What’s in a name?

Vira is Sanskrit for “hero.”

At Vira Vessel we SEE your strength and bravery. We celebrate your courageous vulnerability, because we know this world does not embrace being open with our struggles. When the seas of life get rough, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the dark waters. This community is here to support you and keep you afloat!

A vessel is a ship or a container.

Before electricity, ships used glass prisms to shine light into the darkness below deck. Michelle’s late grandfather was a sailor, and imparted a love of all things nautical to her. His deck prism resides in her office and was the inspiration behind our logo. We are here to be a light unto one another. We encourage the vibrant vessel of light that is YOU to shine!

Bravery is the audacity to be unhindered by failures, and to walk with freedom, strength, and hope, in the face of the unknown.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

Michelle Butts, Lead Vessel

This is the lead butt and Captain of the VV Fleet! She is a nerd who loves a good butt joke and jokes in general! Like many others, Michelle has seen her share of trauma. This led her into years of masquerading an externally “fine” overachiever, while privately engaging in unhealthy coping mechanisms and self-abuse as her mental health nosedived (read: anxiety and depression). Looking California and feeling Minnesota, if you will—10 points if you catch that reference! A series of injuries and surgeries* guided Michelle to opt out of the rat race, and opt in to a holistically centered lifestyle.

*Wild thing pose photo is pre back surgery.

Michelle is a certified holistic health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, and currently pursuing her yoga therapist certification. An advocate for the healing power of plants, Michelle is a certified practitioner in multiple healing touch and emotional freedom techniques utilizing essential oils. She is also a trained Reiki Master Teacher in the Usui Ryoho Tibetan Lineage. When she’s not amongst the waves at Vira Vessel, Michelle jams to her fave grunge bands, snuggles her fur babies, and binge watches tv.