My training as a therapist and experienced yoga teacher has allowed me to specialize in mind/body techniques such as yoga, meditation, breathing practices, and guided imagery. I use these as evidence-based approaches to reduce distress and increase distress tolererace. I provide you with the guidance to know and understand these techniques empowering you to find healing through a connection with the body. ​

I provide mind/body services to increase healing in your life, feel less stressed or deepen your personal insight. I offer both yoga and meditation practices to help increase your heart rate variability, which assists in creating emotional and physical healing.

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Heart Rate Variability  (HRV) and Mind/body practices

Heart Rate Variability or HRV measures the balance between our parasympathetic nervous system (our resting system) and our sympathetic nervous system (our active system). When we inhale we activate our sympathetic nervous system, which increases our heart rate and when we exhale we activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which decreases our heart rate. Another way to think about it is that when we inhale it “revs” us up to move and our exhale slows us down.
In healthy people, their HRV is at a steady pace and rhythm. Having a good HRV leads to a better quality of life, physically and mentally. Often those with mental health or physical health issues can have a poor HRV. Poor HRV often is seen in shallow, fast breathing. Studies have shown that poor HRV has been linked to problems such as heart disease, depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Having a healthy HRV is important not only physically but also psychologically. This is because if we can learn to modulate our nervous system, then we can wire our bodies to become less activated in the face of stressors.  Basically, it gives us a sense of agency over our impulses and emotions.
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Yoga and meditation practices have been shown to increase HRV. These practices help by assisting the person with learning to work with their body and mind to decrease reactivity. Most importantly, these practices work on creating a balance with the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems through breathing exercises. 

Yoga & Meditation

Evidence shows the use of yoga and meditation to decrease both physical and mental health issues. For example yoga has been demonstrated to help with blood-pressure, pain conditions, depression, anxiety, trauma, addictive behaviors, autism, attention-deficit problems and eating disorders.

When using yoga or meditation as a therapeutic practice, it is important to find a professional experienced in integrating the physical and psychological benefits of the practice, such as with increasing HRV.
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I have experience using yoga and meditation practices therapeutically for the treatment of eating disorders, trauma, depression and anxiety in treatment facilities. I have also created mind/body curriculum for these facilities.