Yoga, Physical Therapy, Fitness for Adults Living with Neurological & Complex Medical Conditions

Bridging Neurological Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Yoga

Why My Clinical Background Matters for Your Yoga Practice

Living with a neurological condition, chronic illness, or mobility change requires movement that is both deeply effective and exceptionally safe. With decades of neuro rehabilitation experience as a physical therapist supporting clients across a wide variety of diagnoses, I bring a knowledgeable, client-centered approach to your yoga practice. 

Yoga is a time-tested tradition refined over more than 4,000 years to promote healing, balance, and resilience across the mind and body. In our sessions, I honor the deep philosophy and wisdom handed down by my teachers, weaving these ancient practices together with modern clinical insight. Unlike a general fitness or yoga class, every session is designed through a clinical lens—adapting classical yoga poses, breathwork, and mindfulness to respect your body’s unique capabilities while actively working toward your personal movement goals.

How My Specialized Experience Directly Benefits You:

• Movement Disorders & Complex Motor Control: Whether navigating paralysis from a spinal cord injury, tremor, dystonia, or freezing episodes associated with Parkinson’s disease, or ataxia from a brain injury, I use motor learning and principles of neuroplasticity, adaptive sequencing, and postural alignment to optimize movement.

• Spasticity & Hemiparesis Management: I use key principles of spasticity management, prolonged low-load stretching, weight-bearing postures, and targeted breathwork to help reduce involuntary muscle tone, improve symmetry, and encourage active awareness of your affected side.

• Vestibular & Dizziness Disorders: Balancing can be intimidating when experiencing dizziness or visual tracking issues. I integrate gentle head-eye coordination exercises, static and dynamic balance strategies, and grounded postures to help retrain your vestibular system and rebuild your confidence in space.

• Fall Prevention & Frailty Management: Holding specialized certifications in fall prevention and frailty in older adults, I focus on building core stability, safe transfer mechanics, and functional lower-body strength so you can feel steady and secure both on and off the mat.

• Osteoporosis Movement Safety: I ensure all yoga flows and postures avoid unsafe spine flexion or end-range rotation. Instead, we emphasize safe axial extension, bone-loading alignments, and posture-strengthening movements to safeguard your bone density.

• Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS): My specialized training in brain injury allows me to structure sessions that support cognitive fatigue, sensory processing sensitivity, and complex motor control challenges in a calm, highly supportive environment.

• Medical Equipment & Mobility Device Integration: I am comfortable and experienced working alongside wheelchairs, walkers, orthotics (AFOs), oxygen, and other supportive devices. We will seamlessly incorporate your equipment into practice—whether through seated chair yoga, supported transfers, or floor work using adaptive props.

What is Yoga Therapy?

Yoga therapy is personalized care designed around your body, your goals, and your unique health journey.

Unlike a general yoga class, yoga therapy uses evidence-based, adapted practices including gentle movement, intentional breathwork, and mindfulness to address specific neurological conditions and health challenges.

As a Physical Therapist with over 30 years of experience, Raquel bridges specialized neurological rehabilitation with therapeutic yoga. She works alongside your existing medical care team to help you regain functional control, manage symptoms, and take an active, empowered role in your well-being.

Raquel is currently completing her advanced clinical hours to earn the International Association of Yoga Therapists certification (C-IAYT), bringing the highest level of integrative care to every session.

How Raquel Supports Your Daily Practice

• Customized Home Routines: Simple, accessible movement, breathwork, mindfulness exercises, and lifestyle recommendations designed specifically for your daily environment.

• Ongoing Guidance & Accountability: Step-by-step encouragement to help you integrate self-care into your routine, celebrate small wins, and adapt practices as your needs evolve.