top of page

When I practice yoga, I understand life

as a philosopher,

When I teach yoga, I observe life

as a scientist,

When I demonstrate by example,

I create life as an artist does.

Portraying the change I wish to see.

                                        ~P. Morris

Paula Morris, C-IAYT, E-RYT, MA Ed., B.S.

 

As a specialist in mind and body practices of yoga therapy, Paula was among the first yoga therapists conferred IAYT-Certified Service Mark by the International Association of Yoga Therapists in Aug 2016 after panel review and a three year process of meeting advanced qualifications in professional ethics, education, experience, and scope of practice. These standards may be accessed at  IAYT.org.

​

Her education, practicum, and certifications  were led by pioneering  masters utilizing yoga therapeutically:

 

  • Joseph and Lillian LePage, Integrative Yoga Therapy, iyt.org.  Accredited yoga school by the IAYT and Yoga Alliance and the  official YT teacher training program of Kripalu Center.

​

  • Nischala Joy Devi, Yoga of the Heart Yoga Therapy. The original Director of Stress Management  for the mind-body lifestyle program designed for Dr. Dean Ornish's clinical trials proven to reduce and reverse heart disease.  

​

  • Doug Keller and John Friend of the science-based alignment and biomechanics yoga style of the  Anusara School of Hatha Yoga, a U.S. branch expanding upon the educational lineage of Master Teachers B.K.S. Iyengar, T.K.S. Desikacher, and T. Krishnamacharya of India.

​

  • Bessel Van der Kolk's clinical applications of Yoga Therapy for Trauma, and IYT's applications of Yoga Therapy in Medical and Mental Health facilities.

​

  • Jon Kabat-Zinn and Dr. Saki Santorelli of the Center for Mindfulness in Massachusetts and the MBSR and MBCT meditation practices for Stress Reduction and Cognitive Therapy developed to assist health and healing.

​

Paula is BLS/CPR/AED-certified annually through the American Heart Association lifesaver training.

​

She became a practicing, registered Yoga Teacher in 2007 of the U.S. Yoga  Alliance (YA), currently E-RYT500,  teaching group classes at Sarasota's Bellagio MedSpa, Garden of the Heart, The Meadows Fitness Center, and Alive With Yoga studios.   

 

Graduating  in  1996  with a Masters of  Teaching in Education from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, she went on to receive a Professional Educator's License in the states  of CT and FL devoting her  skills to teaching children for 10 years in public service.

​

Highlights: 

2013 - Completed the first stage of Yoga Therapist training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Massachusetts. 

​

2014 - United with Sarasota's Mindfulness Institute to implement an exploratory program of meditation for elementary students in Sarasota Public Schools called "The Mindful Kids Project."

​

2015 - Completed specialized yoga therapy training with Ms. Nischala Devi in her evidence-based mind-body program for Cardiac, Cancer, and Chronic Disease Management.  

​

2016 - Received Certified-IAYT Yoga Therapist credentials while overcoming breast cancer.

​

2017 - Opened Empowered 2 Wellness Yoga Therapy, Sarasota's first office retreat site dedicated to the education and practice of yoga's mind and body therapies for health and recovery.

​

2019 - Initiated community outreach as an honorarium instructor for Ringling College's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the Sarasota Art Musuem location teaching Wellness workshops to adult learners.  Group course topics include How to Live Healthier; A Proactive Approach to Reducing Bone Loss; Begin Now for a Healthier Brain; Your Health Wealth; Posture Affects Health; and The Power of Mind Training for Mental and Physical Health.

​

2020 - Responded to the pandemic by successfully introducing

yoga therapy sessions via Zoom and expanding access to personalized, targeted services to people outside Sarasota and in states nationwide to benefit from its effective, clinically proven approaches to mindfully educating, optimizing, and healing through awakening the way you live in body, mind, and spirit. 

 

2023 - In collaboration with local community, contributed two YT packages to Sarasota Memorial Hospital's annual fundraising auctions to benefit staff and community:  8 weeks of private Mindfulness Strength Training  benefiting their Behavioral Health Center and Women in Medicine event, and 6 weeks of private Yoga Ups Your Golf Game to encourage more men to seek the health benefits of a yoga practice.  

​

Still moving forward, still overcoming, resilient and committed to improving awareness and wellness for each one and all .

​

bottom of page