"Yoga Therapy is the professional application of the principles of yoga addressing all aspects of the human being, body-mind-spirit. The goal is to promote health and well-being of the client within a safe, therapeutic relationship. It includes personalized assessment, lifestyle changes, goal settings and yoga practices for individuals or small groups." 

- International Association of Yoga Therapy-IAYT

​​Ela began practicing yoga (Hatha style) in 2005, with Cathy Kaihatsu. After a few years it became clear she wanted to add it to her alternative medicine skills as a form of helping others through the great benefits derived from the yoga practice.



Ela has studied, trained and instructed in many styles of yoga, but, unlike many yoga practitioners, she has not limited or compartmentalized her instruction. Rather, she utilizes the different features of each type of yoga to create a complete harmonious approach that is the most beneficial for the individual needs of each of her students.


Her extensive knowledge and experience in massage therapy and acupuncture has provided her special knowledge of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology that she applies to her yoga practice. Ela incorporates techniques from “meridian” stretches learned in Shiatsu and pressure points learned in acupuncture into her yoga instruction.



Her specialty is therapeutic yoga, designed to heal injuries, remedy stiffness and eliminate discomfort from sports, poor body alignment and improper workout techniques. Ela’s treatment of patients with massage therapy and acupuncture has enabled her to utilize the therapeutic aspects of these disciplines when teaching yoga.