Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Dunn
Hi Courtney, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started as a licensed professional counselor/ clinical psychotherapist in Austin Texas. At the time I was continually battling my own issues in recovery from long term Anorexia that started when I was 13. A close friend saw my struggles and suggested I attend a yoga class a friend of his taught for people in recovery. I had always been a person of movement and grew up dancing, so it definitely caught my interests. At the time I had no connection with my natural body cues or my sense of self. I was mesmerized by the world of yoga since that class and could not help returning. Over a short period of time, I experienced the mental and physical benefits of a consistent yoga practice and I wanted to share the healing benefits with others. I had the opportunity to attend the Ghosh Yoga College of India in Kolkata, West Bengal for a month to learn yoga therapy. Upon returning I began teaching in recovery centers and giving individualized yoga prescriptions to my counseling clients. Something in me was ready for a change and challenge, so I moved to Houston to start my private yoga therapy practice. I learned that Houston is an overwhelming city to move to and I determinedly navigated my way. After my move I began to experience hormonal and reproductive complications from my long-term experience of nutritional deprivation. In the effort to overcome these I dove deeper into yoga, meditation, sound therapy and other alternative therapies to find a greater sense of peace and self-acceptance. All in all, I am now at a place where I have switched my profession from clinical psychotherapy to yoga and holistic approaches. I have a passion to share with others the tools that have changed my life to help them find their own sense of sense connection with self and improve their. mental and physical health. Each person has unique gifts to offer, and I strive to guide others to use yoga and meditation to become the best version of their self.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been smooth at all. The hardest struggle has been needing to undergo the care of a gynecological oncologist and seeking various types of medical care for my reproductive health, and finally finding help in Ayurveda. I also had to find different types of yoga to practice and teach due to needing to reduce physical stress on my body.
This also all began in 2020 during COVID. The demand for talk therapy and yoga studio shut downs took me away from my yoga therapy goals and I struggled with client burnout while in the midst of my own female health struggles and the issues that COVID brought.
It is difficult because my approach to yoga therapy is influenced by traditional eastern knowledge versus western approaches to yoga. I value all forms of yoga and my knowledge and personal experiences has me sooo open minded and accepting of all, that focusing on a niche of clientele does not seem natural, I want to truly offer something to someone regardless of who they are specifically and what they are working on.
I also struggle with the sense of competition and hypocrisy in the notion of yoga “business”. This concepts seems counterintuitive to the teaching of yoga, yet we live in a very monetary, business and “striving” environment. I stay grounded in my joy of what I offer others and aim to act from the heart, trusting the process versus being distracted by business approaches that do not seem natural to me. I try to ensure that I present my offerings in a way that is aligned to the deeper aspects of yoga, being free from hypocrisy and ego. My approach is to always be myself and share coming from my heart.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a yoga therapist. I also am a certified sound healing practitioner, Human Design Reader and Certified Crystal Practitioner. I have been a psychotherapist for 10 years.
I give individual yoga prescriptions to clients (breath work, postures and meditation). I also teach various forms of yoga.
I offer this alongside my other services. Clients can come to me for a holistic and energy healing approach to their wellness. I LOVE allowing and working with clients to empower them to try any type of service tool they would like. I offer many services so I can uniquely help each person as each person has their own journey.
I also do soundbath meditation events.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I offer in person yoga sessions and all my other services are virtual.
I love collaborating and networking with other yoga instructors to do community events.
You will often find me in a yoga studio connecting with like minded people.
Due to taking a more natural non competitive approach to business and marketing I tend to stay under the radar.
Having others simply refer friends or family who could use my offerings is always appreciated.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies depending on the particular service/service combination clients choose
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.triskeletherapy.org/
- Instagram: @triskeletherapy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtney.a.dunn.1
- Twitter: https://x.com/TriskeleTherapy
