Makaya Mackie
Community Programs Assistant

MEET MAKAYA

Makaya grew up in El Portal, right in the heart of where Balanced Rock was born. She was introduced to yoga at a young age, practicing during her elementary school years, and continued her journey with yoga as she grew older.

Surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada, she naturally gravitates toward outdoor adventures like rock climbing, surfing, river-boarding, and hiking. Having the Sierras as her backyard, she feels most alive when immersed in nature, where movement and exploration has become essential parts of her life.

Makaya attended an outdoor-focused boarding school in Colorado which gave her the opportunity to dive even deeper into her passions, adding snowboarding, backcountry skiing, and cross-country to her list of favorite pursuits. Makaya also expresses her creativity through drawing, journaling, painting, ceramics, and silversmithing—finding balance between artistic flow and physical movement.

Growing up with Balanced Rock as a steady presence in her life, Makaya’s appreciation for yoga evolved into a deeper connection with the relationship between mind and body. Yoga and mindfulness have become grounding practices for her, offering tools for presence and resilience both on and off the mat.

Now, as part of the Balanced Rock team, Makaya continues to grow her practice while sharing her love for movement, mindfulness, and the healing power of nature with her community.