At DM Wellness & Yoga our goal is to provide you an environment to practice that is safe, empowering, and enjoyable. We believe in functional movement, combining traditional practices and modern approaches, and finding the version of the practice that works for YOU!

Our Philosophy

We believe:

  • All bodies have equal value.

  • You know your body best and you have the autonomy to make your practice your own.

  • Our studio is a safe and welcoming place for all members of our community.

  • Building a community is part of the practice - we support each other on and off the mat.

  • Functional movement has value, and a yoga pose doesn’t have to have a name - we explore movement in creative ways.

  • There is something out there for everyone in the practice of yoga - we offer a variety of options, but recognize we’re not for everyone.

  • You deserve to feel your best - in both body and mind.

Our Studio

DM Wellness & Yoga is located at 1131 42nd St. in Des Moines, part of the Uptown Shopping Center. The studio is just 2 minutes north of I-235 and is at the intersection of the Drake, Waveland Park, and Beaverdale neighborhoods.

You won’t get lost in the crowd here. We primarily teach small group classes and private lessons. Most group classes are capped between 8-10 people, and average attendance for most classes is 5-8 people. Our classes range from meditation and relaxation, to slow-paced vinyasa, to more active yoga classes that infuse strength training. We are always happy to chat about your goals and point you to what will be the best fit!

Dara Madigan, Owner & Lead Teacher

I created DM Wellness & Yoga so that I could help more people integrate movement and mindset practices into their daily lives. I’m a certified Yoga Teacher (E-RYT500), Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), and American Council on Exercise Group Fitness Instructor. My goal is to bring people more balance and joy. I’m passionate about helping you feel better in your body through wellness practices that complement your life.

I have a passion for learning and improving as a teacher – I’ve completed a variety of continuing education courses, such as the Science of the Private Lesson and a 300-hour Yoga Personal Trainer certification. Over the years, I have gravitated more strongly toward gentler practices, and I enjoy working with beginners and those that do not see themselves in a typical yoga studio setting. I love getting to ignite the spark in people who enter the practice with self-doubt or hesitancy and ultimately find empowerment.

Having grown up in Boulder, Colorado I have always loved moving my body and have been exposed to yoga from a young age. I love getting outside and enjoying nature, especially on a warm sunny day. My time outside of yoga is spent cycling, hiking, exploring Des Moines with friends, and spending time with my husband and two fur babies.

Katie Allen, Teacher

Hello everyone! I’m Katie Allen. Yoga came into my life in 2019 when I received a coupon for a local studio. The mental transformation I felt after that first class and each class after, kept me coming back. I’m still so incredibly proud of that decision I made to step out of my comfort zone and into the yoga studio that day! I now have the honor of sharing this practice with you! I lean towards a vinyasa style of yoga, finding time to connect breath to movement. I hope for you to feel encouraged and empowered to challenge yourself while also listening to your body in class with me. Outside the studio you will find me spending time with my husband Zach and two beautiful daughters Layla (8) and Tony Grace (4) and our blue heeler Luna! My passion is Kids Yoga which is the main focus of my small business Happy Heart Yoga and Wellness! Feel free to reach out for some fun filled kids classes!

Meredith Causton, Teacher

I completed the 200-hour LifePower Yoga Teacher Training in 2017. I became passionate about yoga after attending my first class over a decade ago and carry that love, excitement, and commitment into my teaching. I teach hatha flow, yin yoga, breathwork and meditation, weaving in somatic and embodiment practices into each class to leave you feeling balanced, realigned, and grounded. I cue to the body to support the breath and movement of all levels of practitioners while encouraging the practice to be made personal.

I am a student first and am continually enrolled in programs, classes, and trainings to expand my knowledge. I’m currently enrolled in two yearlong programs: a 200hr YTT Certification through BodyAwake Yoga and an energetic Neurolinguistic Programming course. 

In my free time I love practicing yoga, going to meditations, studying the sacred yogic texts, and enjoying the outdoors hiking, biking, kayaking, or picnicking. I’m blessed to have a 17-year old daughter who doesn’t quite share the same love of yoga yet but promises to attend her classes when they’re like “a concert.” I can’t wait to meet you and I’m excited to see you in class!

Heather Moon, Teacher

I have been practicing yoga for 30 years and my practice has grown and evolved with me. I decided to become a yoga teacher because I love to share what I’ve learned along the way so that others can benefit from it, too. Today, my practice is primarily SomaYoga which is a blend of Somatics, Therapeutic Yoga & Hatha Yoga. This modality gives the potential of freeing us from chronic pain, as well as improving physical functioning, mobility, stability and strength. I believe yoga should be supportive, accessible and fun.

I truly enjoy studying yoga and learning more ways to share the tools. I completed an additional 300-hour program to become a SomaYoga specialist through Yoga North International SomaYoga Institute in 2024 and plan to continue the Yoga Therapy program in 2026.

Outside of yoga, I love to spend time cycling and hiking, going to listen to live music and spending time with friends and family. I look forward to meeting you!

Michele Michehl, Teacher

Why yoga? Every time I come home to my mat and practice yoga I experience myself in the present moment, releasing with gratitude what no longer serves me and making space to receive what it meant for me. Yoga connects me to my breath, to my body, to my emotions and to community. It has given space to self acceptance, joy, sorrow, challenges and more. This is why I practice and why I became a teacher.

I began teaching in 2021 after completing my 200hr teacher training. I started practicing yoga when I was a kid, modeling my mom's daily routine of movement and stretching and calming. We didn't call it Yoga, but I now know that's what it was. I began a routine practice over 10 years ago. It is ever-evolving.

My happy place is in nature, around water, with animals, on my yoga mat and with friends and family. I have a passion for travel, animals, gardening, decorating, laughter and constant learning. I am currently studying the psychology of yoga and how the deeper connection with our body allows our mind to heal.

I am here to help guide your individual journey as you come to your mat, breathe and move. I am honored to be a part of this space and community.

Dejah Roman, Teacher

I can’t touch my toes anymore…not without bending my knees anyway. I also can’t do a very good seated forward fold. And that is OKAY by me! As a 46 year-young Iowa native living in Norwalk and mother of 4 who has spent most my life working with children and families, I know the struggles each and every one of us face daily. However, I also trust the blessings and gifts we are given which provide us with the tools we need to meet our true purpose.

Just as my family is near and dear to me, so too has yoga become an important part of my daily life. Over the years my yoga practice has evolved from something I do on a mat on the floor to something I step into each and every moment of the day. From the moment I wake up and choose to step into this life, I work to practice what I teach and to continue my path as a student just as tenderly.

My passion for yoga rests in the easy flow of vinyasa, the soft surrender of a good yin session, and the healing darkness of an effortless restorative practice. I also have a deep love of historical fiction, gardening (which I fail at often but just keep trying), and rocks…Not sure what the deal is with that, but I love them! I hope to see you on the mat soon. Be well.