KIZUKI Movement Therapy offers yoga and somatic movement education and therapy sessions in small-group and private, one-to-one sessions.
Reach out with questions here. I look forward to working with you.
As a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and somatic movement educator, Dana assists clients in individual sessions with issues beyond the scope of a regular yoga/movement class. This includes injury prevention and recovery, back pain prevention and recovery, yoga for pre- and postnatal women, pelvic floor issues, improved coping skills, and finding ease in the physical body. She has worked with clients with back pain, scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal stenosis, knee injuries, hip injuries, back injury, back pain, pelvic pain, neck and shoulder pain, cancer, and other sources of discomfort and suffering, including psychological and emotional issues.
In traditional group yoga, fitness, and movement classes, all participants are taught the same poses and movements by the teacher, which may or may not address the participant’s individual needs. Indeed, the teacher may not be able to identify the needs of individual students, and, even so, may not know how to address those needs effectively and safely.
In a yoga / somatic movement therapy session, Dana works together with the client to address the client’s specific needs, starting with the outermost part of ourselves, the physical body, in its current condition. We begin with an initial consultation / personal assessment, which helps both the yoga therapist and client “meet” each other and guides the development of specific practices for that client. Yoga / Somatic Movement Therapy is a collaboration; clients are participants in their own healing and learning process, from the outside in, and from the inside out. It is enlightening, challenging and can even be fun. Keys to the process are ATTENTION, INTENTION, INTEREST, and ENJOYMENT.
What’s a Session Like?
Sessions may involve talking in addition to movement, sometimes yoga postures, other times, standing, sitting, walking, rolling, reclining, or appropriate hands-on body education (when in person). Dana may provide props, such as a chair or yoga blocks, blankets or bolsters or therapy balls, or other items as needed. The difficulty level and type of movement depends on the clients needs. Working through the direct experience of their own body, clients discover greater awareness of existing patterns of movement – physical, mental, emotional – and thus address ways to change those patterns, resulting in better health, increased functional and expressive capacity, and greater awareness of Self in relationship.
Why work with Dana?
Dana has 30+ years of experience in her field, and is certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She is currently working toward certification as a Laban Bartenieff Movement Analyst. She has worked with Paul Linden, founder of Being in Movement® (BIM), a body-based method for reducing conflict and trauma, through Embodied Peacemaking for many years, and teaches these methods regularly. She has taught Iyengar-based yoga since 2003, has been an instructor in yoga therapy teacher training programs since 2017, and has been a certified Embodied Yoga Principles teacher since 2019.
Dana has extensive experience in a variety of body-based modalities, including the Japanese martial art of aikido (the way of harmony), therapeutic somatic movement methods such as Body-Mind Centering and The Feldenkrais Method. She has an M.A. in modern dance choreography and performance, i.e., “how we organize and present ourselves to others and the world, through the body”.
Her TEDxTeachers Tokyo presentation in 2013 addressed the topic of “how we learn through the body”. Dana’s skilled approach is based on her years of experience working with clients in both the U.S. and Japan and her everlasting curiousity about movement in relation to what makes us human.
Booking your Yoga / Somatic Movement Therapy session:
Clients are recommended to book at least three sessions initially*. The first session is 75-90 minutes, and includes an initial consultation / assessment, and 45-60 minutes of physical practice. Subsequent sessions are 60-75 minutes, and include verbal and visual assessment of progress, and continued physical practices. Some clients practice on their own between sessions; Dana can provide follow-up at the end of a session, or by e-mail afterwards. Some clients prefer to simply work in-person.
After the first three sessions, we will assess again, evaluate your progress and determine how to proceed. Some clients find their symptoms are relieved after only three sessions; other clients work with Dana for several months or years.
As Yoga / Somatic Movement Therapy is focused on creating health, consistency is key. Regular weekly or biweekly sessions will bring the most benefit in the shortest span of time; however, some clients prefer a slower process or another option. Please discuss with Dana to determine your optimal schedule. Clients who purchase multiple sessions and book regularly receive priority in scheduling.
*Not sure about all this? If you prefer a shorter session, or a single session as a way to learn about how Yoga Therapy can help your specific condition, Dana is happy to work with you to find a suitable situation. Indeed, if you are hesitant about committing, it might be a good idea to contact Dana and set up a 15-minute meet-and-chat, or simply start an e-mail conversation (link below) so we can get to know each other and whether we are a good fit! (The first move is up to you. I will meet you where you are.)
Pricing & Payment:
Yoga / Somatic Movement Therapy sessions are based on an hourly rate*. Discount available for booking multiple sessions. Contact Dana for pricing.
Payment may be made in cash, by check or through Venmo with no fees, and by credit card or PayPal with a small additional fee.
*In case of financial hardship, Dana will work with a client to find a fee that benefits both parties. Contact her to discuss.
Location:
As COVID conditions allow, in-person, one-to-one sessions may be available. They may be held in your home, or in a local studio as available, following agreed-upon, current health protocols.
In case we cannot meet in person, sessions can be held via Zoom, or another online platform as preferred.
Contact Dana here to inquire about or schedule your Yoga Therapy session.
From the International Association of Yoga Therapists ‘Scope of Practice’:
“Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of mindfulness and yoga tools. The yoga tradition views each human being as a multidimensional system that includes numerous aspects-including body, breath, and mind (intellect and emotions)-and their mutual interaction. Yoga therapy is founded on the basic principle that intelligent practice can positively influence the direction of change within these human dimensions. (distinct from spiritual dimensions). We do not profess or challenge beliefs but offer skills, planning and guidance.
The goals of yoga therapy include:
- Eliminating, reducing, and/or managing symptoms that cause suffering.
- Improving function in daily life.
- Helping to prevent the occurrence or re-occurrence of underlying causes of illness.
- Moving toward improved health and well-being.
Yoga therapists draw from the principles of yoga and the full range of practices and assessment skills, as well as familiarity with biomedical and psychological foundational knowledge. Yoga therapists work with the client to develop and implement a self-empowering therapeutic plan, appropriate to the client’s needs and oriented around prevention and health promotion. An IAYT-Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) has undertaken specialized training beyond that of a yoga teacher, in accordance with the IAYT’s Educational and Ethical Standards.”
Dana Levy Yoga + KIZUKI Movement Therapy 