Becoming a Yoga Therapist
Here’s my story for becoming a yoga therapist. Maybe you have a similar introduction to yoga?
In 2013, my family and I were living in Montgomery, AL in a beautiful country club subdivision. At one of the yoga classes there I met some sweet folks who told me I should be their yoga teacher. They enjoyed watching me instead of the actual teacher. I had never once considered this as a career path, nor teaching yoga as a hobby.
But the seed had been planted. Another friend took me to a local yoga class at a hot yoga studio. I liked it, but I was in my early 30’s and still thought hot yoga was cool. The stars aligned and the timing was right for my family and I took the plunge into yoga teacher training. Every weekend for nearly 6 months I devoted my time to studying the sutras and the asanas. I was a changed woman.
After experiencing a horrific car accident following my training, I decided to seek influence from another local teacher. I gave her the promise she could mold me into whatever kind of yoga teacher she wanted. A retired military nurse, took me under her wing. She showed me how to make yoga accessible to every body and hinted to take the yoga therapy route. Not knowing what that was just yet, I set it on the back burner. In the meantime, I started teaching my first private yoga sessions.
Randy, My First Client
One in-particular was the driving force behind my becoming a yoga therapist. Randy, was in a severe plane crash, that left him with hip replacements, knee replacements, spinal fusions, and so much more damage that he was told by his doctors he would never walk again. Randy though, wasn’t one for being told how the story ends. He had a determination and positivity that was like no other. He came to me after one of the top physical therapists in the country told him that they had done all they could. Randy still walked on the heels of his feet, no longer able to feel the nerve connections at the front of his feet. He asked me for help and stated very certainly he didn’t want all the yoga lingo, he just wanted to walk right and get back to hunting, fishing, and farming.
My first thought was I have no idea how to help this bionic man! Everything I searched about his injuries was contradictory. But I agreed to meet him and I am so glad I did.
Randy made me look at my life through a more positive lens. He was dealt some really shitty cards and he had overcome and was still a beaming light of joy. After a week of working together on bringing back sensations in the nerve endings of his feet. He worked on breath work, posture, and stride. Within a short time, Randy was seeing huge improvements in his digestive system, awareness, and in his gait. After a few months of working together in his home, in the water, and in the studio Randy was doing so incredibly that he and I both were impressed with his abilities. He had created an open space in my heart to help those people living in pain and looking for an alternative way to heal and yoga was the real deal.
Working with Soldiers
Moving onto our next step on our journey in Stuttgart, Germany. There, I continued to work with people in pain as a volunteer at the Physical Therapy clinic on Patch Army Barracks. I provided the yoga portion of their Chronic Pain Management Functional Restoration Program. Helping injured service members and their families participate in a multi-disciplinary pain management program. I also continued to work 1:1 with active duty members and their families. It was indeed my passion and so rewarding to watch them become more self-aware, more mobile, and get back to living a healthier pain-free life. Stuttgart was also when I also realized my passion for doing wellness retreats for women as well as teaching educational workshops and mentoring other yoga teachers.
Our next assignment took us to Wichita, Kansas. Back to my home state where I finally pursued becoming a yoga therapist. A much more rigorous set of standards requiring me to travel to TX, AZ, CO, and VA for extensive training. It was in Wichita, I really started to find my way and create a sustainable business for myself that would provide value and really help to heal others. While in Wichita I also received my Pain Care Yoga Instructor certification and ACE Personal Trainer certification.
I do hope you continue to follow me on my journey! Subscribe to my newsletter and get some free tips on my YouTube channel. Subscribe to get all the videos as they come out!
Find out how you can be healed with yoga therapy just like Randy. Schedule a free consult today.
