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.,
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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 to be completed at Kripalu in 2018.
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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. 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.