Kaley Ramirez
C-IAYT | E-RYT 500
Years ago, a friend took me to a heated power yoga class. I did not feel well that night, physically or emotionally. The room was hot and candlelit. I don’t remember the specific flow we did, how many other people were there, or even much of what the teacher said. I do remember walking out feeling better. I felt softer and more open, and I enjoyed sharing the experience with someone I love.
I’d done yoga before, but only sporadically and in cramped rooms with people rushing around. There was something different about this class - maybe it was the heat or that I was with a friend, maybe I was ready to receive what that practice could show me. I kept going back after that and soon I was doing yoga almost everyday. I wanted to learn more, feel better, and share yoga with everyone.
I completed my 200 hour certification in 2014. That same year, I attended a restorative yoga training that opened yet another door in the multifaceted world of yoga - rest! I could rest my body and mind and feel more energized and present. From there, I completed trainings focused on mental and emotional wellness, substance use disorder and recovery, as well as PTSD & trauma. I completed my 300 hour training with Inner Peace in 2016 and in 2020 became a certified yoga therapist after completing their comprehensive yoga therapy program. Altogether I have trained over 1,000 hours.
I love this work because it continuously reveals the intricate and profound connections that exist within and around us. With yoga, we can mindfully move through various realms of self-connection and discovery because yoga can unlock wisdom held within your subtle body. As you reconnect with this wisdom, the practice of self-healing unfolds.
Certifications
What is yoga therapy?
In simple terms, yoga therapy is the use of yoga for healing. It involves using various practices like physical postures, meditation, and breathing exercises to promote wellbeing and vitality. Yoga therapists utilize practices like these to help folks in various ways like pain management, cultivate mindfulness, or balance their nervous system. One of my favorite aspects of this work is that yoga therapy considers, observes, and cares for the whole person; it recognizes the intricate interplay between the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga therapy sees you as the whole being that you are.
During our time together, I work to understand your unique journey and experience. Clients usually come to me with a particular issue or goal in mind. Through the intake process, I consider how that problem affects a client’s overall wellbeing and daily life. By carefully exploring the relationship between the body, emotions, and mind, I identify which practices may best suit the needs of my client. This is the base from which the client and I co-create a personalized therapeutic plan. It is helpful to consider the goal not as a finite endpoint, but rather as a helpful checkpoint to reconsider as the practices and plan evolve or as needs change.
Yoga therapy work meets you where you are so the practices are approachable and accessible enough to integrate throughout your day. My role is to show you how to create simple moments of comfort and ease. You are the healer, your efforts and knowledge steer the process. I am a grounded support system for you as you engage in this self-healing work.
I am deeply committed to supporting you, so it's essential to clarify that I am neither a mental health professional nor a doctor. Therefore, I do not diagnose any disorder or medical condition. With yoga therapy, you don't need a formal diagnosis. Some clients find it helpful to name their experience with a diagnosis, other don’t. Either way, we can work together and find what suits your needs. As you share your concerns or goals, I listen and offer guidance from a yogic perspective.
As you consider what yoga therapy is and explore its potential benefits, it is important to understand that while this holistic approach to healing is impactful on it’s own, it is not meant to replace any existing medical guidance you follow. Yoga therapy can serve as a valuable supplement to the care you already receive and works well alongside other treatment modalities.
During yoga therapy sessions I seek to understand your personal experience and how the specific issue you have in mind impacts your daily life and how it shows up in your body. I believe that a meaningful, authentic practice of self-study done consistently but done with grace and patience, is the foundation from which self-healing grows.
What People Are Saying
Kaley helped me to understand that I can meet my pain and anxiety with gentle attention and movement. I’d had shoulder pain for quite some time which flared up with stress. I’d jam my thumb into the knot, get a deep tissue massage or some acupuncture to relieve the tension. These things helped but only temporarily. Instead, Kaley taught me how to meet that pain with curiosity and some tools for sustained relief. Now, when I feel my shoulder start to flare up, I hold my hands in the mudra Kaley shared with me and focus on relaxing my breath. It works every single time and I am able to relieve the symptom almost immediately. It is discreet enough to do under the table if I’m mid conversation and because they are my hands and focus, I have this relief with me always. I believe that part of that relief too is knowing that I always have these tools to provide myself with relief. It’s pretty amazing! And I know there are so many more to learn.
I love that we have overarching goals in our work together and yet each session starts with a conversation about where I currently am. If I have high anxiety that day, we move and do some flow. If I am feeling calm, we do some inner resource meditation and correct imbalances in my posture and hips. To have the thoughtful and thorough care she provides in my life is such a powerful gift. I am so grateful for all that she has witnessed, guided me through and helped me to understand.
— Katie | New York, NY
I found our work together to be really beneficial for me. I have a hard time staying engaged with physical therapy and completing at-home exercises. When they were combined with some of the techniques of yoga, it was more my style. Breath work especially has been a huge part of my life in the last year, and meditations have helped me manage my pain so much. My yoga practice isn’t very physical anymore and the majority of it is breath focus and very small intentional movements. I think what we did gave me the space to slow down and tune in to how my body really feels, and teach me to be more kind to myself when it comes to my health and the limitations it puts on me both physically and mentally.
— Liz | albuquerque, NM
Working weekly with Kaley in our intimate cohort was a very heartfelt experience which felt supportive and safe. She uses a gentle yet informative approach to somatic healing. Kaley’s social and emotional intelligence allowed me a unique opportunity to effectively learn and utilize tools/practices both in and outside of our meetings. Every week I felt supported in sharing what nuggets of wisdom I uncovered between meetings using the practices we learned. Kaley kindly helped me lay out my map to self discovery and healing.
— Jordan | Denver, CO
Kaley has a calm and caring presence which makes easy to talk to. Practicing YT with Kaley helped me reevaluate my relationship with physical pain and at home treatment plans helped me incorporate yoga principles into my daily life.
— MAGGIE | Denver, CO
Acknowledgements
I want to express gratitude to all my teachers who have walked with me through my own self-healing process and in my efforts in becoming a Yoga Therapist. A special thank you to Michele Lawrence, Jessica Patterson, and Durga Leela for their invaluable wisdom and mentorship.
Yoga has had a profound impact on my life. It has been a transformative practice, offering solace and at times even a lifeline. It is important to name that yoga is not part of my cultural heritage or personal background, and I place great emphasis on recognizing the potential harm that can arise when yoga practices are not handled mindfully or respectfully. I aim to honor the traditions with care and am committed to upholding the principles of yoga, as well as following the guidelines set by the Ethics Board of IAYT. Working diligently within my scope of practice, I prioritize intentionality and maintain aligned integrity within my work.
