Marisa
INTEGRATIVE MOVEMENT
MEDICINE
Hi, I’m Marisa… yoga nerd, friend of fascia, acupuncture student, mom. Some of you in NYC already know me as a teacher of Kula Flow, in which nerdy instruction and juicy flow are not mutually exclusive. I went off the yoga radar for a few years to have a kid and trade my leggings for a lab coat as I embarked on studying Chinese Medicine with a focus on orthopedic acupuncture in British Columbia. Since then, my perspectives on movement have shifted in subtle ways, and the bulk of my teaching time is spent collaborating with a brilliant team of physiotherapists and yoga teachers on the Threes Physiyoga Method platform.
I’ve been teaching for 15 years, a decade of which was spent at both Kula Yoga Project in Tribeca and Bend & Bloom in Park Slope, as well as teaching private clients all over NYC. The trainings which have influenced me the most are:
• Yoga Union’s 500-hr level with Alison West, including Yoga for Backcare & Scoliosis
• Kula Yoga Project’s Advanced 75-hr Intensive with Schuyler Grant
• Threes Physiyoga Method’s 100-hr Advanced Training with Diana Zotos
• Diploma of Acupuncture at Pacific Rim College, Victoria, BC
• Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (DTCM) at Pacific Rim College (in progress)
• Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRC ms) certification
What fascinates me these days is exploring the overlaps between myofascial maps of western anatomy and the Chinese meridian system. This adds a new dimension to my teaching: asana sequencing inspired by how muscles and connective tissue affect organ systems with reference to the elements that represent those systems, and ultimately, how this is reflected in our behaviour and emotional wellbeing.
I currently live on Vancouver Island. When I’m not teaching, studying, or treating patients in my college’s acupuncture clinic, I’m often exploring tide pools or biking with my daughter.
To get yoga the seat at the table that it deserves, yoga teachers need to learn the language of anatomy. If yoga people are just talking about energy and how everything is connected, then they really won’t get a seat at the table, because anatomy is the language that everybody speaks. And I’m talking about bringing orthopedists and physiotherapists and athletic trainers and yoga people and body workers all to the same table and developing something that is very strong and very powerful.
-Tom Myers
LIVE-STREAMED YOGA CLASSES
ON-DEMAND VIDEO LIBRARY
What the Pec?
Balancing the Shoulder Girdle.
Do your pecs feel tight? Does the front of your shoulder ache? Do you ever get numbness or tingling in your fingers that you know is not from carpal tunnel syndrome? Let's balance out the shoulder girdle by releasing the pecs and scalenes (think upper chest, collarbone, lower neck regions) and get the back of the shoulder to pull its weight and take the burden off the front of the shoulder.
Thursday May 5, 2:30pm PT / 5:30 ET
Sign up in advance to join us live and/or receive the recording afterwards.
By integrating physical therapy and yoga practices, Threes Physiyoga Method (TPM) empowers students to optimize their wellbeing.
A bunch of my favourite yoga teachers and physiotherapists have put together great programs for you.
We offer a free 7-day trial.
Check us out!
ONE-ON-ONE LIVE-STREAM
PERSONALIZED PRACTICE
Work with me privately over Zoom for a personalized practice.
I have over a decade of experience with athletes and dancers recovering from injuries, people living with chronic illness or physical limitations, and a wide range of other needs.
On-demand and customized just for you!
We work together on Zoom to tailor a practice to your needs. Afterwards, I send you a video that you can stream or download to create a consistent practice.