Academia & Research.

Michelle Renaud.

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.

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.  Michelle obtained the first of three yoga certifications in Montreal Canada – and has been an advocate of the practice ever since!

Michelle’s research interests include functional fitness, healthy aging, and the use of yoga and mindfulness strategies to support the needs of caregivers of older adults.

For more information about speaking engagements, research colaborations, or to connect, please click the link below.

Thank you very much for your interest!

Degrees & Certifications

Ph.D. Kinesiology - Wayne State University

M.S. Community Health - Eastern Michigan University

B.S. Sports Medicine - Eastern Michigan University

E-RYT 500 - Yoga Alliance (9000+ hours of experience)

CPT - National Strength & Conditioning Association

Scholarships & Awards

Doctoral Fellowship - Wayne State University

Institute of Gerontology - Wayne State University

Curriculum Development Brief

Mindfulness for College Students

Radiant Shift - Yoga & Mindfulness for Menopause

Adaptive Yoga - Henry Ford Health

The Calm Within - Somatic Practices for Self-Care

Better Backs - Seminar for Back Health

My Healthy Hearts - Corporate Wellness Initiative

Yoga for Caregivers - Karmanos Cancer Institute

Mindful Mornings - Community Initiative

The Gentle Reset - Mindfulness Workshop

WSU Courses Taught

KHS 1010 Wellness at Wayne (2021 - 2022)

HE 2310 Dynamics of Personal Health (2022- 2024)

HE 6200 Yoga & Mindfulness in Professional Practice (2023 - 2025)

EMU Courses Taught

Lifetime Wellness and Fitness (2011 - 2024)

Yoga: Philosophy and Practice (2011 - 2022)

Weight Control and Fitness (2012 - 2022)

Jogging Techniques and Injury Prevention (2012 - 2020)

Family Fitness (2013 - 2025)

Healthy Hearts (2013 - 2022)

Stautzenberger Courses Taught

Sport Psychology (2009 - 2011)

Exercise Physiology (2009 - 2011)

Fitness Lab I and II (2009 - 2011)

Business Management for Wellness Professionals (2009 - 2011)

Nutrition (2009 - 2011)

Externship Coordinator (2009 - 2011)

Publications, Presentations, Posters, & Abstracts

  1. Neda, R., Barcelona,J.,  Martin, J., Ladanyi, H., Renaud, M.,  Malesky, C.M., Ketcheson,L., Fahlman, M., (2025). Online and In-person Equally Effective for Older Adults’ Functional Fitness. Activities, Adaptation and Aging. DOI:10.1080/01924788.2025.2471708. 

  2. Renaud, M., Ladanyi, H., Neda, R., Fahlman, M., Barcelona, J. (2024, May). Examining the Impact of Yoga and Mindfulness on Perceived Caregiver Stress and Burden. Poster presentation at the annual meeting for American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), Boston, MA.   

  3. Renaud, M. (2024, June). In the Moment: Yoga & Mindfulness in Sports. Lecture presentation at the annual meeting for Michigan Athletic Training Society (MATS), Lansing, MI.

  4. Barcelona, J., Neda, R., Ladanyi, H., Renaud, M., Malesky, C.M., Fahlman, M. (2024, May). Comparing Virtual And In-person Delivery Of Functional Fitness Intervention Outcomes In Community Dwelling Seniors. Poster presentation at the annual meeting for American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM), Boston, MA. 

  5. Ladanyi, H., Renaud, M., Neda, R., Fahlman, M., Barcelona, J. (2024, May). Older Adults’ Mindful Reflections on Perceived Health Related Quality of Life. Poster presentation at the annual meeting for American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM), Boston, MA. 

  6. Neda, R., Ladanyi, H., Renaud, M., Malesky, C.M., Fahlman, M., Barcelona, J (2024, May). Assessment of Functional Fitness Outcomes in 12-Week Fitness Program Intervention Based on Age Categories Among Community Dwelling Seniors. Poster presentation at the annual meeting for American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM), Boston, MA. 

  7. Malesky, C. M., Neda, R., Renaud, M., Ladanyi, H., Barcelona, J., Fahlman, M. (2024, May). Piloting A 12-week Nutrition Education Program and Its Influence On Eating Habits Of African American Seniors. Poster presentation at the annual meeting for American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM), Boston, MA.