Testimonials from Professionals

Dr. Rachel Witmer, DPT

What makes MTY so special? Why did I have to go learn more? MTY gives me the foundaton to more systematically approach a patient on every level (psycho-emotional, social, energetic, intellectual, spiritual, and physical). MTY provides a framework for a more comprehensive interview, examination, as well as intervention approach for my patients. The cornerstone of MTY includes a biopsychosocial (BPS) approach to a patient, meaning “that personal and environmental factors intimately affect psychobiological health and well-being” (Garner p. 15). And, the BPS approach works as a foundation for yoga prescription in healthcare. I feel very grateful to have been through MTY training and look forward to continuing to further this framework I use daily with my patients.
Dr. Rachel Witmer, DPT

Dr. Jenna Weitzman, DPT

Medical Therapeutic Yoga has been the addition to my physical therapy practice that I have been searching for. It has been an incredible tool to help my clients reconnect to their true self through breath work, postures/asanas, visualizations, and meditation.
MTY takes an approach that incorporates all these pieces (spiritual, physical, emotional), and then some. I have witnessed my patients find a deep sense of relief with the implementation of MTY, both in their body and mind.
Dr. Jenna Weitzman, DPT

More from Dr. Sylvie Le, DPT

As a therapist, I am prone to “burning out” if I do not give back and take care of myself, which can lead to impartial outcomes. MTY has imparted me with a lifestyle of prioritizing self-care to stay balanced and healthy. By living and embodying what I teach, I can naturally care for and guide my patients with a balanced and compassionate approach.
Dr. Sylvie Le, DPT

Kara Biller, OTR/L

Completing Level I Medical Therapeutic Yoga with Ginger has opened a whole new world for me to help my patients as an Occupational Therapist. Ginger has created a way healthcare professionals can incorporate both eastern and western medicine in patient care. I have become a life long learner of medical therapeutic yoga. Thank you Ginger!
Kara Biller, OTR/L
USA

PT/DPT PRACTITIONER

I listened to the Yoga Nidra and the morning meditation this weekend in the Level I MTY course. Just wanted to send you a thank you! So beautiful—made my chest feel full of warmth!
I am grateful for the opportunity to take this course. Be well and I hope you find joy in every day!
PT/DPT Practitioner
USA

Dr. Michelle Walendowski PT, DPT

Hello Ginger, I just wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your six week Medical Therapeutic Yoga series!
I’m not sure if you remember me from the training in Aptos right before the world got “locked down”….but this weekly practice with you has been a huge gift. It has really helped me through this strange time and kept me inspired.
I’ve been practicing everything from your weekend Level I Certification on a (mostly) daily basis, and I have to say I feel healthier and just generally better than I have in years. And that’s during a worldwide pandemic!
Also, your new studio overlooking the water is gorgeous, and the song you sang at the end of the MTY class was wonderful. Thank you for everything you’ve been doing over the past few months to help everyone in our community find the light.
Dr. Michelle Walendowski PT, DPT
Gig Harbor, Washington

Dr. Kassandra Schuhmann, PT, DPT, PYT

The impact Ginger’s program has made on my life is staggering. It has changed my perspective as a clinician completely and has allowed me to look forward to treating even the most complex patients with less fear of failure. It has provided me with a palpable presence when connecting with patients and taught me how to create successful treatment programs that address their needs on a multitude of levels.
Lastly, this program has given me the tools to understand how to best nurture my own well being and self care which was a concept I neglected initially as a clinician. As a result of this program, I am now a more empowered and compassionate PT, who can provide services with a greater sense of purpose, enjoyment, and sustainability. Thank you to Ginger and the PYT program for providing me with this gift and I look forward to what is in store in the future!
I am so thankful to have been a part of this amazing program including making lifetime friendships and working closely with such a brilliant clinician/ teacher. Ginger thank you for all of the blessings you have bestowed upon me and all of those who have passed through this program!
Dr. Kassandra Schuhmann, PT, DPT, PYT
Pinehurst, NC

Dr. Sarah Talley, PT, DPT

Medical Therapeutic Yoga (MTY) has transformed my clinical practice and my own self care. MTY provides a framework for treating patients holistically while empowering them to care for themselves through a graded progression of movement and breathwork. It has become the foundation for treating my pelvic health patients, and is especially helpful for those who are new to movement or fearful of injury. On a personal level, yoga has opened doors within me that I forgot were there. I have made lifelong friendships with my fellow students and am forever grateful for the many gifts of this program personally and professionally. Thank you, Ginger!
Dr. Sarah Talley, PT, DPT
Raleigh, NC

A Letter from Dr. Susan Decker PT, DPT, PYT

Dear Ginger,

I want to thank you for so many things. First of all, thank you for not being afraid to rock the boat, for being an innovator, for caring about our profession (and healthcare in general), and more importantly the people who come to us for help. It is not easy to be an instigator of change. It takes courage, time, energy, sacrifice, and above all perseverance to do what you are doing. Keep “fighting the good fight” so to speak. I think we process information differently, so sometimes I don’t completely connect with what you say, but I really want to. I believe in your mission and approach to patient care. I look forward with anticipation to a time when more healthcare providers embrace a more holistic mindset, and I think that time is coming.

I was already talking to patients about breathing, meditation, sleep, nutrition, etc., but I find that I things have been different this week. You gave me the confidence to speak with more authority, I have more resources at my disposal, I have my own personal experience with meditation from last week, and several of my patients have really responded to our conversations. Just today I spoke with a patient about the functional medicine program Dr. Hyman started at the Cleveland Clinic, and she was really excited about looking into it. She has chronic pain everywhere throughout her body and just found out she is pre-diabetic. She also has a history as a breast cancer survivor twice. There is another patient I just started trying to get into a meditation routine. She also has a long history of chronic pain all over. She was honest and admitted that she has not followed through. I talked with her about what you had us do each day and how much it (along with other things) helped, we talked about different meditation options, and I think she just moved from pre-contemplative to contemplative. Other people have recommended it as well and she does a lot of research on her own, so she knows it is good advice. I’m not sure I would have pursued this with her as I did if not for attending your training at PYTI.

With Gratitude,
Dr. Susan Decker PT, DPT, PYT

Dr. Becca Ellis, PT, DPT, PYT

Ginger’s knowledge and experience have completely shaped my professional career, and her guidance has truly helped me be a better mom to my sweet boys. The understanding and patience I have when working with my newly diagnosed son (he is on the autism spectrum) would never have been in my toolbox without the skills I developed through the program at PYTI. I’m deeply grateful and forever Ginger’s biggest supporter.
Dr. Becca Ellis, PT, DPT, PYT-c
Restorative Therapy Co.
757-578-2958
1004 First Colonial Rd, Suite 101
Va Beach, Va 23454
www.restorativetherapyco.com
Follow us @restorativetherapyco

Dr. Katie Goroncy, PT, DPT

Ginger’s PYTI program has restored my love and perspective that physical therapy is a healing ART. I had been feeling uninspired, deflated by the obstacles in the healthcare/insurance system, and was losing sight of what drew me to the healthcare field in the first place. PYTI gave me a solid evidence based framework from which to integrate “whole person”, yogic, lifestyle medicine into my physical therapy foundation. It has since sparked joy, creativity, and a broader perspective into my clinical practice.
Since beginning the coursework, I have been in various different PT settings including: acute care, outpatient, home health & hospice, the retreat/wellness arena, and now venturing into my own cash based model of practice. I can testify to the effectiveness of MTY in each and every one of these settings. I have witnessed gains in my patients’ rehabilitation using this model, that I know would not have been possible using a standard PT approach. There is no separation of my “PT brain and my MTY brain”; my approach is always from the biopsychosocial spiritual lens, introduced in MTY.
The application of MTY does not begin, nor end with client/patient treatment…it is a practice that I apply in my own life and one that influences my lifestyle choices for the better! I am ever so grateful for the tools PYTI has provided for this; and I’m especially grateful for Ginger and her unwavering commitment, dedication, and passionate action to change healthcare- and her willingness to lead and inspire others to do the same.
With loving gratitude,
Dr. Katie Goroncy, PT, DPT

Betty Conroy, PT

When I began my MTY journey during the onsite M8 module, I was hopeful to learn how to integrate my passion for yoga into patient treatments and to gain competence in teaching yoga classes. Following the onsite M14 module, my mind was blown by the additions to my orthopedic patient treatment toolbox, specifically using the FMA (Functional Movement Assessment) to evaluate, document, and treat.
But most significantly, during M14 (level II training) and with reinforcement in M15 (level III training), the training gave me concrete tools and evidence so that I could begin to apply nutritional counseling into my patient care. In hindsight, this was a missing piece for me, given how much a part of my patients’ problems were tied to poor nutrition and gut imbalances. It wasn’t that I didn’t already recognize the importance of this pillar of patient care; it was that I wasn’t comfortable in my role dispensing this information.
Recognizing that inflammation is at the heart of most, if not all, of my patient’s chronic problems has changed my “order of operations” with patient care. Instead of mentioning nutrition several treatment visits or weeks into care, all my initial patient visits now begin with dietary questions and a discussion of the connection between the gut (“second brain”) and pain/inflammation.
Armed with the evidence and resources from this class series, and with the awareness that nutritional counseling is a definite part of my scope of practice as a PT, I now consider it mandatory to provide this information. And for the most part, my patients are hungry (no pun intended) for this counseling, as they have received none of it from their physicians.
As I’ve expanded my practice to include MTY classes, my purpose as a physical “educator” has been clarified. I have absolutely loved the freedom and fun of teaching yoga to my former patients, many of whom have been intimidated by the thought of yoga class, and watching them become empowered to move more freely, confidently, and safely. I am now entering a new chapter of my life (physical move) and career (leaving the practice I’ve worked at for over 25 years!). I’m not sure what shape my “work” will take this year, but I see more clearly after completing the final onsite MTY module 15, that it will involve using my license in physical therapy and this training in medical therapeutic yoga to continue to help future clients or patients reach their goals in overall wellness.
Betty Conroy, PT

Kanchan Thakar, PT

Honestly speaking, words cannot do justice to the experience of learning from Ginger. My hope is that all DPT students will avail of her teachings sooner than later and begin to practice PT with enthusiasm and compassion. This will be good for their health and those who seek their guidance.
Thanks to Ginger for creating a sustainable model of healthcare delivery. A hundred years from now, Ginger’s teachings will still prevail and her story of resilience will continue to inspire many seekers.
Kanchan Thakar, PT

Kanchan also had this to say

Integration of MTY in the physical therapy practice has helped me as a manual PT, to infuse new found enthusiasm to guide clients, to move forward in-spite of chronic issues of limited mobility and pain. Creating partnership with my clients to address many aspects of their wellbeing has shifted the locus of control to them and allows us to create a treatment plan depending on their readiness to change.

I tried to nurture my curiosity about integrating yoga in PT by taking many different kinds of yoga certifications. MTY offered learning, taught by Dr. Ginger Garner who is fiercely passionate about being an agent of change in health care. Her approach is nondogmatic and does not require affiliation with guru lineage. The curriculum is evidence based which truly fulfills all the criteria for integration of yoga in a healthcare setting.

MTY training challenged me on many levels. I love that it encourages the clinicians to put on their own oxygen mask for being well. Journal of self care practice, made me accountable and shed light on the challenges of being compliant. Psycho emotional lab about personal pain was valuable and helped me to be more compassionate towards those who struggle with pain.

Most of the clients who seek my guidance have chronic issues. Research shows that chronic stress is a common factor in inflammatory conditions like heart disease, OA, gut dysbiosis, asthma, etc. Yoga offers a drug free intervention to address the stress response. Integration of MTY with its emphasis on breath awareness and stability in static and dynamic postures has given me tools that I share with my clients.
It never ceases to amaze me how empowered clients feel during their initial visit, when they experience calmness within after practicing NAP meditation and how sensory diet of mindful movement infuses confidence to move with ease.
Video links for NAP mediation and sensory diet by Dr. Ginger Garner have helped many of my clients and me. Hope you check them out and have your own experience of moving towards wellness.
Thanks to the entire PYTI faculty for offering a great learning experience to many licensed health care practitioners who wish to be the change agents in healthcare delivery.

Dr. Sylvie Le, PT, DPT, PYT

As a professional…

The benefits of Medical Therapeutic Yoga have stretched beyond both the clinical setting and mat for my patients. Patients who may have struggled finding relief with traditional PT, battle the psychological and emotional stress of anxiety, depression, and impatience in dealing with injury and functional limitations, or find it challenging to remain motivated to move and take care of their bodies, have found a safe and healthy avenue to care for themselves with a yoga practice.
Ginger has helped to guide me in bridging the gap between traditional eastern and western medicine practices while using the latest research to treat people suffering from chronic disease and pain, and this has revolutionized the way I treat and care for patients. There is a larger emphasis on learning how to understand the role that our nervous system has on healing, and provides strategies and skills to address each patient as a whole.
Patients are responding well and remain motivated to stay curious and dedicated to the lifelong process of taking care of their body, mind, and spirit using Medical Therapeutic Yoga.
Dr. Sylvie Le, PT, DPT, PYT-c
Read more about the PT Dr. Le provides through MTY: https://www.soptri.com/your-pain/yoga-for-chronic-pain/

As a patient…

Studying Medical Therapeutic Yoga under Ginger has transformed both my personal and professional life as a yoga student and therapist. The explanation of philosophy and guidance on how to bridge western and eastern medicine practices using the latest research has been revolutionary. I am now teaching weekly Medical Therapeutic Yoga classes twice per week to current and former patients from my Physical Therapy practice, and it has been rewarding to watch individuals honor and appreciate the process of healing and recovering from acute, chronic, and traumatic injuries. Some of the most common things I hear from students who attend classes regularly are improved self-awareness, sense of patience, an easier ability to make more conscious decisions and choices to take care of themselves, better stress management strategies, and feeling stronger both physically and mentally through regular movement and breathing. Many patients have even been in and out of doctors since attending, and report lower blood sugar levels, decreased blood pressure with the ability to wean off of their medications, and weight loss. The practice of Medical Therapeutic Yoga has given patient’s a secure sense of stability in consistently looking after the health of their body, mind, and spirit in a safe, supportive, and inspiring way. The benefits of this are immeasurable, but in short, have been life changing. I am thankful for the practice of Medical Therapeutic Yoga in helping to guide clinical decision making, while also creating a health and wellness community that serves to foster growth, connection, and healing.
Dr. Sylvie Le, PT, DPT, PYT-c

Christine Koth – Holistic Physical Therapist, Bestselling Author

Ginger really sets a precedent for what a holistic practitioner should be. Her command of the body on multiple levels and commitment to her clients gives her the ability to quickly zero in on the issue and precisely remedy the cause of a variety of issues. She also has a unique set of skills and experience that makes her an absolute expert in the hip region. As a seasoned physical therapist myself, who also specializes in the hip region, Ginger is one of a handful of colleagues that I truly look up to and go to for help. To put icing on the cake, her demeanor is so pleasant and she is a joy to be around!
Christine Koth – Holistic Physical Therapist, Bestselling Author – Tight Hip, Twisted Core – The Key to Unresolved Pain, Inventor of the Hip Hook

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