Meet Michael Zollcoffer | Yoga Studio Owner and Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Zollcoffer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Life is stressful, constantly changing, and full of distractions. It can feel overwhelming, unfair, and frustrating. It can be difficult to find balance and allow space for strong emotions when life feels like it is running on 2x speed and the noise all around us dulling our senses. Taking time to pause, check in with ourselves, and just breath can provide many positive benefits. Yoga and meditation provide the opportunity to let go of the outside distractions and turn our attention inward to reconnect with our body and mind. Simple breathing techniques can calm anxiety, lift your spirits, and create confidence to take on new challenges. Moving our bodies can enhance cardiovascular function, Improve posture, and increase flexibility. Our goal at Third Eye Mind Yoga, Meditation, and Sound Therapy Center is to share techniques, tips, and tools with the community that will loosen up the body, strengthen the mind, and promote universal harmony between all living things.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have worked in the construction industry for over 30 years. Heavy lifting, climbing ladders, and dangerous situation were regular parts of my experience. Lifting heavy objects, carrying ladders, loading material, these and many other physical activities cause strains all over my body. Aches and pains were just part of the job. I was approaching my 50s and it didn’t look like my body was going to make it another 10.
I discovered yoga practice at a local fitness center. My 1st yoga session was on July 17, 2018 and the session was called “Surrender.” This was a Yin Yoga style session, meaning the postures would be held for 3-5 minutes each. My muscles and tendons were so tight that I could barely perform a forward fold, seated or standing, and I was gasping for air so much it felt like I was running a marathon. The instructor would name each posture, describe how to get into it, what props might help, and provide a demo for more complicated poses. By the final savasana, I was drenched in sweat, exhausted, and in total disbelief at some of the thing I did and most of the things I couldn’t do. Having done gymnastics in high school, I was familiar with some of the mechanics but my body was definitely not in the condition of my late teens and early 20s.
I enjoyed the session so much I stayed for the Flow session after. It was a different instructor and completely different format. Much more movement, with each posture flowing to the next along with the flow of our breath. Matching inhales and exhales with body movement was a fascinating exercise in tuning in to my body and how it felt to move, twist, stretch, and bend every which way. Again by the final savasana I was completely exhausted, out of breath, but felt incredibly energized. This I would discover was one of the positive benefits of the practice. I enjoyed both sessions so much that I became a regular. I attended 2-3 sessions a week for about a year or so and began to see more and more positive benefits. My flexibility was increasing, my balance was improving, and I was at least attempting to make better choices in what foods I consumed. I was not a full on yoga fanatic yet, I still used the studio mats and props, I did not attend yoga sessions anywhere else, and I did not know about any of the philosophy of yoga. For me, it was a great workout and a time to disconnect from the outside world. It was great until the world went wacky.
Once 2020 rolled around, COVID protocols caused all the gyms and studios to close. I tried to transition to a YouTube practice but it was much more difficult to find the space at home to set out a mat and follow along as I was still very new and couldn’t remember all the postures and transitions without guidance. While my physical yoga practice began to slide, I was introduced to meditation and breath-work in September 2020. This was another revelatory experience.
Meditation was very difficult for me as I am very physical and move around a lot. I also have a very active imagination that doesn’t stop looking for problems to solve and ideas to explore. Meditation helped me to pause more, take a breath, and allow my feelings to dissipate and the clarity of the present moment to converge. I began meditating and journaling my thoughts daily to record the insights and reflections I had during these sessions. I began a walking and calisthenics routine in the mornings while the gyms were closed listening to various audio books, podcast, and training modules all focused on expanding my mind with new concepts, philosophies, and ideas. I maintained this routine for 2 years. By then it had run its course and I was looking for something different.
After COVID wrecked havoc on the world, I found myself without a steady means of income and more bills than I had the funds to cover. My electrical contracting company had come to a standstill. My 20 year old cargo van was falling apart, requiring a quart of power steering fluid every few days, all the front suspension needed repair, and the mismatched cash tires were yet again nearly bald. Most of the clients I had were either not planning any new projects or no longer in business. And the State of Texas unemployment benefits for self-employed individuals that had been a blessing during the height of the pandemic ended on June 26, 2021 after Texas lawmakers decided no longer recognized the Federal pandemic unemployment protocols. I was in a stressful situation looking for anything to lift the burdens from my mind and take my mind somewhere else.

My Body – worn, stiff, and achy from years of poor diet, little exercise, and hard manual labor

My Mind – Emotional suppression created internal anger furnace leading to digestive issues and random angry outbursts triggered by simple everyday challenges.

Spirit – disconnected from any higher consciousness, having left a church community of over 20 yrs I felt disheartened and overworked by organized religion. I felt a strong desire to simplify and return to a basic appreciation of life’s adventures and gratitude for every opportunity that came my way.

The gyms were open again and I found a local yoga studio and started attending in November of 2021. It had been a long time since I practiced yoga and my current routine of the last two years involved lots of push-ups and squats. This had created tension in my shoulders and hips and I was back to square one with my yoga practice. My flexibility was low, my balance was shaky, and my breathing was a struggle. My business had slowed since COVID, so I began supporting my family with gig-work by shopping and driving. Since I was all over town, I started attending yoga sessions at studios all over Dallas. When I would travel outside of Dallas, I would always look for a yoga studio near my destination and schedule a session. I enjoyed the variety of styles and creativity that each instructor brought to their sessions.
I was attending a yoga session at a local gym in September 2022 when I saw a flier for instructor training. I inquired with the front desk and they encouraged me to sign-up and check it out. I paid the fee the day after my birthday and attended the class the following weekend. It was a great class and I enjoyed it very much. They said all I needed was a certification and I could teach classes. I couldn’t believe it. I searched the internet and found a Yin Yoga certification class and took the next 3-4 weeks to complete it in between gigs, yoga sessions, and my other family and business obligations. I auditioned in late October 2022 and was hired to teach classes.
I taught my first class on December 10, 2022. It was a sub class for another instructor and it was an outstanding way to start my career as a yoga instructor. I became the to sub for our area and was teaching more classes than I could keep up with. I took another teaching position at a local yoga studio and began teaching 2-3 sessions a day for about 6 month. In April 2023, my contracting company was awarded a large project and I had to end my yoga teaching in May 2023.
I continued to attend yoga sessions when and where I could, but my personal practice became my main means of keeping my mind and body in balance during a very stressful and challenging project. We completed the 1st phase of the project around October 2023. I decided to sign up for my Yoga Teacher Training in October 2023 and began in January 2024. I attended weekend sessions on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 AM to 5 PM for 12 weeks and learned 200 hours worth of knowledge on the subject. I attended classes as an observer to study the techniques and sequencing of other instructors. I attended extra workshops to learn how to better prepare a practice that will challenge and empower students while providing them the space to learn and grow at their own pace.
In February of 2024 I discovered there was a 2nd floor office space with a patio on the lake available for rent. I immediately called, toured, and signed the lease for what would later become Third Eye Mind Yoga, Meditation, and Sound Therapy Center. After applying for our permit and completing the needed steps for approval, we were awarded our Certificate of Occupancy in March of 2024. Yoga, meditation, and sound therapy have been such a massive benefit to me over the last few years. I wanted to bring my knowledge and experience from a wide variety of styles and modalities to the Rowlett, Sache, Rockwall, and surrounding areas.
There were many challenges along the way. While taking my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training I had to rearrange my schedule to free up my weekends for classes. My family was experiencing many difficulties that had to be managed. Managing my business during the week was more difficult with the added time needed to study. My relationships with family and friends were strained during this time as I had little time or energy for social engagements or socializing. When I applied for the Certificate of Occupancy I had to navigate the city permits and inspections and fulfill their code requirements and objections. I had car troubles, house troubles, family troubles, and more. One of our 1st events at the studio was on the April 8, 2024 Eclipse. That night the storm blew everything off our patio, smashed our storage bin, and broke glass all over the patio floor. No one was hurt but it was a crazy way to open our studio. My contracting company began phase 2 of the project we started in May of 2024. I had to pause the studio for a few month until the project was completed in September of 2024. When we opened the studio back up in September, my father was rushed to the ER with kidney and liver complications in November 2024. I had to shut the studio down again for the remainder of 2024 to assist in his recovery. With every challenge overcome we have continued to move forward and keep our momentum. Keeping a personal practice of yoga and meditation helped me to manage my emotions during these challenges.
I have learned to be more patient, more understanding, and more grateful for every thing I have as it could all be gone any moment. I developed techniques to deal with the many challenges I have faced and overcome, from running a business and managing complex problems to having to close a business, recover, and start all over building another one. Yoga, meditation, and breathing have helped me find calm and clarity when I otherwise may have given up in frustration. I have learned to use music, sounds, and movement to change my mood or help to motivate me when I am feeling down. I have learned to play new instruments and shared my love of music with others. I have traveled the country meeting other like minded individuals and sharing in the wonderful experience of life. I have learn to have fewer expectations and being open to whatever life brings to bare. I have developed a way to see the positive possibilities and measure my choices by what my intuition is may be trying to reveal. While I struggle greatly and fail usually, my efforts to manage my anger, frustration, and grief have become more manageable through my practice of yoga, meditation, and sound therapy. We hope to share these and other techniques with our community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For breakfast, I would recommend Dalrock Diner, 6201 Dalrock Rd., and The Lakewood Cafe, 8301 Lakeview Pkwy. # 112, and 30 Brunch House, 1800 Dalrock Rd. # 100, Rowlett, TX. Dalrock Diner is a local staple that has a great 50’s atmosphere, friendly servers, and fluffy pancakes that really soak up the syrup. Lakewood Cafe is tucked away in a nice shopping center with plenty of parking, a spacious seating area, and nice selection of omelets and skillets. 30 Brunch house recently opened at the recently renovated Dalrock and I-30 overpass. They have a full bar, patio seating available, and a wide selection of waffles, French toast, and Benedicts to meet any taste.
For lunch and dinner, I would go with Hubbards, 3324 Lakeview Pkwy, Barrocos Latin Cuisine, 3813 Main St., and Bankhead Brewpub, 3840 Main St., Rowlett, TX. Hubbard’s has a menu full of comfort food favorites all day, a wide variety of delicious homemade pies, and daily specials. Barrocos has all your spicy Latin favorites, from nachos and enchiladas to fajitas and quesadillas. Great margaritas and sangria too. Bankhead Brewpub has a wide selection of in house micro brewed beers with small batch specials occasionally. Wood fired pizzas (gluten free crust available), massive burgers, and crunchy battered fish and chips.
For entertainment, we would make a few stops at the Firewheel Towne Center in Garland, TX that offers plenty of shopping, restaurants, and the AMC theater to catch the latest blockbusters. If the weather was right we would stop at Kayak Crossing Outpost, 6917 Miller Rd., Rowlett, TX located at beautiful Paddle Point Park to rent a kayak and explore Lake Ray Hubbard while enjoying the natural habit. We may even stop at Rowlett Bowl-a-Rama for a fun time rolling the balls and crashing the pins.
Without being too pretentious, no visit to our area would be complete without a session or two at our studio, Third Eye Mind. With stunning views of Lake Ray Hubbard, a relaxing stretch and sound session as the sun sets across the lake makes for a relaxing way to end any evening.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
What a great way to begin! Yes indeed, there are so many that I would like to shout out for their impact in shaping the me that is here at this moment. I would like to thank my wife Carol for 32 years of love, laughs, and lessons. We have seen ups, downs, twists, turns, and toured the world together seeing life from the front row. Thank you my love. Shout out to our four children and four grand children. It is an honor for me to be a part of your lives and I am grateful to you for teaching me how to be more playful, less serious, and to appreciate every moment. Shout Out to Priscilla, Gena, and Ashlyn – they are the dynamic team that keep our yoga studio Third Eye Mind organized, creative, fun, and functioning. I appreciate you so much and am grateful to have such wonderful folks on our team. Shout Out to Devon, Shaila, and everyone at Black Swan Yoga Dallas for an amazing experience during yoga teacher training and inspiring me to accept what is and share what I know. Shout out to Lori and Delath from LA Fitness Dallas for taking a chance and hiring me for my 1st yoga instructor position. I learn so much and appreciate your guidance and patience. Shout out to Ellen James at Into the Well Collective in Garland, TX for providing a wayward stranger the space to learn about yoga and the importance of being yourself. Shout Out to the following musical artist that have fueled my creativity, motivated me through a challenge, or kept me going when I really thought I had nothing left: Run The Jewels, Killer Mike, El-P, Black Sabbath, Spose, Prof, Zakk Wylde, Black Label Society, Zakk Sabbath, NOFX, Ani DiFranco, Flobots, David Bowie, Dabo, Waagal, Black Sabbath, NF, Ice-T, Danny Brown, Khruangbin, Jon Connor, Skrillex, Knife Party, Ministry, Reve Kalell, Beastie Boys, Reignwolf, and Rage Against the Machine, This is not a full list, but the music created by these artists had a huge positive impact on me over the last 4-5 years and I continue to be inspired by them and their creations. Shout out to the following authors and books that have given me greater insight and knowledge: David Goggins – Can’t Hurt Me. Robert Anton Wilson – Cosmic Trigger series, Prometheus Rising, and Quantum Psychology. Napoleon Hill – The Laws of Success, Think and Grow Rich, and Mastermind. Ryan Holiday – Courage is Calling, Discipline is Destiny, and Right Thing, Right Now. James Nestor – BREATH. These and many other readings opened my mind to new concepts, philosophies, and thought processes that continue to expand my understandings.

Website: https://3rdi.space

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Youtube: @thepurplesage523