Site Content
Doris Roll E-RYT200, PCAYT420, MBA
"I am passionate about providing client-centred care for individuals living with persistent physical and mental-emotional pain. Together, we create a customized Embodiment Practice which includes mind<=>body pain education and various aspects of yoga such as slow, mindful movement, targeted breathing exercises and specific meditation techniques designed to address your unique needs and concerns."
- Doris
A dedicated lifelong student and yoga practitioner for over 25 years, Doris left her corporate management job and re-oriented her career towards health and wellness. Her personal lived experience has shown her how various yoga practices can help individuals ground, re-embody and successfully counter the negative effects of stress and dis-ease; in essence how yoga promotes physical, mental-emotional and spiritual health and well-being.
In my 10 month intensive Pain Care Aware Mentorship with Neil Pearson, physiotherapist of over 35 years and the 2021 winner of the Canadian Medal of Distinction from the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and the Canadian Pain Society's Excellence in Interprofessional Pain Education award, I came to understand that while "pain changes everything" the good news is that "everything changes pain". The mind-body is ONE so changing my thoughts will change my physical body and working with my physical body will change my brain, my thoughts and emotions. This insight along with those gained from Polyvagal Theory and its application in yoga as taught by Dr Arielle Schwartz, trauma psychotherapist, as well as the recognition of the role of spirituality in healing gained from the teachings of Swami Swarupanada have opened a world of treatment options for myself and my clients" – Doris
Doris' down-to-earth approach and ability to educate about the complexity of the body<=>mind stress and pain response has made her a much-loved teacher and educator. Using the 'bio-psycho-social-spiritual' model she offers her students Pain Care Aware- and trauma-informed practices that allow them to experience the benefits outlined in pain education sessions. Based on knowledge gained from evidence-based science she shares not only the physical yoga practice with her students but also and most importantly breathing techniques and meditation practices grounded in the psychology and philosophy of yoga.
"I encourage students to first and foremost become aware, to breathe consciously and move mindfully. They are reminded to be self-compassionate and to seek balance. Ultimately, for me, health and well-being centres around re-embodiment into our physical selves and remembering and connecting to the wholeness of our being. By re-establishing a kind-hearted rapport between body and mind we can safely BE in an open, caring, accepting and connected relationship with ourselves and others" - Doris
Site Content
Certifications
Older Adult Fitness Specialist Certification (CanFitPro) - March 2013
Registered, Experienced 200-hour Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200) - July 2013
Chair Yoga Instructor (LVCY 25 hours) - November 2014
Continuing Education (102 hours) - Toronto Yoga Conference 2013 - 2019
Yoga and Pain Care for People in Pain (21 hours) - February 2018
Pain Care Aware Educator (300 hours) - May 2020
Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga (21 hours) - January 2022
Pain Care Aware - Teaching Groups (60 hours) - June 2022
Experience
Doris has over 12 years of yoga teaching experience, 25 years of practice and over 750 hours of yoga training with many senior teachers. She greatly enjoys teaching both chair- and mat-based yoga, breath-work and meditation classes to various populations, including seniors and persons living with persistent pain.
A student of Neil Pearson (Physical Therapist, Yoga Therapist, Clinical Associate Professor UBC) who was awarded the 2021 Medal of Distinction by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association for his work in pain management, Doris has taught Pain Care Aware-informed yoga to private clients as well as patients of Lifemark, North Bramalea Physiotherapy Clinic. She has worked with individuals living with persistent body <=> mind pain conditions like multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and anxiety. She has held online and in-person Pain Care Education Workshops for persons living with chronic pain at locations like Greenway Retirement Residence in Brampton.
My Most Influential Teachers
Lisa Pearson / Swami Swarupanada, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist
Anne Pitman. C-IAYT, Director of The School of Embodied Yoga Therapy, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Author of "Yoga therapy Across the Cancer Care Continuum"
Neal Pearson. Physiotherapist of 36 years, Masters in Rehabilitation Sciences, Queens University, Yoga Therapist, Clinical Assistant Professor UBC, Lead Contributor, Pain Foundations, Pain BC, Awarded 2021 Medal of Distinction – Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Author of "Yoga and Science in Pain Care". For more information about the Pain Care Aware Program, see below.
Dr. Arielle Schwartz. PhD, Clinical Psychologist. E-RYT500. Author of 6 books including "Trauma Recovery. A mind-body approach to becoming whole."
Dr. Gabor Mate, MD. Author of 6 books including "When the Body Says No: Stress and The Mind-Body Unity in Health and Illness"
Dr. Ron D. Siegel, Psy. D. Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical University in Boston, MA and 30+ year practitioner of mindfulness meditation. Author of 9 books including "The Mindfulness Solution"
Dr. Rick Hansen, PhD. Clinical psychologist and author of 6 books including "Hardwiring Happiness. The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm and Confidence"
Deborah Adele, Master’s Liberal Studies, Masters of Theology & Religion. E-RYT500. Author of "The Yamas and Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice"
Andrea Peloso, E-RYT500, Restorative Yoga Teacher Trainer and 18 year student of and assistant to Judith Hanson Lasater, PhD, therapist, Restorative Yoga Teacher Trainer, author and co-founder of the Yoga Journal magazine.