The Why, Who, & How of Yoga Therapy
/Olympic National Park, ©2025 Patrick Kern
Hello friends, welcome to September!
In the first newsletter of this series, I shared what yoga therapy is.
In the second, I talked about what makes it different.
In the third, I gave examples of how it can be a real-life superpower for navigating change.
Today, in this final newsletter of the series, I want to bring it closer to home: who I typically work with, what a session looks like, and why this work continues to inspire me every single day.
Why I love this work
Yoga therapy changes lives. It creates a container where people feel seen, supported, and resourced as their whole selves. It’s not about fixing or perfecting. It’s about nuance, authenticity, creativity, and permission to play – discovering tools that bring more ease, resilience, and self-connection into daily life.
Watching clients step into this space – often with relief, sometimes with surprise, always with courage – to become advocates for their vitality is hands down the most rewarding work of my life.
Who yoga therapy can support
You don’t need to be flexible, have a specific level of fitness, or have prior yoga experience to benefit from yoga therapy. In fact, many people come to me saying they “aren’t good at yoga” or “don’t know where to start.” My answer? That’s the perfect place to begin.
Some of the specific populations I work with include:
Women navigating perimenopause/menopause who want steadiness, support, and empowerment through their transition
Adults 60+ years aiming to maintain or improve mobility, balance, and strength so they can keep doing what they love as they age
Busy professionals and caregivers seeking relief from the hectic push-pull of modern life, along with the radical permission to rest
People managing chronic pain, injury recovery, or living with long-term or terminal illness
Anyone longing for curiosity, compassion, and deeper connection to their body, breath, and inner wisdom
How does the work look?
Our work together always begins with you. Before our first session, you’ll complete an intake form that covers your health history, needs, daily rhythms, and goals.
Your initial session (about 2 hours) is a chance for us to review your intake together and begin co-designing a customized practice – drawing from any relevant tools of yoga: movement, rest, breath work, mindfulness, intention-setting, lifestyle strategies, and so on.
You’ll leave with simple “home practices” – what I like to call yoga snacks – so you can integrate what we do into daily life in a way that feels realistic and supportive. Follow-up sessions (1 hour each) give us space to refine, adapt, and expand on those practices as your needs evolve.
I see clients in-person or online weekdays (except Wednesday):
Mondays at my Columbia City location
Tuesdays and Thursdays for home visits (Seattle only)
Fridays at my Eastlake location
In-person or virtually online
Your initial commitment to yourself is a four-session series ($500 investment; payment plans available). After that, sessions are $135/hour. Most clients begin with 4–8 sessions, with the flexibility to continue regularly, pause, or check in periodically when they need a reset. The pace and path are always your choice.
The heart of it
At its core, yoga therapy is a partnership. You bring your lived experience, inner wisdom, curiosity, and dedication to your own vitality. I bring an extensive background of training, perspective, and practices that can support you. Together, we co-create something that helps you feel steadier, stronger, more vital, and meets your goals for the work.
Yoga therapy isn’t about adding more to your to-do list. It’s about finding and honing the few select practices that truly nourish you – and making them part of your life in a sustainable way.
~
Thank you for coming along with me through this series. I hope it’s given you a clearer sense of what yoga therapy is, and maybe even sparked some curiosity about how it might support you or someone you love. If you’re interested in exploring further, I’d love to connect with you.
Email: hello@nicolebratt.com
Call or text: 415-994-4905
Use my Contact Form
With gratitude, love, and support –
Nicole
PS. Do I still teach “regular” yoga classes and see private yoga clients? Absolutely. This four-part series was simply meant to expand your understanding of yoga therapy specifically – and how it looks a little different from my group classes or one-on-one yoga sessions.
Sunday Night Candlelight Restorative Yoga @ Datza returns!
My Sunday night Candlelight Restorative class at Datza Studio in Eastlake resumes THIS Sunday, September 7 @ 7:00pm.
In-studio* or online
*Pre-registration is highly advised.
Mindfulness Mondays @ The Hive
New Columbia City Class starts Next Monday!
Start your week with intention. This grounding practice offers gentle movement, space to breathe, guided meditation, and a long, restful savasana—designed to help you reset, regulate, and restore.
Drop in; sliding scale; in-person only.
Class begins Monday, September 8 @ 5:30pm.
Yoga 101: Free Two-part Series
For the Shifts, Seasons, and Superpowers of Peri/Menopause!
Think yoga is just what you see on Instagram?! Think again!
This beginner-focused, two-part series is for anyone who’s been curious about yoga but felt unsure where or how to begin, what it’s all about, how it might help during the menopause transition, or whether it’s even for them.