by Sarah Westbrook, C-IAYT, Yoga Therapist at Heartwood Center in Evanston
Have you ever thought about trying yoga — and then decided it wasn’t for you?
Maybe you’ve seen the photos of bendy young bodies on social media and thought, “My back hurts when I tie my shoes, I could never do that.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you might be surprised to learn that yoga can be exactly what helps you feel stronger, steadier, and more comfortable in your own body.
A Therapeutic Approach, Rooted in Collaboration
Here at Heartwood, the philosophy is simple: healing happens best when the body, mind, and spirit are supported together. Our community of practitioners — from physical therapists and massage therapists to acupuncturists and energy workers — shares a common goal of helping people feel better and live more fully.
As a Certified Yoga Therapist, my role within that circle of care is to bring in the movement piece — helping clients translate the benefits of hands-on or energetic work into everyday life.
Massage, acupuncture, or bodywork can ease tension, increase range of motion, or rebalance the nervous system. Yoga therapy builds on those gains by helping you own and embody those changes through mindful, weight-bearing, safe movement. Together, we teach the body how to move with more freedom and independence— and help those improvements last.
What Yoga Therapy Looks Like
In my sessions, we move gently and intentionally. Each practice is adapted to your current abilities and your comfort level. We use breath, movement, and awareness to reduce pain, improve balance, and rebuild confidence in your body’s resilience.
You don’t have to be flexible or experienced to begin — in fact, most of my clients are starting with chronic pain, recurring stiffness, and apprehension about movement. Yoga therapy offers a compassionate way back into motion, at a pace that supports healing rather than strain.
Inside the Studio
My 600-square-foot yoga therapy studio at Heartwood provides a calm, private space to explore movement safely. I offer both individual sessions and small therapeutic group classes, designed for those who may feel “too tight,” “too old,” or “too unsteady” to join a
typical yoga class. My yoga classes are anything but typical. Everyone is re-learning how to move more safely, more in tune with the body’s intended patterns, and re-learning how to breathe in a way that undoes decades of anxious, tense holding.
The space is quiet, supportive, and welcoming — the perfect place to reconnect with yourself and discover that movement can feel good again.
Where Healing Continues
Many of my clients come to yoga therapy after working with one of Heartwood’s other practitioners. When soft tissue has been released, when pain has eased, or when energy feels more balanced, therapeutic movement helps integrate those changes. Learning how to move optimally — and to let go of old protective habits — is what allows healing to take root and become lasting.
It is quite powerful to bring your conscious participation to relearning how to breathe and move. Your acupuncture and bodywork sessions will also benefit. Rather than coming in with the same patterns, they start to dissolve. When new habits are learned, you can get to other parts of the body that are hungry for skilled, compassionate therapeutic touch.
At Heartwood, we believe that wellness isn’t a single treatment — it’s a continuum of care. Yoga therapy, mindful movement customized to your unique situation, is the bridge between feeling better on the table and feeling better in your life.
An Invitation to Begin
If you’ve been curious about yoga but hesitant to try, I invite you to reach out or visit my website: www.yogatherapywithsarah.com. Whether you’re working with another practitioner at Heartwood or just starting your wellness journey, yoga therapy can help you reconnect with your strength, steadiness, and confidence — one breath, one movement at a time.
