through a different couple of industries and after nearly three decades, I built a successful corporate career, rising to become a Director of Program Management at a Fortune 500 global company. Yet something was missing in my life, and I decided to make a change.
As an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast, I found sanctuary in exploring the world’s sacred spaces and landscapes. Meditation and yoga became vital anchors for me – pathways to presence and equanimity amid constant motion.
After experiencing a life-changing divorce, I delved deeper into serious study of meditation and yoga traditions. I graduated this summer with a meditation teacher certification (MTT-200) from Meditation University and I am working on my yoga teacher training (YTT-200) accredited by Yoga Alliance.
This past January, I said out loud that I needed to do something different for a living so I embarked on a meditation teacher certification. I wanted to do something that could help heal the world. I finished my last position in May and have been hard at work learning, studying and getting ready to launch the studio.
Drawing from my decades of business leadership and dedicated spiritual practice, I founded The Well Mind Collective. My vision is to provide a sanctuary for personal growth and inner peace in the community. Through my meditation studies as well as research I have done, I believe our biggest problem in the world is the ability to see each other. We are connected as humans to each other. That ability to see each other could help us solve our differences and save the planet. I want to cultivate that through the opening of my meditation studio and the community I hope to create.
When not teaching, you’ll find me reading, hiking trails, kayaking, and biking, and embarking on my next travel adventure alongside my 14-year-old daughter, and our two beloved puppies, Larry and Maya. Our next trip is in the fall to Machu Picchu in Peru.
I’m a member of a local sangha in Knoxville in the tradition of Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and have a daily meditation and hatha yoga practice.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While my journey has been incredibly rewarding, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the main challenges I’ve faced is helping people overcome their hesitation to try meditation, despite the wealth of research demonstrating its benefits for both physical and mental health.
There’s often a disconnect between knowing something is good for you and actually doing it. I’ve struggled with educating people about the research conducted that speak to the physical and mental benefits of improved immune system, healthy aging, improvements in diabetes and hypertension as well as more positive emotions, reduced stress and anxiety and helping those with PTSD and depression. In fact, my own experience is a testament to this – I was able to discontinue my blood pressure medication after establishing a daily meditation practice.
Another significant hurdle has been dispelling common myths about meditation. Many people believe that meditation requires you to control your mind or stop thinking entirely, which can be intimidating and off-putting. In reality, meditation is about observing your thoughts without judgment, not eliminating them.
These misconceptions often prevent people from giving meditation a chance. It’s been a continuous process of education, patience, and leading by example to help others understand that meditation is accessible to everyone and can be integrated into daily life without massive time commitments.
Despite these challenges, seeing the positive changes in those who do embrace the practice keeps me motivated. Every person who discovers the benefits of meditation and mindfulness reinforces my belief in this work and inspires me to keep pushing forward, finding new ways to make these practices approachable and relevant in our fast-paced world.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At the Well Mind Collective, our mission is to cultivate beautiful thinking and enrich the mental well-being of the Knoxville community. We are a meditation first studio in Knoxville that is not tied to a therapist office or to a religious tradition. I have experience teaching and studying the varied traditions and practices of meditations and can offer the practice to the community. Eventually, I want to extend our offering of services to include all kinds of mental well-being programs.
Our core values of community, accessibility, inclusion, and love, I aim to weave mental wellness seamlessly into the fabric of everyday life.
Our commitment extends beyond our doors through a scholarship fund, ensuring that our transformative experiences are accessible to all, regardless of financial ability.
In fostering a space where individuals are encouraged to grow, heal, and connect, the Well Mind Collective stands as a pillar of support and a place of retreat for anyone seeking to embark on or deepen their journey towards a balanced and healthy mental well-being.
Our services will include programs/series of meditations that are devoted to different topics (between 4 and 6 classes), drop in classes if you just want to attend one of the classes in the series and individual meditation coaching. I will also have a corporate wellness offerings to companies that are interested in providing that for their employees. I am currently working on a grant with a university and school system in Georgia to provide videos and workshops to teenagers to help with stress, test anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed, exhaustion, and help in developing relationships.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a multifaceted individual with an intelligence and a zest for life. I was good at school while also immersing myself in a variety of extracurricular activities, including sports and clubs.
I did have a rebellious streak. Rather than outright defiance, I preferred to navigate the system by understanding its intricacies and finding creative ways to achieve my goals. I did this to enable me to skip school and go to the beach or hang out with my friends. I was a typical Gen X kid.
Physical activity was a cornerstone of my childhood. Whether I was competing in organized sports, cycling through the neighborhood, or playing in the pool. I never was tested but I do believe I had some ADD and that active lifestyle was key to keeping me balanced. You can ask my Mom as she says I was a challenge. I played soccer since the time I was 5 and also played on the volleyball team.
Socially, I was adaptable and well-liked. I had a small circle of close friends and had friendly relationships with most everyone. I did have natural confidence which some people found intimidating or pushy which coupled with my straight forward communication style caused me some issues. Over time, I learned to temper that communications style while still being myself. However, this personality trait helped me be a very good Program Manager.
I was into science and math as a teenager and thought my career was going to be in enviornmental engineering. It is funny how things change as you grow so it is quite funny that I ended up in the arts. I then thought I wanted to work in a non-profit and help the world so I got a Masters in Public Administration. I was swayed to the other side by the good wages and salaries and having money to travel the world which was also one of my favorite things to do.
Pricing:
- Drop in Class $18
- 4 week series $68
- 6 week series $100
- Individual Coaching $150/hr, initial session free
- Corporate Workshops $600 to $2000, varies
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wellmindcollective.com
- Instagram: wellmindcollective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560829745282
- Youtube: @wellmindcollective
