About US

Discover your strength, balance & peace of mind with US.

Urban Solace is a lifestyle brand designed to help support all aspects of your health & wellbeing. 

Urban Solace founder, Dr. Michelle Renaud was born and raised on the NW side of Detroit. She’s a doting mum, urban bohemian, boat dweller, and Detroit’s beloved yogini.  Michelle is also an exercise physiologist and a health educator - with experience in cardiac rehabilitation, functional fitness, and adaptive yoga.

In addition to Dr. Renaud’s role at Urban Solace, she serves as adjunct faculty at Eastern Michigan University in the Health Promotion and Human Performance department. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Master of Science in Community Health, and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine. Her research interests are focused on yoga & mindfulness, healthy aging, and stress management for caregivers.

As a Detroit native, Michelle sought to improve access to quality health education and wellness programming within her community - through Urban Wellness Group, which was founded in 2001 and has offered mobile corporate programming and community fitness initiatives to countless clients and students since its inception.

As an experienced registered teacher with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500), Michelle has over 25 years of practice on her mat (as an educator and lifelong learner). She became an avid practitioner after sustaining a severe knee injury in 1997 that sidelined her passion for running. Incorporating yoga into her rehabilitation plan helped her discover its functional fitness benefits – and has been an advocate of the practice ever since!

Urban Solace is the proud producer of the longest-running, FREE outdoor yoga program in downtown Detroit.  They’ve been providing fun & fitness on the riverfront to thousands of residents and visitors since 2007 - and are super excited to share the gift of yoga & wellness with you.

Thank you for your support!

For programming information, collaborations, media inquies, or to simply stay in touch, please reach out at:

practice@urbansolacestudio.com

  • "You and your gifts touch many lives and make a difference."

    C. Miranda

  • "It's great to see you helping so many people and doing what you love."

    T.R.

  • "Thank you for all you do. Don't stop!"

    Jeanette W.

  • "I'm new to your classes this year. So happy I found you. You will see me again."

    Renee P.

  • "My mind and body (especially lower back) thank you."

    Alex C.

  • "This is my fifth year of yoga on the riverfront with Michelle. I enjoy her classes."

    Merly H.

  • "For many years I enjoyed yoga on the riverfront with Michelle. She is a great inspiration."

    Patti D.

  • "I love the passion you have for what you do."

    Todd S.

  • "Thankful for the opportunity to practice with you all."

    M. Lillian

  • "Thanks for introducing me to this awesome yoga community."

    A.S.

  • "It's the best! You are so welcoming and provide weekly joy to many."

    Rene C.

 

Join US on a journey of self-discovery with fun and functional programming featuring nutrition, mindfulness, urban nesting … and of course, yoga.