Kristen Ryder, Certified School Psychologist, RYT200
Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor (200 hour)
Yoga for Survivors-Certified Instructor (150 hour)
Street Yoga Training (Trauma-Informed Youth Outreach; 12 hours)
Connection Coalition Training (Trauma-Informed Youth Outreach; Level 2 Social Justice in Yoga)
Mindful Schools: Certified Mindful Schools Teacher Class of 2019 (Year-long certificate)
Yoga 4 Classrooms Training
Reiki Certified, Levels I & II
MBSR certified

Stillness and Strength Yoga LLC, was created to house my specific certification to work with cancer survivors, and grew to include my training and passion: helping youth heal from complex adversity. I am the only Yoga for Survivors-trained instructor in Michigan, and have trained to provide outreach services to both the at-risk youth and cancer survivor community. 

Currently, I serve youth and their families as a School Psychologist in Traverse City, MI. I also teach weekly yoga classes through Munson Medical Center's Cowell Family Cancer Center, also located in Traverse City, MI. I specialize in private and small group sessions that are targeted towards overall stress-reduction and better client health. I am passionate about the healing connection between breath and movement, and focus on feelings of fluidity, strength, relaxation, and calm.

As a Yoga for Survivors instructor, my training consisted of a year-long, 150-hour certification program under the supervision of the Yoga for Survivors program creator, Laura Kupperman, and my personal mentor, Barbara Gallani of The Life Centre in London, UK. Our certification requirements included a 50-hour, two-week intensive training with Laura at The Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado, and a 100+ hour, year-long mentorship training consisting of online coursework, mentor sessions, and multiple group and private sessions, as well as reviews of current reading materials on cancer and cancer-related topics. 

My specialized yoga training program has provided me with specific knowledge, skills, and techniques to work with clients who have been diagnosed with cancer. Clients may deal with physical and/or emotional symptoms that accompany their current or post-cancer treatment, including lymphedema, fatigue, stress, emotional distress, insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, and other side effects of treatment, both short and long-term.  I aspire to contract with local and state-wide cancer centers and hospitals to provide their clients with yoga services during and post-cancer treatment, and help hospitals heal the whole client. 

My Yoga for Survivors certification is in addition to my traditional 200-hour yoga teacher certification in Hatha Yoga through Yoga 4 Peace, a non-profit yoga studio located in Southgate, MI. I am a lifelong learner, consistently attending new yoga trainings or reading newly-released and research-based publications. Recent trainings and workshops include: Trauma-Informed Youth weekend training with Street Yoga in Chicago, IL, Hamsa meditation weekend retreat with Swami Nityananda Giri in Vanderbilt, MI, weekend workshop with Seane Corn in Windsor, Ontario, weekend workshop with Noah Maze in Brighton, MI, day-workshop with Viniyoga instructor, Sandy Gaunt in Traverse City, MI, and trauma & social justice training with Hala Khouri via Off the Mat, Into the World.  

My life experiences blend the worlds of psychology, non-profit research, education, and trauma and social justice in yoga and mindfulness. I feel that I bring a uniquely personal and empathetic nature to the practice of caring for, listening to, and validating the needs of others. I love the field of neuroscience and enjoy learning about how yoga, mindfulness, and other stress-reduction practices affect our brains and bodies. My personal life includes my loving, supportive husband and awesome bulldog, Luna. Aside from yoga and school psych life, I have an immense love for nature, animals, being active, eating yummy food, and traveling. You will often find me on a hike, on a plane, road-tripping, gardening, snuggling the dog, or on a run. I'm in love with being outdoors and seeing this beautiful world!

I am truly grateful for my life experiences and am elated to be able to provide trauma-informed services to my community through various outlets. I am thankful for the trust and support of my clients, my kiddos, and their families. I look forward to growing and sharing Stillness and Strength's offerings!

Wishing you stillness and strength in all that you do.

**Available for private sessions, group sessions, and teacher consultation in the Traverse City area!**