Commonly Asked Questions... 

If you don't find an answer to your question here... please contact me! I'm happy to hop on the phone or email with me to clarify things for you! You are also welcome to suggest anything I should add to this FAQ page. 

Do I need a Yoga mat? 

No mats! We don't use yoga mats in our classes. We provide all the props you'll need. Just bring your body and an open mind. You can read a lot more about the approach of my yoga classes here.  

What Should I Wear? 

This yoga is more of a "work-in" than a "workout". You will NOT be breaking a sweat! In fact, as your body deeply relaxes, you may cool down. Luckily, we have lots of blankets.. but you may want to bring an extra layer. Just wear moveable, comfortable clothes.You can read a lot more about the approach of my yoga classes here.  

I'm not flexible! 

Great! This yoga is come-as-you-are! You will gain deep spinal flexibility and deeply healing benefits, with this yoga. The personalized angles, propping and attention meet your body exactly where it is and support it to release and expand from there. You will not be pushing, straining, doing headstands or trying to touch your toes in these classes or sessions. 

I don't look {or feel} like the yoga magazine yogis. 

My students are diverse! I would say they range from teens to folks in their late 70s... with the average student being around 50 years old.  Students are both men and women, people with LOTS of yoga experience who are looking for something with more depth and quietude, and people with no yoga experience who up until now were scared at the thought of yoga! All body shapes, sizes and fitness levels are more than welcome and easily accommodated. This is YOUR practice, you get to BE YOU and LOOK LIKE YOU! And by the end of class, you will feel like a version of you that is closer to your truest nature!

Do I start with classes or private sessions?

That depends! As long as you are relatively healthy and can "do a day" without severe pain or limitation, you should be totally fine in a group class. However, if you have a lot of pain, restriction, limitation and can't "do a day" without the need for pain medication, napping or other means of rest, recovery and pain intervention, you should probably start with a yoga therapy session and we will assess from that point onward. Ultimately, students who do BOTH - some private yoga therapy along with regular group classes or a regular home practice get the MOST powerful healing changes and transformation. About 80% of my yoga students do a home practice of 10minutes up to an hour a day, depending on their readiness, need, and interest. It's not a requirement! But folks feel SO good from sessions and classes that they want to feel that way every day, for free! Yoga Therapy sessions and classes are an imperative for those in pain, however, lots of folks come to yoga therapy just to get deeper release and inner transformation - even those folks who are relatively fit, healthy, active and pain-free. 

Your Yoga Classes a bit more expensive than some others. 
What's Up with that? 

It's true! Yoga classes with me are at the higher end of what you will find out there! You can find lots of free yoga online (including youtube videos and blogs) and local classes ranging from $7 a class to $15 a class is the norm. I am more than happy to make some specific recommendations for you. There are several reasons why my classes are about $18 / class. However, I do NOT want money to prevent you from coming... and I also like to reduce the price the more you come. 
  • High Level of Training and Experience - I have been teaching for 14 years and have 2,000 hours in yoga therapy training to specifically work with bodies that are diverse (including medical diagnoses and pain). This is more than twice the nationally recognized standard for Yoga Therapy {800 hours}. Most local yoga teachers in fact, have training ranging from about 200-500 hours. This level of training allows teachers to do their own home practice, and to work with very able-bodied students. 
  • High-Touch - My classes are small - even the largest size class (15 people) is MUCH smaller than the classes you find at many local studios, where the imperative is to fill a room with 30 people and charge them a small fee. Some of my classes are even limited to 6 participants. This allows me to know the names of each student, have an understanding of each body in the room and experience level, personalize the propping and alignment for each student in the room, and give hands-on adjustments to provide a more safe and therapeutic environment.
  • Yoga Therapy, Not Yoga - These classes can not really be compared to the monkey-see-monkey-do yoga classes that you'll find in most studios, and in videos. You can a highly personalized and therapeutic experience in the group classes. In fact, many people find that they no longer need their regular chiropractic, massage and other body-work treatments once they attend regular therapeutic yoga classes, so in fact, they find they save money in the long term! 

How can I spread the love and support a yogi?

You want to pay it forward? Wonderful! Over the years, generous yogis have donated from $20 up to several $100 to help me extend more yoga to those who can't afford it. I always match the donation allowing one or more student in need to attend yoga for free or at a discount. These yogis are always deeply appreciative of the anonymous donation. Recipients remain anonymous as well. GO HERE to learn more. 

I want to come to your yoga but I can't afford it!

No problem! I always have several students attending at a lower rate. GO HERE to check out information about scholarships for yoga teachers and financial aid for yogis who have a low income. I never want money to be the single thing that prevents you from doing yoga! Plus... we always work to make sure that each student is empowered to do a home yoga practice - even just 1-2 poses a day - which is FREE! 

I want to come to your yoga but I can't afford it!

Great! You get rewarded for your commitment with prices that go as low as $9 the more you come! Check out seasonal packages here. 

You and Your Yoga sound Amazing... but I am far away! 

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Oh, I wish you were closer! A couple options... 
  • Come to the East Bay for a workshop, immersion or retreat - please contact me to get on the list to hear about these events. 
  • Find a teacher near you! Contact me to tell me where you are and ask for a referral - you can also search "Svaroopa Yoga, Core Release Yoga, and Therapeutic Yoga or Yoga Therapy to find something similar - but remember that what constitutes "yoga therapy" is diverse and not everything will be a good fit for you. 
  • Coming soon - distance online learning support! Start here for a guided relaxation and contact me to get on the list to hear about upcoming online opportunities. 

Do you work with or treat mental illness, including diagnosed psychiatric disorders and disabilities?

Psychological disorders are outside my scope of practice. I deeply encourage you to seek well-trained practitioners for whom these diagnoses are within their scope of practice. I can not work with you if you are diagnosed with the following psychiatric disorders:
  • An Anxiety Disorder {such as PTSD, Phobia such as agoraphobia, or Panic Disorder}
  • A Mood Disorder {major depression, bi-polar, etc} 
  • Schizophrenia Disorders
All yoga clients, students and teacher training participants are required to fill out this intake form to disclose your health status. 

Do you work with individuals with physical disabilities or mobility impairment?

Treating or working with individuals with diagnosed physical disabilities or with acute injury is outside of my scope of practice. I encourage you to look for healing specialists and yoga teachers with training and expertise with individuals with disabilities or mobility impairment. 
All yoga clients, students and teacher training participants are required to fill out this intake form to disclose health status. 

Scope of Practice 

I am under legal obligation per my membership to Yoga Alliance, IAYT, and under my professional liability insurance to only practice within my area of expertise and training.  Per my obligations to IAYT, YA and PHLY I:
  • Acknowledge the limitations of my skills and scope of practice and where appropriate, refer students to seek alternative instruction, advice, treatment or direction.
  • Treat only within my level of skill and knowledge. 
  • Provide the highest quality of care and make timely referrals to other healthcare professionals as appropriate. 
  • Refrain from treating clients if I am unable to safely and effectively treat due to substance abuse, physical, and/or psychological impairment.