About Brigitta

Born and raised in Switzerland, I moved with my husband to America in 1996. My own curiosity to study how the human body, mind and consciousness interact has brought me to where I am today and to what I am passionate about: practicing as a yoga therapist and a yoga teacher.

My father suffered from a neurological illness. During one of my visits, he exhibited high anxiety and restlessness. At that particular time, I had just finished my academic and practical training in marriage and family therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary. In addition, I attended a study group with Dr. Daniel J. Siegel. I had also been practicing yoga for a number of years from which I was greatly benefiting.

During this particular visit at dawn, a dim light came through the window. I placed my father’s hands on his belly and with the rhythm of my breath, I helped him deepen his inhalations and exhalations. While sitting at his bedside, I remembered a moment of his life when he was calm and relaxed. It was a memory of an image from the mountains where creeks meandered through meadows. I visualized my father sitting in this peaceful environment capturing the landscape with a watercolor brush. As I shared this remembrance with him his nervous system calmed down, his eyes closed, and a soft smile relaxed his cheeks. This was the beginning of my journey into the benefits yoga therapy can provide.

Recently I completed training I and training II as an iRest® teacher with Dr. Richard Miller.

For more than ten years I have been learning and practicing with Hagar Harpark and Scott Lewicki, who are internationally known for their teachings of Anusara and Hatha-style yoga. In the spring of 2014, I completed a 200-hour teacher training with Hagar. Both teachers with their very individual approach have helped me to deepen my practice in body, mind and spirit. Both are sincere and dedicated teachers who have remained humble despite their accomplishments.

Serving as my mentors and dear teachers for my Yoga Therapy Rx program are Larry Payne, Ph.D. and Amy Wheeler, Ph.D. from Loyola Marymount University whose incredible expertise in the field of yoga therapy, and openness to give everything they have with humility and grace, has greatly helped and shaped me. I also would like to mention Lori Rubenstein Fazzio, Ph.D. who guided me during my clinical internship at the Venice Family Clinic finalizing level lV in my training as a yoga therapist. All of them, including the extraordinary professors I had the privilege to learn from, have created a community of professional leaning on the highest level.

I completed the 800-hour Yoga Therapy Rx program in Spring 2017 and the 500-hour Yoga Therapy Rx program previous to that. In addition, I have taken workshops through the years in ancient Indic philosophy, such as the Bhagavad Gita. I would like to credit Douglas Brooks, Ph.D. and John Casey, Ph.D. for helping me to increase and deepen my understanding of this sacred text.

I also wish to thank my husband, Christof, who has been supportive in my desire to follow my passion.

Let it be known
that dissolving attachment to suffering
is recognized as Yoga.
With determination and undaunted heart
is this Yoga to be practiced.

Bhagavad Gita 6:23