Kathy Jamison, LMT, RYT
"Healing and Improvement through Individualized Yoga."
When I was a teenager, curiosity along with an interest in fitness and spirituality led me to yoga. For several years and from time-to-time I dabbled in it as my schedule allowed. A little over 20 years ago, after the birth of my first child, I left my career in Commercial Real Estate to become a full-time mom. Looking for opportunities to exercise during the long Connecticut winter, I joined the local “Y” and began to take yoga regularly as it seemed like the perfect complement to my evening dance classes. The sessions were satisfying, and I continued to attend on a weekly basis even though I suffered from chronic back pain (due in part to scoliosis) and struggled with flexibility. The pain was severe enough for me to visit my chiropractor every week.
In the mid 1990’s I was introduced to the work of renowned yoga educator, Gary Kraftsow, founder of the American Viniyoga Institute (AVI). Mr. Kraftsow’s approach to yoga practice was more integrative than what I had experienced before and he incorporated breath work into every move. After a few weeks, I noticed that my back pain was nearly gone! I wanted to learn more and embarked on a course of study and practice that continues to this day. Now in my mid-fifties, with a daily yoga practice as my guide, I wake up every morning completely pain free! In addition, Yoga has given me a greater sense of overall wellbeing, deeper self-awareness and peace of mind.
Yoga Therapy is an emerging field, now being recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), major medical schools and nationwide health insurance providers. It is estimated that over 15 million Americans practice yoga and as such, there is much in the media about the ability of yoga to help people relieve stress and eliminate pain. However, we also hear from many individuals who, on the recommendation of their health care provider, tried yoga but were unable to find the relief they were seeking. Often the class was too difficult, or the teacher didn’t have the skill to address the student’s specific needs. The problem is not the yoga itself, but with the “one-size-fits-all” approach of a group class that is so common today. Traditionally, yoga was offered from teacher to student on an individual basis, taking into account the student’s unique combination of ability, interest, age and time to devote to practice.
As a Yoga Therapist, I can tailor a practice to meet your individual needs while working well within your abilities.
Although most of my clients are seeking relief from stress and structural issues such as back pain or joint injuries, over the past decade I’ve developed and delivered successful yoga programs for groups and individuals with conditions as diverse as cancer, chronic back pain, arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease, anxiety, depression, obesity, Autism, Multiple Sclerosis, asthma and COPD. I work with actors, athletes, youth, adults, senior citizens and the physically and mentally challenged.
Credentials Nationally recognized, Ms. Jamison has been a yoga practitioner most of her adult life and a yoga educator for over 15 years. She has completed five years of comprehensive study in both the Teacher and Therapist programs offered by the American Viniyoga Institute (AVI). After several years as a yoga teacher and therapist, she was selected to become a member of the AVI faculty, where she helps to develop curriculum, design programs and mentor students through their studies.In addition, Ms. Jamison is also a licensed massage therapist (Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy) and an Ayurvedic Health and Lifestyle Educator (David Fawley, American Institute of Vedic Studies, New Mexico).
She is nationally registered with the Yoga Alliance at the highest level for yoga teachers and is a member of both the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the National Ayurvedic Medical Association.
Ms. Jamison was chosen as an advisor to Yogalife Magazine and the MS Society of Southwestern Connecticut. In 2010 she was invited to be part of a team of Viniyoga professionals specially selected by the Aetna Insurance Company to develop and deliver a groundbreaking program for stress relief in the workplace. The program was so successful that in 2011 it will be offered by Aetna to their corporate clients as part of the insurance giant’s efforts to make preventive care accessible and affordable.
