By Melissa Aguirre
My work as a yoga therapist has taken many forms, shaped by my environment, the communities I serve, and the evolving needs of those who seek my support. Yoga therapy is not just about teaching postures; it is about offering an integrative, person-centered approach to health and well-being. These methods meet people where they are, whether that’s in a one-to-one session, a community class, on a military base, or in the context of education.
A fresh start
For me, yoga therapy began as a full-time private practice, offering individualized sessions 6 days a week, complemented by evening group classes and weekend workshops. But the nature of my work changed when my husband got military orders that moved us to San Antonio, Texas. Although it initially felt like starting over, I soon realized that this transition was an opportunity to innovate and expand the reach of yoga therapy beyond traditional spaces. Instead of waiting for clients to find me, I took yoga therapy into the community, offering education to nonprofits, collaborating with local yoga studios, and developing programs for organizations that had never considered yoga as a tool for encouraging health and resilience.
Today, my work as a yoga therapist involves a multifaceted approach blending one-to-one sessions, therapeutic yoga teacher trainings, community education, and more. My passion lies in bringing yoga to unconventional spaces, from military installations to law enforcement training, from chair yoga for staff in a hospital waiting room to nonprofit wellness initiatives. I see myself as an educator and facilitator, empowering individuals and organizations to apply yoga in practical ways.
Innovating to integrate
Unlike physical therapy or psychotherapy, yoga therapy is an emerging field, and part of our work is to educate people about what we do, how we work, and why it matters. I have found success in collaborative innovation. When bringing yoga therapy programming to a U.S. military setting, for example, I listened to the leadership, learned about their specific stressors, and adapted the language of yoga therapy to be relevant to them. I assessed the challenges and needs of the unit and tailored a structure that elevated what they already did by threading mindfulness and yoga into their cadence and training.
Before opening the first-ever yoga studio on a U.S. military base, at Fort Sam Houston, I partnered with the United Service Organizations (USO) to develop an online foundations course for military spouses, helping them to explore yoga from the context of both movement and mental hygiene. This course built a supportive community, which eventually led to the creation of MilMindBody Yoga Studio at the Vogel Resiliency Center in 2019. Today, that studio has grown into the Vogel Mindfulness Center, which provides a government service job for a yoga therapist and increases access to mindfulness and yoga for military personnel.
Yoga therapists are still shaping this profession, carving out paths that didn’t exist before. It’s not always easy, but it is rewarding, meaningful, and deeply impactful. For anyone considering or currently working as a yoga therapist, remember: We are all learning as we go. Every experience, every challenge, and every breakthrough adds depth to our understanding of how to share yoga therapy with the world.
Melissa Aguirre, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, has personally experienced the therapeutic value and relevance of sharing yoga in military and public domains. She has found many approaches to delivering yoga therapy, education, and resources that aid others in deepening their practices on and off the mat. Learn more in her “Live Like You Practice” video series.
