Hi, I'm  Carolyn Smith, licensed massage therapist, certified yoga therapist and yoga teacher. 

​

As humans in this modern world, it's not uncommon for our movements and activities to become restricted as we age. We find it difficult or even painful to do the things we used to do with ease when we were younger.

​

Restriction in the way we move is often an unconscious pattern of holding tension in our bodies. The most obvious sources of that tension are illness or injury. The less obvious sources affect all us as we age normally—our postural habits, repetitive movements, and emotional stress. 

 

While aging is not an option, how we live and move in our bodies as we age is largely up to us. My passion is to guide people toward that same conclusion. 

 

I’ve made it my life’s work to guide active middle-aged and older adults toward a healthier lifestyle by teaching them how release tension and restriction in their bodies so they can continue or get back to doing the things they love to do.

 

My journey toward developing expertise in movement began when my mother had a stroke in her early 60’s. Although her stroke wasn’t severe, it did limit her ability to do many of the things she had truly enjoyed, like playing tennis and gardening. 

 

As she gave in to the difficulty of movement, she sank into depression and gained weight. These conditions cascaded into further physical limitation and other health problems. Sadly, my mother spent the last 20 years of her life in ill health, much of which may have been prevented through lifestyle changes. 

 

My mother's health problems motivated me to learn what I could about healthy aging. I studied yoga with master teachers, where I learned about the science of movement and how yoga can be healing to the spirit. I expanded my understanding of anatomy, biomechanics and the nervous system earning my certification as a Yoga Therapist and later becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist. I continue to expand my knowledge through additional training and ongoing study. 

 

I’ve been teaching yoga classes publicly and privately since 2005, with yoga therapy and functional movement becoming my focus since 2012. In 2017, I earned my license as a massage therapist. My clients come in all varieties— from athletes to desk jockeys, pre-and-post surgical patients, people suffering from Parkinson’s disease and recovering from strokes to people who just want to move and feel better in their bodies. 

 

I’ve come to understand that movement is about being in touch with our self on a physical, mental and spiritual level - it's about being embodied. If you’re open to learning how to inhabit your body in a more conscious way, I can show you how. 

 

I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to yoga or bodywork. When working privately with clients, I get to know their stories about what they do on a daily basis for work and enjoyment, their history of injuries or illnesses, and what their movement and lifestyle goals are. I then tailor a treatment plan specifically for them and teach them how to care for their bodies for the long term. 

 

In a class setting, I make sure each one of my clients feels seen and heard, and I conduct the class to meet their needs. I have a knack for creating a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere so people feel safe turning their attention inward to themselves. 

 

As one of my clients, you will be able to move with more fluidity and ease. Your quality of life will be enriched as you discover how to use your body wisely. You’ll be able to do what you love doing for as long as you love doing it.