CIY’s Yoga Therapy Program

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.” ~ BKS Iyengar

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.” ~ BKS Iyengar

 

Empowering your journey. Healing is not something that is done to you—it is something we support you in discovering.

“Following a traumatic brain injury, the recovery process after my surgery was challenging. My gait was unstable, finding words was difficult, and my daily routine consisted of physio outreach programs, tests, scans, and attempting short walks. The process of joining CIY yoga therapy began with a thorough intake covering my current medical history, state, and goals. The teachers have been personable, professional, and highly knowledgeable. Each 90-minute session leaves me feeling cared for by expertise rooted in empathy. The practice allows my body to find space, trust that space, and simply be in that space. I highly recommend the CIY Yoga Therapy Program.” April Borne, August 2026

Our aim is not simply to help you recover—it is to help you thrive.

At CIY, you are an active participant in your own progress. Together we will:

• Identify your personal goals and priorities. 
• Develop a practice designed specifically for you. 
• Monitor your progress and adapt your program as your needs evolve. 
• Build confidence through education, understanding, and self-awareness. 

Whether your goal is reducing pain, improving mobility, returning to activities you love, or simply feeling more comfortable in your body, we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.

 

Interested in learning whether CIY Yoga Therapy is right for you or someone you care about? Complete the inquiry form and we will contact you to discuss your goals and help you discover whether the program may be a good fit.

Inquire here
 

At CIY we believe that everyone deserves a personalized path toward greater health, resilience, and well-being.

Our Yoga Therapy Program accesses the intelligence of Iyengar Yoga, providing a trusted and tested program in a therapeutic environment, empowering you to move forward and embrace healthy living. Whether you are recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, have an injury or health issue that requires personalized support, our therapists will meet you where you are and help you progress safely. 

Intelligent Healing.

Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, each student's program is carefully developed according to their individual needs, health history, abilities, and goals. As your condition changes and improves, your practice evolves with you. The CIY Yoga Therapy Program is founded on the therapeutic principles and practices developed through the medical classes at BKS Iyengar’s Yoga Institute. This work has demonstrated how the principles of Iyengar Yoga can be thoughtfully applied to support and assist people with a wide range of injuries and health conditions.

 

Our programs may support people experiencing conditions related to:

• Musculoskeletal health (e.g. scoliosis, knee pain, neck problems)
• Stress and nervous system health (e.g. chronic stress, anxiety, depression)
• Heart and cardiovascular health (e.g. high blood pressure, cardiac rehab)
• Neurological conditions (e.g. MS, peripheral neuropathy)
• Cancer recovery (e.g. during treatment and post treatment)
• Respiratory health (e.g. asthma)
• Joint replacement (e.g. pre and post surgery)

And many more conditions.

Where to Start?

Your journey begins with a comprehensive intake and assessment, allowing us to understand your health history, goals, and unique needs. Using this information, we will develop a personalized therapy program tailored specifically to you.Your first appointment includes a detailed consultation to discuss your goals, followed by your initial one-on-one therapy session at our studio. Over the following seven weeks, you will continue with personalized one-on-one sessions. Each appointment begins with a brief pre-session assessment and concludes with a post-session review, allowing us to monitor your progress, evaluate how you are responding to the program, and make any adjustments needed to optimize your results. At the end of Week 8, we will meet with you to review your progress, discuss your achievements, and determine the most appropriate next steps to support your continued health and well-being.

Our therapeutic yoga programs are designed to enrich, not replace, the care provided by your physician or healthcare team.  

 

Trust Through Experience. Trust is at the heart of everything we do.

CIY Therapy is directed by Sharoni Fixler, a senior Iyengar yoga teacher who has studied therapeutic Iyengar Yoga at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India (the global headquarters of Iyengar Yoga) and has decades of experience working with students of varying abilities and who have injuries and health conditions. Our personalized therapy programs are developed with guidance from Dr. Hermann Traitteur, an orthopedic doctor and Director of the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Berlin. Dr. Traitteur has published books on Yoga Anatomy and Physiologoy including therapeutic applications for injuries and health conditions and is an internationally recognized expert.

 

Every CIY Therapy teacher is committed to:

  • Ongoing professional development.

  • High ethical standards.

  • Respectful and compassionate care. 

  • Individualized support

  • Maintaining the integrity of the Iyengar Yoga method 

 

Iyengar Yoga Therapy Research

Evidence based research on the benefits and outcomes of Iyengar Yoga show the value of this practice as a therapeutic tool.

  • Research shows Iyengar Yoga can reduce pain and improve functions in people with chronic low back pain.

    Article: Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Efficacy of Iyengar Yoga Therapy on Chronic Low Back Pain

    Key Findings: 

    • Greater reductions in disability (Oswestry Disability Index) 

    • Less pain 

    • Reduced depression scores 

    • Reduced use of pain medication 

    • Benefits maintained six months after the intervention 

    cription text goes here

  • Studies have demonstrated improvements in pain, joint function, and quality of life. 

    Article: Iyengar Yoga for Treating Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the Knees

    Key Findings:

    • Significant reductions in pain 

    • Improved physical function 

    • Better knee flexibility 

    • Excellent adherence with no serious adverse events 

    cription text goes here

  • Regular Iyengar Yoga practice has been associated with modest reductions in blood pressure in some people. 

    Article: Iyengar Yoga versus Enhanced Usual Care on Blood Pressure in Patients with Prehypertension to Stage I Hypertension

    Key Findings: At 12 weeks, the Iyengar Yoga group demonstrated: 

    • 24-hour systolic blood pressure: ↓ approximately 6 mmHg 

    • 24-hour diastolic blood pressure: ↓ approximately 5 mmHg 

    • Mean arterial pressure: ↓ approximately 5 mmHg 

  • Research suggests improvements in balance, mobility, and confidence. 

    Article: The Effects of Yoga on Patients with Parkinson's Disease

    Key Findings: Compared with control groups, yoga significantly improved:

    • Balance 

    • Functional mobility 

    • Motor symptoms 

    • Anxiety and depression 

    • Quality of life 

    The authors concluded that yoga is a safe and effective adjunct therapy for people with Parkinson's disease. 

  • Multiple Sclerosis

    Evidence indicates benefits for fatigue, balance, and overall quality of life. 

    Article: Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga and Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis

    Key Findings: The Iyengar Yoga group demonstrated:

    • Improvements in fatigue measures 

    • Improvements in mood and emotional well-being 

    • Improvements in some aspects of quality of life 

    Yoga was found to be safe and well tolerated by people with MS.

  • Yoga has been shown to help reduce fatigue, anxiety, and improve sleep and well-being in many cancer survivors. 

    Article: Yoga for Persistent Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors

    Key Findings:

    • Significant reductions in persistent cancer-related fatigue 

    • Improved vitality 

    • Reduced depressive symptoms 

    • Improved physical functioning 

    • Benefits maintained after the intervention period 

  • Numerous studies support yoga's role in reducing stress and improving emotional health. 

    Article: Iyengar Yoga for Distressed Women

    Key Findings: Compared with a wait-list control group, Iyengar Yoga participants showed significant improvements in:

    • Perceived stress 

    • State and trait anxiety 

    • Depressive symptoms 

    • Psychological quality of life 

    • Mood and well-being 

    • Physical complaints 

  • Emerging evidence suggests yoga may help improve balance, proprioception, and quality of life for some individuals.

    Article: Mind-Body Intervention for Diabetic Neuropathy

    Key Findings: Yoga participants demonstrated improvements in:

    • Proprioception 

    • Lower-limb muscle strength 

    • Pain symptoms 

    • Fear of falling 

    • Quality of life measures 

    Article: Yoga as a Complementary Therapy in Neuropathic Pain

    Key Findings:

    • Positive trends for reducing neuropathic pain intensity 

    • Potential improvements in quality of life 

    • Good feasibility and safety as an adjunctive therapy