Applying Polyvagal Theory to Yoga

Dr Arielle is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified complex trauma professional, and Kripalu yoga teacher. A leading voice in the healing of PTSD and complex trauma, she is the author of six books, including The Complex PTSD Workbook, Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma, and The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook. She believes that the journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.

Yoga, Addiction and Recovery

Nikki is an MBA, E-RYT500, Yoga Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Addictions Recovery Specialist, and Ayurvedic Specialist. She is the founder of Y12SR, Yoga of 12-Step Recovery, co-founder of the Yoga, Meditation and Recovery Conferences at Esalen Institute and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, has been a keynote speaker at the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) conference and the International Conference on Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and is a recipient of the esteemed NUVO Cultural Visionary Award.

Accessible Yoga

Jivana is the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses & Practices for Every Body (Shambhala, 2019), and Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion (Shambhala, 2021). He is the founder and director of the Accessible Yoga Association, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings. He has specialized in teaching yoga to people with disabilities with an emphasis on community building and social engagement. Jivana is also the co-founder of the Accessible Yoga School, an online portal focusing on equity and accessibility.

Yoga in Health Care

Heather is a yoga teacher and founder of both The Minded Institute, an internationally renowned yoga therapy training school, and the Yoga in Health Care Alliance. She holds master’s degrees in Buddhist Studies, Psychotherapy, Medical Physiology, and has extensive training in Neuroscience. She is actively focused on the integration of yoga into the UK’s National Health Service, and helped to create an All Party Parliamentary Group, Yoga in Society. She co-edited ‘Yoga and Mental Health’ and recently co-wrote ‘Yoga on Prescription.’

Ecopsychology and Yoga

Chara is a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) & professional Ayurvedic practitioner who has taught yoga globally for more than a decade.

As a passionate teacher, speaker, advocate & mentor for women’s wellness, she inspires & motivates women by embracing the principles of yoga & Ayurveda. Chara’s most recent book is called ‘Eat Like You Love Yourself: A modern guide to Ayurvedic cooking and living.’ Chara is a writer, presenter & creator of outreach & educational programs aimed at getting real about what’s keeping you stuck.

Body Image and Yoga

Fiona is an accredited practising Dietitian, Director of The Mindful Dietitian, Podcast host of The Mindful Dietitian, mindfulness practitioner and Yoga Teacher. With 20+ years working in the areas of eating disorders, body image and sports nutrition, she is committed to weight inclusive & trauma informed approaches to disrupt dominant body narratives, integrating these into clinical work, supervision and training with Dietitians and health professionals. Fiona emphasizes on safety, embodiment, mindfulness and self compassion.

Acknowledgement of Country in Yoga

Ella is a descendant of the peoples of the Bundjalung nation and peoples of Poland and Scotland. An Australian born artist, storyteller, mentor & founder of ‘The Returning’ and Yhi Collective, Ella is a pioneer for The Decolonisation movement. Ella promotes re-wilding, the rise of female energy, as a way back to deep relationship with nature and decolonising one’s well-being. She believes in local communities with local economies as a way to find hope for the health of our planet & people. As a certified yoga teacher, she is on the RAP working committee for Yoga Australia, working alongside many other Indigenous yoga teachers.

Adverse Effects of Meditation

Dr Miguel is an experimental psychologist, author, and speaker.

He is the founding Director of the Brain, Belief, and Behaviour Lab at Coventry University. Previously he was a lecturer in Experimental Psychology at Oxford University.

In 2015 Dr Miguel co-authored a book with C. Wikholm, ‘The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You?’ which has been translated into various languages. His latest book is the Oxford Handbook of Meditation.

Yoga and Psycho-oncology

Nikola is a certified yoga therapist, psychotherapist and online educator who has been immersed in yoga for 30 years. She is currently serving as Vice President of Yoga Australia. Trained in the tradition of Sri Krishnamacharya, she founded Adore Yoga in 2002. Focusing on evidence based yoga for special needs populations, she is passionate about developing yoga & meditation programs in clinical environments and has trained thousands of yoga teachers, therapists & health professionals. With postgraduate training in public health, Nikola consults for organisations including Cancer Council NSW and has conducted research at the eating disorders day program at Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney.

Yoga-Informed Psychotherapy and the Relational Space

Diane is a Registered Psychotherapist and Yoga Teacher blending expertise in neuroscience, yoga, somatics and the therapeutic relationship to offer Yoga-Informed Psychotherapy.

She specializes in serving individuals healing from complex, developmental and sexual trauma from an attachment-focused lens. Authentic connection is her guiding principle.

Yoga teachers and other health professionals regularly seek consultation with Diane for practitioner self-inquiry to support highly effective therapeutic relationships and to expand their trauma-informed scope of practice.

Yoga in the Doctor’s Office

Anneke is a Registered Nurse and has worked in psychiatry since 1998. She is one of the first accredited yoga therapists (C-IAYT) in The Netherlands and founder of Network Yoga Therapy, The Bridge online membership and The Yoga Therapy Conference in Amsterdam.

Her expertise can be found in applied philosophy and yoga for mental health, especially trauma and psychosis. Besides seeing many people in therapy sessions, she designs and offers Integrative Yoga Therapy programs and trains doctors and other healthcare professionals to create an ecosystem of sustainable solutions for health and wellbeing using yoga.

Living Kindness

Neal has been practicing Yoga for 20+ years and teaching since 2003. His teaching focuses on exploring and refining natural movement and alignment principles – learning to embody these principles in a way that takes our spiritual practice into our everyday lives.

He has taught on teacher training programs in Australia and New Zealand, has been Senior Faculty on Donna Farhi’s Advanced Teacher Training Program, and is a founder member of the Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training program, based in Auckland. Neal is also an experienced Holistic and Thai massage therapist, loves music and occasionally is a kirtan chant leader.