Find Peace in the Mountains
Get to know Beth Merrell, owner and operator of Be in the Mountains Yoga & Massage Therapy
In a sunlit studio tucked into the Village Plaza, Beth Merrell bolsters a client in blankets, gently guides them into a reclining pose, and applies a touch that makes muscles remember they’re allowed to let go.
This is restorative yoga with Thai elements—one of several practices Merrell has brought to Cloudcroft since opening Be in the Mountains Yoga & Massage Therapy in 2022 after relocating with her family from Saint Louis a few years before.
This article originally appeared in the February 2026 Mountain Monthly Local Guide.
“I think the combination of massage therapy and yoga is kind of like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” she laughs. “It just goes really good together.”
The studio offers a range of classes designed to meet practitioners at every level.
Vinyasa flow classes emphasize the connection between movement and breath, while yin yoga takes a slower approach, targeting connective tissue with deep stretches. 3-5-minute poses focus on deeper, non-muscular tissues such as fascia, ligaments, and tendons.
Perhaps most unique is Merrell’s restorative class with Thai yoga elements—a gentle flow where folks slowly move into soft poses while Merrell applies Thai touch. Holding the body still for extended poses allows the mind to wander, then settle down.
Merrell’s personal practice of Thai yoga, which she began studying in 2014, has transformed her approach to bodywork. Unlike a traditional table massage, a private Thai yoga session is practiced on the floor with clients fully dressed, combining yoga poses with applied pressure to restore balance and flow throughout the body.
Some clients schedule bodywork immediately after a Vinyasa flow class. The yoga practice helps clients connect with themselves and identify areas of tension or discomfort, which can then be addressed during the massage session.
Merrell says that “with practicing yoga before a massage, it helps connect you to yourself better and opens you up to relaxing and softening and receiving body work on a deeper level.”
Be in the Mountains Yoga and Massage Therapy is located in the Village Plaza on James Canyon Highway. For class schedules and booking information, visit yogaincloudcroft.com.
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Noisy Water Winery
Family-owned winery crafting thoughtfully made wines from New Mexico grapes, inspired by mountain living.Be in the Mountains Yoga & Massage
A cozy space for yoga and massage therapy at the Village PlazaOsha Trail Depot
Your destination for unique, hand-crafted treasuresJohn R. Battle, CPA, CVA, MAFF, CMAA
Personal & Business Taxes, Tax Planning & ConsultingThe Stove and Spa Store
We offer a variety of services to ensure your hearth and spa dreams are met!The Lodge at Cloudcroft
Landmark Choice Among New Mexico ResortsSacramento Camp & Conference Center
Come to the Mountain — Let God Refresh Your SoulLaughing Leaf Dispensary
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Adventure Within: Transformative Yoga, Ayurvedic Wisdom, Nourishing Organics, Fair Trade BoutiqueOff the Beaten Path
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The Southernmost ski area in New Mexico.Cloudcroft Therapeutic Massage
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Your favorite little outdoor outfitter on Burro AvenueBlushing Yucca Esthetics
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