We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kierstin Graham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kierstin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

“As someone who has drank for YEARS, tried every suggestion/method/avenue to stop besides checking myself into a rehab, I never thought that yoga would be the key to actually helping stop. I am an energy practitioner myself and no amount of meditation, self- Reiki, self reflection, “normal” yoga classes, you name it could pierce that “armor” of using alcohol to cope at night. Kierstin brought me back into my PHYSICAL body which is what I never knew I needed. She tailor made a routine just for me that I could practice in moments that would typically trigger that urge to drink. Not only that, she made me feel safe.”-Yoga Therapy Client

Seeing clients meet their goals is what I find heartwarming. I am so lucky to be working in a field where I get to encourage and support individuals to take an active role in their growth/healing. Though I make suggestions, support them on the journey, and help them find what works in their schedule, they have to commit to the practice!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am bringing Yoga Therapy and Trauma Sensitive Yoga up and down the east coast (or beyond for individuals I work with online via Angela Prior Therapy and Patreon)! I offer these services through my collaboration with behavioral health and recovery spaces in Savannah + collaboration with other wellness guides and spaces! I offer in-person or virtual private yoga therapy or trauma sensitive yoga sessions, small group yoga therapy, trauma sensitive yoga, and self-compassion workshops, ceremonies, and speaking engagements, but my story didn’t start here!

Yoga is something I was introduced to at a young age, my grandma was a yoga instructor which meant we spent a lot of time in tree pose and taking breath breaks together. However the older I was, the more resistant I became to a yoga practice. 60 seconds on the mat felt like hours of torture, at the time I didn’t understand why. During that time I was in the beginning stages of my eating disorder. Asking myself to sit and notice my body was a super activating task, so I did not feel connected to the wellness and relaxation stereotypes we all hear about yoga.

One day I ended up on the mat again and finally experienced that feeling of safety on the mat, and knew I had to share it. As soon as I made it back home I signed up for a teacher training. Though I had felt the benefits of the practice, I still felt some resistance in studio spaces, this is something I continued to experience throughout my time teaching at studios.

I decided to take the practice outside of studio spaces as often as I could-if I felt this discomfort in studios, even as an instructor, I thought others might feel the same. I taught at parks, a petting zoo, restaurants, anywhere that would let me lay out some mats. The exploration of yoga outside of studios led me to YOGA N DA Hood, an organization dedicated to bringing yoga and mindfulness to high needs schools. This is where my passion for providing yoga to underserved communities and individuals impacted by trauma.

I realized mindfulness and regulation can be found through many wellness skills,an hour long yoga class isn’t the best fit for everyone. I began to deepen my knowledge in other areas of wellness so I could support individuals in creating their own wellness toolbelt. I currently live in Savannah Georgia where I provide Trauma Sensitive Yoga Classes for Recovery and Behavioral Health spaces. I also partner with Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council offering wellness classes,and trauma informed mindfulness training to assist our community in:
Offering Self- Support to themselves
Sharing their voice and experience to offer peer support to others in the community.

I’ve been guiding yoga, mindfulness and movement for 6.5 years, but when I passed my Yoga Therapy final I let out the biggest sigh of relief. I am no longer a Yoga Instructor. Now, don’t get me wrong there were many things I enjoyed about being a yoga instructor, however I could not shake the feeling as much as I was trying to offer something different- I was still surrounded by something that “fed” my eating disorder. Please note if you are currently a yoga instructor I love and appreciate you, it just wasn’t the final destination for me!

Yoga therapy is different. That’s not to say it is a better fit for everyone, but if you have ever felt discomfort or triggered in a yoga class, working with a yoga therapist might be a better fit for you. As a yoga therapist I believe I bring a unique perspective to the table. I understand first hand the challenges and complexities of living with mental health concerns. I personally experienced how the individualized routines created with a yoga therapist can be full of healing and growth. I believe everyone has the capacity for healing, transformation, and can walk their own unique path to this space. I am committed to providing compassionate support to support each of my clients in achieving their goals. If you are currently struggling with your mental health or feeling unsatisfied in life- please know I see you, I hear you, and I would be honored to support you. You are not alone. I have been there, and I understand how hard it can be to reach out for support.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Trauma, body image dysmorphia, anxiety, anorexia, bulimia, ADHD, and OCD. The diagnosis and experiences thrown at me throughout the years of my life. Resilient, friend, supporter, advocate, student of life, trauma informed, yoga therapist, and safe are the labels and words I connect to now. Mindfulness, Trauma Sensitive Yoga, and Yoga Therapy techniques personally supported my journey, which is one of the many reasons I am so passionate about the field I work in.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I would chose the same profession time and time again, I can’t see myself doing anything else!

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