Hi, I’m Lisa.

Based in Istanbul, Turkey and Southern Maine, I’ve been helping people learn to release stress, move more freely and heal pain since 2009. I believe in embodiment. Our bodies and our minds are deeply connected. By working with our bodies (rather than against them) we can change how we feel, how we move, to breathe more deeply and feel more present, aware and alive.

I’m not just a teacher; I’ve used these same methods to move through my own pain and injuries and to be more present and more deeply connected to those I love. Sometimes life gives you challenges. In 2022 I found out I had a seriously herniated disc in my neck, and bulging discs above and below. I was in so much pain I wasn’t sleeping and could barely make it through the day. My fingers tingled and felt numb. My doctor immediately recommended surgery, telling me that this was the only way to alleviate my pain. I decided to wait, and to see if my practice could help me heal. With the help of some anti-inflamatories (sometimes medication can be an important piece of healing), I deepened my somatics practice, feeling inward toward the roots of the tension in my neck and shoulders. Using Somatics and pandiculation I let the feeling of my body from the inside help to guide where I needed to connect, release and free. Within a couple weeks I had reduced my pain to almost zero, and within a couple months I no longer had tingling or numbness in my hands and fingers. Now I am back not only to my full yoga practice but have added a new passion - capoeira.

Thomas Hanna, the creator of Somatics believed that what we often call aging is a myth. This myth tells us that as we get older our bodies break down; they stop being able to do the things that they once could, and that the only thing we can do is to accept this. My experience says that this is wrong. In fact we can not only reduce and relieve our pain, but continue to be able to do the things we love throughout our long lives.

The key to this transformation is learning to let go of accumulated unconscious muscle tension by almost literally requiring our minds. This unconscious tension disconnects us from ourselves. It limits our movements and creates a sense that our bodies are failing, that we no longer fully and freely inhabit them. Embodiment (having a body) is a gift, and somatics and conscious movement are powerful tools to stay present, connected and free in our bodies. Whether you choose to work exclusively on Somatics or to bring embodiment into your yoga asanas I am honored to help you on your journey.

I am thankful to all my teachers including Steven Aronstein, Eric Cooper, Chris Chavez, Desiree Rumbaugh and many more. And especially to my truest teachers - my children Elijah and Milo and my husband Alex.