Part 3: Stories from the Mat
No two clients come to yoga for the same reason. Some need relief from physical pain. Others are looking for a moment of peace in a busy life. Some are recovering—from injury, surgery, or other major life events. Others are preparing for birth, for travel - for whatever comes next.
What I love about private yoga is that it allows me to meet each person exactly where they are—and help them get where they want to go.
Here are a few real-life stories from clients I’ve had the privilege to work with:
Quiet Strength in a Busy Life
Years ago, the wife of a hedge fund manager reached out about private yoga. Her husband was constantly traveling, had no time or interest in heading to a studio, and wasn’t about to spend his rare free time in a group class. But he needed something to help manage stress—and the aches and pains that come with a high-pressure, busy lifestyle.
We started early-morning sessions in his home. Over time, they became a non-negotiable part of his routine. Because each class is tailored specifically to him, we can adjust on the fly—whether we’re focused on lower back pain after a long flight or just carving out space for quiet meditation.
He once told me the stillness at the end of class is his favorite part. And no matter what’s going on, I always make sure we return to that place of peace.
Back to the Green
One of my clients is an active woman in her 50s who spent years playing sports at a high level. After hip replacement surgery and later a knee surgery, she developed debilitating back pain—pain that kept her from gardening and golfing, two of her biggest joys.
When we started working together, her goal was simple: get back on the golf course without pain.
Through movement assessments and targeted work, we discovered her psoas and hip flexors were tight and doing a lot of compensating. With some consistent strength and mobility work (and her dedication to homework between sessions!), we helped her body adjust to her post-surgery mechanics - something that was needed even years after surgery. The back pain went away—and she went back to doing what she loves, pain-free.
Focus for Labor
Another client came to me during her second pregnancy. Her first birth experience had been long and hard, and this time, she wanted to feel more in control by cultivating more tools in her toolbox—more confidence, more strength, and more calm.
I believe strongly in the importance of including endurance work in my classes with pregnant clients. Giving birth is an incredibly athletic endeavor and I think building endurance and practicing staying calm during controlled stressful situations in our sessions help to build that resilience muscle. In her classes, we combined breathwork with endurance-based, contraction-simulating holds, like wall sits, in order to find what techniques worked best for her. She got to test drive different breathing techniques under physical stress so she could discover what felt helpful, natural and most effective for her.
A week before her due date, she asked if I’d record a version of the breathing pattern she connected with most. I sent her the recording, and she used it during her labor. Afterward, she told me how grounding it was—and how much more empowered she felt.
More Than a Yoga Teacher
For all my clients, I aim to be more than a teacher. I want to be a trusted support system—someone who knows their goals, their challenges, and how to guide them forward with care.
Whether you’re recovering, rebuilding, or just trying to carve out space for yourself in a packed schedule, private yoga can be the “and” that helps you feel better, move better, and live better.
Let’s Talk
If you’ve been curious about how yoga might support your life, I’d love to talk with you. I offer private sessions tailored to your body, your schedule, and your goals—whether physical, mental, or somewhere in between.
Let’s explore what’s possible together.
[Call now to schedule a free consultation.]