BREATH CENTERED.
Meet Deborah
DEBORAH LAYTON
I've been studying and practicing natural wellness modalities for over 30 years, often taking advantage of being in the "right place at the right time." I've been fortunate to be able to study the subjects I have in the depth I have with the people I have. And I'm humbled by the shoulders on which I stand.
While living in Virginia in 1990, I began study at the Virginia School of Massage in Charlottesville and completed initial certification in 1993. During this time I started practice and became certified in neuromuscular therapy and acupressure in 1992 at Potomac Massage Training Institute. I was among the first wave of licensed massage therapists in VA and certified with the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. I also began study of aromatherapy with Ann Berwick who co-founded the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists and was long-time instructor at the Boulder (CO) School of Massage.
Ever curious about the human mind-body connection and how activities affect it, I completed a B.S. in therapeutic recreation at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995. About the same time, I became a student of Iyengar yoga in Charlottesville, VA. I continued study of that style of yoga as I moved to Williamsburg, VA and then New York. Also in the 90s, I had the opportunity to take some short courses in somatic education (Trager Method, Feldenkrais Method, Rubenfeld Synergy, and others) but was not yet ready to pursue that in-depth. By 2000, I had completed Medical Massage certification at the Baltimore School of Massage and professional aromatherapy training with American College of Health Sciences. Until about 2002, I maintained a massage therapy practice but, being unable to become licensed in New York, my interests turned elsewhere.
Throughout the 2000s, I became more focused on yoga, Pilates and somatics. During my 20+ years in New York, I took advantage of the wide range of offerings available throughout the region. My studies included:
- Advanced studies in clinical aromatherapy with Rhiannon Lewis from Essential Oil Resource Consultants from 2001 to 2009.
- 270 Hour foundation program in shiatsu at the International School of Shiatsu completed in 2004.
- 200 Hour Certification in vinyasa yoga at Satsang Yoga with YogaWorks teachers, Lisa Bennett and Charles Matkin in 2004.
- Additional 300 hours of advanced yoga study at The Breathing Project in New York. This included breath-centered yoga, extensive yoga anatomy and physiology (with Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews), peri-natal yoga (with Jyothi Larson), Thai yoga massage (with Al Turner), myofascial movement (with Tom Myers), and other teaching techniques in 2007.
- 200 Hour BodyMind Centering Embodied Developmental Movement and Yoga certification with Roxlyn Moret and Amy Mathews at The Breathing Project in 2008.
- Initially completed certification in Pilates Mat, Mat with Props and Pre-natal Pilates with Christine Romani-Ruby through PHI Pilates at fitness conferences in 2005.
- Other fitness/exercise/movement instructor trainings in Yamuna Body Rolling (with Yamuna and others), Forza Samurai Sword Workout (with Ilaria Montagnani), and ChiBall Method (in the UK and Sweden) between 2005-2008.
- Completed Feldenkrais Method-based Sounder Sleep System training with founder Michael Krugman between 2007-2010.
- Completed more than 500 hours of training in Feldenkrais Method-based programs in Movement Intelligence between 2012-2019, with Ruthy Alon and other authorized teachers, including Bones for Life, Walk for Life, Bones for Life Chairs, and Movement Solutions.
- Finished a 500-hour training in viniyoga with Guta Hedewig and others at The Yoga School NY in 2016.
- 2017-2019, I studied anatomy and movement for Pilates instructors with the Juilliard School's kinesthetic anatomy instructor, Irene Dowd. This covered Ideokinesis, resisted isolated stretching, and specific study of some joints.
In 2018, I began study of yoga therapy in viniyoga with YogaWell Institute. After moving to Morgantown in 2019, that training was completed primarily online during the pandemic in 2021.
Working with students and clients is constantly interesting. I don't get tired of getting deeper into these areas, though my focus may change slightly from time to time. I continue learning to deepen my understanding. The pandemic curtailed travel to study with my favorite teachers but opened new opportunities in online learning, including conferences through American Organization for the Bodywork Therapies of Asia and BodyMind Centering Association. I'm currently studying with Zen Shiatsu Chicago.
After more than 30 years, I still don't feel like I "know it all"--but I am beginning to feel I have things that are worth sharing with others who want to become more comfortable in their own bodies or better teachers and bodyworkers.