Yoga Therapy questions and answers

Yoga Therapy Frequently Asked Questions

What is yoga therapy?

Yoga therapy is a fairly new profession in the northern hemisphere. Although it is only about 20 years old as a profession in the US, the practices go back about 5,000 years.  As modern medicine realizes the benefits of an integrative and holistic approach, yoga therapists are becoming more common in our healthcare system and work in complement to other modalities. A yoga therapist works in relationship with a client and then teaches specific practices and lifestyle modifications that will help the person on their individual path to healing. The practice evolves and changes over time and aims to alleviate the suffering in a progressive, non-invasive, and complementary manner.  Depending upon the nature of the illness, Yoga therapy can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve a means to manage the illness, or facilitate healing in the person at all levels.

What can I expect?

We start with an individualized assessment and figure out what you would like to accomplish, your goals. Then, I will design a daily practice for you to achieve these goals. We will adjust your practice as necessary and as goals change. This is a collaborative and holistic approach to healing.

How soon will I feel better?

Most people start noticing improvement and changes quickly. However, this depends on you and your dedication to taking care of yourself with the practices, lifestyle changes and tools you are given.

What training do you have?

I have practiced yoga for over 20 years and have studied intensely in the Krishnamacharya/Desikachar (KYM) tradition. Yoga Therapy training was with  The Optimal State and directly with the KYM. Additionally, I trained with My training has been trauma and LGBTQIA+  informed  with a focus on embodied mental and physical health and well-being. No matter what is happening in your life, there is a light inside that wants to come to the surface and shine! At times, we all need help. I would be honored to help guide you.

Who do you like to work with?

I work with everyone no matter age, gender identification or ethnicity. I have a special interest in female trauma,  mental health, the lgbtqia+ community, and the eldermindful (midlife and older mindful folks).

How does it work?

Change happens when we create new patterns in our mind, bodies, and lives. Change can be hard.                                                       

Private sessions set you up for success in creating the changes you’d like to see in your health and well-being.  We all need support from time to time.  In the initial session, we will go over any health/life concerns, bothersome symptoms, and what you would like to achieve through our sessions.  You may receive health coaching, lifestyle recommendations, unique practices, or something else. It depends on what the goals are and other variables discussed during session. I will create a practice specifically for you and your goals. Your practice will evolve as your needs do.

What do I need to do?

Only by doing your practices/habits consistently will you see change. The good news is that it works! As your symptoms/goals or whatever you are working on in life change and shift, so will your practice. With each session, you will learn tools and techniques that we will build upon. You will have a toolbox of skills, techniques and lifestyle modifications that will help you retain balance in body, mind, and spirit through the seasons. Your practices are your “medicine” to create the change you would like in your life, health, & well-being. The deep healing and transformation happens when you practice daily.  This creates new patterns in your brain and body. We can’t expect change if we don’t take our “medicine”. Your practice/habits is your medicine.

Who is this for?

This is my favorite question because it is literally for everybody! If you are able to breath you will benefit from yoga therapy and Ayurveda. Your practice may be 5 mins. or an hour – it depends on what works in YOUR life.

Why should I choose you?

It is important to feel a good “match” between the therapist and client. If I am not the right person for you, I would be happy to refer you to someone I think may be. My experience and training are vast and you can see that on the “About” page. That being said, I offer 
Free 15 min. discovery calls so that we can meet each other and I can answer questions you may have about what I can do for you. I am your guide on the side teaching you the appropriate techniques so you can feel pain free, joy, and connected to your inner light and life purpose.

How many sessions does it take?

This is very individual.  Variables include: what your goals or health concerns are and how consistent you are with your practices and lifestyle recommendations. Most clients see/feel results after our first session. Some conditions evolve more slowly. Clients usually schedule 1x week or 1x a month; it really depends on your needs and goals. 

Sessions are not confirmed until payment is received. All sessions should be scheduled and paid for 36 hours in advance. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please kindly give 24 hours notice so that someone from the wait list may have a session as the time slots are limited.


If you cancel before 24 hours of your appointment time, you can use the credit for a lesson at another time.

Thank you for being proactive in your well being. I look forward to serving you.

What my clients are saying . . .

Stephanie was able to coordinate with me to provide overall wellness to one of our client’s by creating a specialized practice for them. She was able to provide ways for my client to explore coping and de-stressing as a part of their recovery that was beyond traditional coping skills. My client struggles with addiction and Stephanie was able to tie their relapse patterns to new wellness practice patterns to turn to instead of substances. – Jasmin John

Stephanie has provided helpful techniques in managing my client’s ADHD and depressive symptoms. My client reported “feeling more grounded and focused when using guided meditation practices” and “feeling more accepting of things out of her control.” – Melissa Li; MS,LPC 

Stephanie was able to assist my client with reducing severe symptoms of depression through an individualized mindfulness practice. She was full of the knowledge needed to incorporate these techniques into my client’s daily activities of living. – Ali Ramos; LMSW (She/Her)

Stephanie was able to collaborate with our client to create an individualized daily yoga practice for him that targets his struggles with depression and anxiety. Our client loves that he can realistically include this into his nighttime routine and stated that it helps him decompress from a hectic day. – Rhyan McDowell; LCSW, CPHRM (she/her)

Hello! I just wanted to give you an update. (The client) discharged a few months ago but sent me a message to let me know how well they are doing. They said they have been using the yoga practices you developed daily. Thank you so much! You’ve been instrumental in her healing & growth. I truly appreciate you – Kellie Flores; MS, LPC

“Stephanie’s warm presence is evident as soon as you meet her. Her sequences are quite effective at calming the nervous system with her clear cuing and soothing pace. She is able to share her knowledge in a way that feels truly accessible and can easily be integrated into daily life” – Ann H.

I had the pleasure of working with Stephanie working with two of my individual clients. Both clients were experiencing anxiety and a lack of focus. Stephanie created a yoga practice specifically for each of them. The unique and individualized practice showed visible results in each individual during weekly sessions. Stephanie is an amazing person and I look forward to working with her again!” Tracy Ferezan, LLC

“She utilized her meditative and yoga practice skills with a client of ours really struggling with incorporating relaxation/mindfulness skills learned in our program to her daily life. Client also struggled with poor self care/physical aches. Stephanie engaged in multiple ways with this client as well as provided client with such a thorough and personalized plan. The client could not say enough how much she appreciated this. I feel Stephanie’s calming/normalizing spirit and nurturance really helped the most in terms of what client was lacking in when they came to Charlie Health.” Jennifer Haney, LPC

“Having known little about yoga in the past, I was a bit hesitant to feel that “yoga therapy” would have much to offer me. I could not comprehend what benefits yoga therapy could possibly hold for me, being post menopausal, lack of flexibility due to a knee and hip replacement, and the all too frequent bouts of depression. What could the potential gain possibly be, twisting my body into unobtainable postures. But, after finding Stephanie’s website and reading a description about what yoga therapy is and what it can offer, I decided to give it a try. Yoga Therapy is a gentle, slow, way of getting in touch with one’s body, mind and spirit. Thank you Stephanie for helping, teaching and guiding me back to my center.” – Linda P.