Erin McKee started Yoga Alternative LLC in 2015, after she realized that her unique style of Christ-focused Yoga did not fit the mold of the Yoga studios in her area.
Want to learn more? Visit “Why Isn’t Yoga Christian?”
Erin often says, “The Lord has led me on a back country hike without a map, so I’d learn to master my intuition and seek signs for direction!”
Erin attended the University of Louisville with hopes to attain a degree in Health Care, but her passion quickly faded after working in a hospital setting.
“I didn’t feel utilized. I saw so much sickness. I worked at Kosairs Children’s Hospital, so it was even more weighing on my heart. Children coming in sick and leaving, not healed, but with medicine that just masked their issues and pain. It was very depressing. I knew I couldn’t sit back, ride along with this process and do this career for the rest of my life.”
Erin then transferred to the University of Southern Indiana with hopes to attain an Elementary and Middle School Teacher certification, to maybe make a difference in children’s lives. During her last semester of her degree, her passion for working with children was halted when she became very ill. Erin contracted Mononucleosis and a rare Auto-Immune virus that developed due to the Mono. She was in bed sick for an entire month. This wrecked her immune system. Shortly after, she developed Shingles, which caused severe nervous system damage.
“At the young age of 24, I felt like I was dying physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. I was suffering with weekly migraines that lasted 24 hours, severe muscle stiffness and chronic fatigue. I am naturally a very active, upbeat, positive person, but I found myself not being able to just push through the pain. I couldn’t go do anything of the active things I loved to do. I visited a neurologist who suggested no true understanding as to what was happening to me, and provided me with a monthly rX cocktail, which did more harm than good. The doctor also suggested I get a cortisone shot to the back of my neck weekly in order to manage my pain. When I asked them how long I’d need to do this for, the doctor said, ‘probably forever.’.
…I felt defeated and joyless, and abandoned by God. I didn’t want to image a life like that, nor live it.”
A family friend suggested she go [as a last resort] to a Naturopathic Doctor, Verl Hunter, in her hometown of Henderson, Ky. With doubts, Erin visited what she suspected to be doctor not superior to those she had already sought council with. But, she was desperate. His prescribed treatment must drastically different, including: only eating whole foods and drinking daily hormone balancing teas, a 10-day water fast, heavy metal detoxes, a supplement regimen, weekly massage, weekly chiropractic adjusts, and stress-relieving/calming exercises for her nervous system-aka- yoga.
“I followed the plan, because my life depended on it. Within a month, the migraines I had been battling for the past two years were gone! I still had a long road ahead of me, but for the first time, in a long time, I had hope and joy. There was no going back! I knew I had to somehow educate myself further in order to help people make this holistic health practice their FIRST defense against illness, instead of their last!”
Erin attended Bodyworks Massage Institute, a 700 hour certification, to become a LMT in 2012
She then attended a Yoga Alliance, 200 hour program, to become a certified yoga instructor in 2014
Developed Yoga Alternative LLC in 2015. Opened and operated Studio 3 Wellness Center 2016-2020 until the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to close.
Erin is currently enrolled in a Precision Nutrition Program to become a Certified Nutrition Coach- expected certification July 2021.
She has taught over 13,000 wellness and yoga classes since 2012 in her studio, in homes, at corporate offices, in workshops, and on mission trips.
Her students range from preschoolers- men and women in their 90s!
Her life experiences, unique trainings and educational background help her relate to many.
“My mission is to create a community that is educated about holistic health for foundational healing, so those living in chronic pain can feel joy again!” -Erin