Frequently Asked Questions
What is Yoga Therapy?
Yoga Therapy is the application of the principles and practices of yoga by a qualified Yoga Therapist that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, + practices for specific conditions, overall wellbeing, or to achieve fitness goals. Yoga Therapy usually occurs in a 1x1 therapeutic setting. Yoga Therapy is not a substitute for medical treatment or mental health counseling.
What is Therapeutic Yoga?
Therapeutic Yoga is the use of yoga postures, conscious breathing, and mindfulness practices in a safe, effective, accessible way to support the body’s natural healing process. Therapeutic Yoga is usually taught in a group setting.
What is a Yoga Therapist?
The International Association of Yoga Therapists established standards that determine eligibility for Yoga Therapists and for Yoga Therapy training programs. Full guidelines for certification as a Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) are here.
As of 2017, Yoga Therapy training programs are a minimum of 1,000 hours of training in dedicated topics and must be taught by qualified professionals (M.S., Ph.D., MD, P.T., or a combination).
Before 2017, Yoga Therapists needed to submit an extensive audit of their training (at least 750 hours), 100+ client contact hours, and then pass the certification review board.
Some Yoga Therapists have additional credentials (M.S., P.T., ARNP, RN, MD, PsyD, LMHC, E-RYT500, Midwives, etc.).
For a full Yoga Bio and training record, see below:
Kellie’s full training + Continuing Education history
South Asian Studies: Buddhist studies and Classical Indian Thought, New College of Florida under John Newman, Ph.D., 1999-2003
Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) Empowerment Ceremony, Drepung Loseling Monks at New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL, 2001, and continuing education with senior Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, Tampa, Deerfield Beach, Sarasota, FL, 2002, 2003.
B.A., Religions/Gender Studies, Senior Thesis: “Substantiating Subjectivity through Metapatriarchal Metaphor and the Dynamic Divine: Language and Ontology in Mary Daly's Texts,” New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL, 2003
Waldorf School internship, Preschool Teacher at Swiss Day School, Sarasota, FL, December 2002-July 2003
Ashtanga Yoga Studies, Self-study, beginning January 2002, guided studies since 2007
Sufi meditation and Iyengar yoga studies, Zenith Institute, Ticino, Switzerland, Summer 2003
French language studies, Alliance Française de Paris, Paris, France, December 2003-July 2004 and L’Alliance Française of Greater Orlando, December 2004-2006
Au pair and English language tutor, Paris, France, December 2003-July 2004
General Studies in Chemistry and Biological Sciences, GPA 3.9, non-degree seeking, Lake-Sumter State College, Leesburg, FL, 2004-2006
Chemistry Lab Assistant and Math Tutor, Lake-Sumter State College, Leesburg, FL, 2005-2006
Vinyasa Flow classes and workshops with Robyn Ceballos and Richmond Dickson, Prana Power Yoga, Tallahassee, FL, 2006-2011
Research and Teaching Assistant, Florida State University, October 2006- December 2007, research areas: functional foods (NIH-funded study), nutritional neuroscience and health behavior change.
M.S., Food + Nutrition Sciences, Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, GPA 3.9, December 2007
Vinyasa Flow and AcroYoga studies with Kate Greer, January 2007, May 2007, July 2008
200-hour Classical Yoga and Ayurveda, Leslie Hanks Yoga Unlimited, Tallahassee, FL, grad. July 2007
750-hour Yoga Therapeutics + Specialty Training, PranaVinyasa School of Yoga, Tampa, FL, RYT300 training completed December 2007, Yoga Therapy Mentorship + Practicum, 2008-2010, Yoga Therapy certificate, 2010
18-hrs, Pediatric and Child Weight Management, Dietetics Continuing Education Course, Daytona Beach, FL, May 2007
20-hrs, YogaSteps, Level 1 Yoga Teacher Training, Tallahassee, FL, May 2007
6-hrs, Power Yoga and Long, Slow, Deep, Bryan Kest, Orlando, FL, January 2008
5-hrs, Inversions workshop with Tripsichore, Orlando, FL, June 2008
Member, Yoga Alliance, 2008-Present (E-RYT500, RCYT, RPYT, YACEP)
Member, International Association of Yoga Therapists, 2008-Present (C-IAYT)
Iyengar + Power Alignment classes with MyLinda Ann Morales Hutchings, Mt. Dora and Orlando area, FL, 2008-2012
Yoga Therapist, Wellness Director, Owner, Jeweled Lotus Yoga, Leesburg, FL, September 2008-November 2011
6-hrs, Power Yoga and Long, Slow, Deep, Bryan Kest, Orlando, FL, November 2008
3-hrs, Vinyasa Flow workshops with Rolf Gates, Orlando, FL, January 2009
Faculty, PranaVinyasa School of Yoga / Radiant Transitions Teacher Training, Leesburg, Tallahassee + Tampa/Lutz, FL, locations, January 2008-July 2011
40-hours, Intensive study, Senior’s yoga, Yoga for Unique Bodies, and Restorative Therapeutics, PranaVinyasa School of Yoga, Leesburg and Tampa/Lutz, FL, March and April 2009
30-hours, Learning to teach Yoga Nidra with Saraswati Devi, PranaVinyasa School of Yoga, June 2009, September 2009, February 2010
9-hrs, Inversions, Arm Balances, and Backbends workshops with Kathryn Budig, Full Circle Yoga, Winter Park, FL, March 2010
6-hrs, Power Yoga and Long, Slow, Deep, Bryan Kest, Altamonte Springs Yoga, Altamonte Springs, FL, November 2010
100-hours, Asthanga Yoga and Yoga for Children Intensives with Saraswati Devi, Leesburg and Tampa/Lutz, FL, March 2010-June 2011
8-hrs, Ashtanga yoga workshops, Kino MacGregor, July 2011
4-hrs, Inversions workshop with Kathryn Budig, Full Circle Yoga, Winter Park, FL, July 2011
20-hrs, Anusara Immersion with Sri Ekan, Lake Center Yoga, Orlando area, FL, June-July 2011
6-hrs, Power Yoga and Long, Slow, Deep, Bryan Kest, Altamonte Springs Yoga, Altamonte Springs, FL, November 2011
3-hrs, Inversional Flow with Brock and Krista Cahill, Altamonte Springs Yoga, Altamonte Springs, FL, December 2011
5-hrs, Philosophy and Pranayama workshops with Max Strom, Full Circle Yoga, Winter Park, FL, January 2012
3-hrs, Vesica Vinyasa workshop with David Regelin, Orlando, FL, January 2012
100-hrs, Insight Yoga Level I/II: Yin, Yang, + Mindfulness with Sarah Powers, West Palm Beach, FL, and Kripalu, MA, February + August 2012
6-hrs, Philosophy and Ashtanga yoga with Kino MacGregor, Red Sun Yoga, FL, February 2012
3-hrs, Vinyasa Flow with Dave Romanelli, Full Circle Yoga, Winter Park, FL, April 2012
6-hrs, Intuitive Eating Specialist, with Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD, Online workshop, Spring 2012
6-hrs, Inversional Flow and AcroYoga with Briohnny Kate-Smith and Dice Iida-Klein, Orlando area, FL, June 2012
30-hrs, Pancha Karma Trainings and Ayurvedic Intensives, Light and Bryan Miller, Ayurvedic College for Wellbeing, Hollywood, FL, 2012
5-hrs, Philosophy and Pranayama workshops with Max Strom, Full Circle Yoga, Winter Park, FL, March 2013
Speaker, Yoga Alliance 2013 Business of Yoga Conference, Washington, D.C., Topic: “Using Video to Grow your Audience”
Mindfulness Retreat for Educators with Thich Nhat Hanh, 1-week residential silent Retreat / lecture, Toronto, Canada, August 2013
40-hrs, Gross Anatomy + Human Dissection for Manual and Movement Therapists, with Tom Myers of Anatomy Trains and Todd Garcia of Laboratories of Anatomical Enlightenment, Tempe, AZ, January 2014
Online Workshop Presenter, Yoga Alliance, 2014 + 2015 | Topics: Digital Marketing and Instructional Design for Yoga Teachers
Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), International Association of Yoga Therapists, 2017 - Present
1-hr, CEU, Sexual misconduct awareness, prevention, and responses for Yoga Therapists, RAINN.org, December 2022
15-hrs, CEU, Yoga for Arthritis, CEUs with Steffany Moonaz, Online training, January 2023
12-hrs, CEU, Yoga for Hypermobility, CEUs with Libby Hinsley, Asheville Yoga Center, Asheville, NC, February 2023
Approved Professional Development Provider, International Association of Yoga Therapists, February 2023-Present