About Jennifer Speiden
Creative movement has always been an integral part of Jennifer’s personal and professional life. She is passionate about integrating movement and healing arts into both her work and daily living, supporting overall health, well-being, and joy.
Jennifer draws inspiration from both Eastern and Western approaches to movement and medicine, weaving together diverse tools and teachings. Her work invites people of all ages and abilities to tend to—and build a compassionate relationship with—their bodies, breath, minds, hearts, and spirits.
She has trained in a variety of yoga styles, along with specialized approaches designed to support individuals who have historically had limited access to somatic tools for self-regulation, integration, and resilience. Her experience includes adapting trauma-informed practices for individuals with developmental disabilities, neurodivergent communities, older adults, those in recovery from substance use, individuals navigating mental health challenges, and people who have experienced trauma—including caregivers who may experience secondary trauma.
Jennifer’s intention is to support others in discovering the beauty of the interplay between mindful movement and reflective stillness, helping them navigate the physical, emotional, and mental waves that come with living in a human body.
Training
Yoga Teacher and Therapist Training
- Essential Yoga Therapy and IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT
- Certified 500-hour Viniyoga™ Teacher, American Viniyoga Institute
- Hatha Yoga Teacher Training with Anna Pittman
- Integrative Yoga Therapy Teacher
- 25+ years studying, practicing, and being a student of yoga
Body-Heart-Mind Wellness, Recovery, and Resilience
- Completed Subtle® Yoga Online Trainings with Kristine Weber (neuroscience of yoga, yoga for mental well-being, accessible yoga for chronic health issue support, trauma-informed yoga)
- Completed Subtle® Yoga Breathwork Certification Program
- Yoga of 12-Step Recovery Leader
- Relax and Renew® Trainer (Restorative yoga teacher certification with Judith Lasater)
- Completed Yoga and Heart Disease with Nischala Joy Devi
- Completed Adapting Yoga for Disability Level 1 with Mind Body Solutions
- Completed Yoga of Awareness for Cancer Professional Training at Duke Integrative Medicine
- Completed Yoga Medicine® Lymphatics Teacher Training
Empowered Aging
- Completed SomaYoga Institute's Memory Maintenance Yoga Certificate Training
- Completed Teaching Yoga to Seniors Certificate Training
- Brain Longevity® Specialist, Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation
Pelvic Floor Health
- Completed Training the Pelvic Floor & 5 Diaphragms with Samantha Akers
- Completed Pelvic Floor Yoga™ Teacher Training with Leslie Howard
- Completed PhysioYoga and the Pelvic Floor Online Training with Shelly Prosko
Physical Therapy
- Master of Science, Physical Therapy
Public Health
- Certified Community Health Worker
Ayurveda
- American Institute of Vedic Studies Certified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor
- American Institute of Vedic Studies Certified Yoga & Ayurveda Health Educator
Rhythm, Movement & Wellness
- Completed Sacred Frame Academy Program with Krista Holland
- Completed Frame Drum Academy 101, 202, and 303 Programs with Marla Leigh
- Completed the Music and Wellness training with Jim Donovan
- Dance for PD trainings with Mark Morris Dance Company
- Completed The Groove Method Facilitator Training
- 20+ years studying, practicing, and being a student of transcultural dance and drum traditions
Acknowledgement
I am an interdisciplinary facilitator and who leads classes and explorations that integrate the wisdom of yoga, yoga therapy, Ayurveda, somatics, rhythm, and play.
The original stewards of the land I live and work on is stolen land that belongs to the Tutelo people. I offer my reverence to them and to this land, and I commit to decolonization as a way of life.
The ancestors of several of my inspirations that support my learning are not my blood ancestors. I pay respect to them and seek to honor them as my own.