Movement and healing have always been the cornerstones of Marla’s life.
An unfortunate knee injury ended Marla’s professional Modern Dance career in NYC, but opened up a new door to a healing profession in Physiatric Medicine. Years later, that worsening injury led her to Yoga, as a physical practice safe for injured joints. She quickly realized its benefits encompassed much more than toning & flexibility, extending into higher and more subtle realms of healing of mind, body & spirit. Marla combines her passions for breath, energy, imagery, chakra’s, Nature and Qigong, with her fund of anatomical and therapeutic knowledge, her love of movement flow, and her sense of wonder. She hopes to inspire, move and heal others from both within and without, with compassion and grace.
Medical Background:
Marla is a board certified physiatrist (specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation), who has treated patients for musculoskeletal injuries and neurological disorders. She was also an Assistant Professor and residency educator at New York Medical College.
She has also been a student of Functional Medicine over recent years.
Yoga training:
Marla’s yoga style has been inspired by Anusara (Alka Kaminer) and Kripalu (Franklin Shire) techniques, her love of guided imagery pranayama by Nevine Michaan (Katonah Yoga), and her knowledge of anatomical alignment based myofascial work by Laurice Nemetz and Viki Boyko( Franklin Method). Marla’s Pelvic Floor Balancing work has been influenced by Leslie Howard, Brigitte Arles and Viki Boyko, and her Chair Yoga knowledge by Alka Kaminer. Her love of Qigong inspired by Lee Holden.
Marla graduated from a 200hr YTT with Reenie Diamond and Michael Day in 2016, and a 300hr YTT with Karen C Rider in 2019.
Specialty areas of interest:
Marla is a Pelvic Floor Educator, and has created classes and workshops in women’s pelvic floor health- Pelvic Floor Balancing, both in and around the chair, as well as applied to yoga flow and core function. Most recently, she has written a “break-out box” on the Pelvic Floor to be published in Laurice Nemetz’s upcoming book which is geared towards movement professionals, from Handspring Publishers.
She also teaches workshops in guided imagery pranayama (breathwork) ,
and Franklin Method Low Back Fascia Training (certified Franklin Method educator.)
Her yoga classes are creative, alignment based and breath oriented, providing modifications for different levels, as well as those with injuries.
Other interests:
Marla is married, has 2 sons, a dog and a cat. She loves family life and the outdoors- she spends her leisure time with her family & friends, dog walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, gardening and enjoying winter sports such as nordic skiing and snowshoeing.
Marla has developed an interest in Botanical Medicine and recently obtained a certification in Anti-Viral Botanicals.
Classes:
Women’s Pelvic Floor Health
“Pelvic Floor Balancing” in and around the chair
Every other Thursday from 12-1pm
INTRO session- educational and experiential, this first session will teach you all about your pelvic floor- the anatomy, functions, and common dysfunctions. In addition, we will learn deep pelvic breathing techniques for pelvic relaxation.
In subsequent sessions, you will learn techniques for pelvic floor toning, with the aim to balance our pelvic floors through both relaxation and toning. We will then gradually learn to integrate Pelvic Floor Balancing into core work and yoga postures both in and around the chair.