Yoga and Somatic Movement + Bodywork
“The world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our feet, and learn to be at home.” -Wendell Berry
Each day, I’m getting to know my body and myself better – both my strengths and challenges. I’m learning how to deal with my back pain, and am mentally able to concentrate on my work much better. I have become aware of the energy that flows through me and have been feeling more connected to the people and the environment around me. My favorite practice is tree pose . . . imagining roots coming out of the soles of my feet and my arms branching out into space. Just like a tree, I feel more grounded and more alive!
Led by curiosity. Enriched through inner-listening. Tailored to your focus.
What to Expect
- Our time together is guided by your goals
- The work is collaborative! You bring expertise in yourself and your experience. I bring expertise in movement, anatomy, physiology, human development, and somatic awareness / inner-body listening.
- Somatic Movement Sessions utilize movement, touch and dialogue. They may also utilize research, writing, art + vocalizing.
- Somatic Bodywork Sessions incorporate massage therapy, facilitated movement, subtle energy touch techniques and sound / vibration.
What Does “Somatic” Mean?
The word “somatic” has become increasingly popular over the past number of years — leading to it being widely used — and also used to refer many different things.
Amidst the differences in approaches you may encounter under the name “somatic,” many share the idea that our physical body, thoughts, emotions and behaviors are intertwined and co-create our experience of “Self” + connections with “Other.”
Western somatic philosophy and psychology can be traced to the late 1800’s, and somatic movement approaches to the 1970’s. There are numerous non-Western, wholistic traditions and contemplative practices, such as Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine and Martial Arts practices which have been rooted in this integrated understanding of “the Self” for thousands of years; all recognize the “Self’s” inseparability from its environment.
Lineage of Study Integrated in My Approach
Therapeutic Massage + Bodywork
- Licensed Massage Therapist since 2001
- Certificate in Muscular Therapay from the Muscular Therapy Institute, Cambridge MA (1999-2001)
- Certificate in Perinatal Massage from Carole Osbourne-Sheets (2005)
- Certificate in Thai Yoga Massage 1 + 2 With Kam Thai Chow (2006, 2007)
- Scar Rehabilitation (2010)
- Ongoing continuing education in a variety of tissue and energetic based modalities
Somatics and Experiential Anatomy + Physiology
I have researched and practiced experiential anatomy and physiology since my early years of dance, throughout my years of yoga practice and bodywork training, and formally through the School of Body-Mind Centering®, in which I have completed the Infant Developmental Movement Educator program (certified in 2023) and 11 of the 12 Somatic Movement Educator training modules. I expect to graduate in 2026. My core teacher is Amy Matthews.
8-Limbed Path of Yoga
I was first introduced to yoga as a dance student at the Alvin Ailey School in NYC by the teachers from White Cloud Yoga, and thus began the my ongoing path of practice, learning and teaching. I offer thanks to the multiple teachers I have studied with over the years, most notably, my first teacher, Leslie Journet (NYC), and my root teacher Angela Farmer (Lesbos, Greece) with whom I have studied since 2006 and to whom I extend deepest gratitude.
- Certified Yoga Teacher with ISHTA Yoga (2002)
- Specializing in Perinatal Yoga since 2008
Contemplative Meditation
Student of:
- Vajrayana Buddhism
- Kashmiri Tantra
Human Developmental Theory
- Certified Infant Movement Development Educator (2023)
Perinatal Transitions
• Certified Perinatal Doula with the Rhode Island Certification Board (2022)
• Innate Postpartum Care Provider with Innate Traditions ((2019)
• Lactation Counselor with the Center for Healthy Children (2016; chose not to renew cert)
• Certification in Childbirth Education with Common Sense Childbirth School of Midwifery (2016)
• Happiest Baby on the Block Educator Program (2014)
• Infant Massage Instructor (trained 2012, 2017)
• Experienced (Formally Registered) Prenatal Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance – e-RPYT
• Certified Perinatal Massage Therapist with Carole Osborne-Sheets (2005)
Regular Professional Workshops Including:
• Supporting Families Experiencing Loss in Pregnancy, Birth and the first year
• When Survivors Give Birth:
Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women
• Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Infant Mortality, Breastfeeding and Sleep Practices
• Working with Substance Effected Families in the Perinatal Period
• Spinning Babies: Prenatal and Labor Movement to Support Optimal Fetal Positioning
• Traumatic Birth and the Neonate’s Consciousness
• Community Based Perinatal Support Models
• Maternal Child Health Specialist Program with Jennie Josephs
• Trauma Informed Perinatal Care
• Physiological and structural changes in pregnancy and their effects on exercise and movement
• Effects of pregnancy and birth on a birthing parent’s physiological, emotional and social experience
• Review of current literature exploring evidence-based practices in maternity care
Inner Body Yoga
See Yoga and Contemplative Practices
Shakti-Shiva Non-Duel Philosophy
See Yoga and Contemplative Practices
Practitioner:
With an extensive background in yoga, dance, bodywork, anatomy, kinesiology and somatic practices, Kaeli brings endless curiosity about the tapestry of our body, emotions, mind and spirit to her work, and a deep experiential understanding of the body’s structure and movement, as well as it’s role in finding an embodied and joyful connection to one’s self and compassionate connection to others.
A student of the body’s structure and function for over 36 years, Kaeli’s primary yoga teachers have been Leslie Journet and Angela Farmer. Kaeli has practiced and worked as a yoga teacher and massage therapist for over two decades. Since 2019 Kaeli has been a student of Body-Mind Centering®, a somatic approach, with Amy Matthews at the Sonder Movement Project. She is a certified BMC® Infant Developmental Movement Educator and has completed 12 of the 13 modules toward becomeing a BMC® Somatic Movement Educator (hopefully later this year!).
More...
Kaeli began studying dance at 15, eventually training at the Alvin Ailey School in NYC, and later studying traditional West African dance while living in Senegal, West Africa and then for 20 years in the US. She holds a Bachelors degree in Culture and Dance from Long Island University.
Kaeli was first introduced to yoga while at the Alvin Ailey school, and has been practicing for over 33 years, initially primarily studying Hatha yoga and Gyrokinesis with Leslie Journet and, later, “Inner Body Yoga” with Angela Farmer, her primary yoga teacher of the past 19 years, and with teachers of Shakti-Shiva Tantric traditions.
Kaeli has been a yoga teacher for 25 years, and holds certifications in Ishta Yoga and Gyrokinesis. She has pursued extensive study of pregnancy and postnatal yoga, specializing in working with perinatal families for the past 20 years. Most recently, Kaeli has begun studying meditation and pranayama in the tradition of Baba Hari Dass.
A bodyworker most deeply informed by her movement and meditation studies, she graduated from the Muscular Therapy Institute in Cambridge, MA, and has licesned in Rhode Island Licensed (MT01079) since 2001. With advanced training from Kam Thye Chow in Thai Yoga Massage and Carol Osbourne-Sheets in Prenatal, Labor and Postnatal massage, she specializes in Therapeutic and Relaxation Massage, Thai Yoga Massage and Pregnancy and Postpartum Massage. For the past 6 years she has been studying more subtle somatic and energetic touch including at Sonder Movement Project.
Her approach to teaching yoga and somatics and offering bodywork grows out of this life-long study and fascination with the interconnected nature of our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual “bodies.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“You have forever changed the way I feel in and relate to my body”
-AP, Barrington
“Thank you for the work you’ve done in helping me with my shoulder and arm during these last few weeks of pregnancy. This shoulder issue has bothered me for many years, and I’ve been in and out of therapy, massage, and chiropractic care to help it. Although there has been some success in the past, the work that you have done has been different — I often felt that practitioners had a standard “script” that they were following and it didn’t really get to the root of my problem. However, the work you have done each time has been very unique to me and the issues that I’m experiencing. The difference is noticeable in the relief I’ve had after our sessions. Thank you! It has really made a difference! –G.M. Providence
“Kaeli’s Thai Yoga Massages are the most invigorating, relaxing and energizing massage experience I’ve ever had, and I’ve tried many. Little aches and stiff points seem to evaporate, I feel two inches taller, and the muscular surrender that is part of the massage experience carries over into a feeling of intense surcease that lingers long after. Wonderful!” -RF, Providence
“After the birth of my daughter, it was a very stressful time and I endured a significant amount of back pain for about a month. I could barely get in and out of bed. However, after Kaeli’s therapeutic massage I felt almost immediately better! It was absolutely amazing. After about one week, I could do everything without pain. I was always comfortable and at a peaceful place during the massage.” -SS, Providence