What People Are Saying

“I never knew Moroccan hotels provide slippers—beautiful, handmade slippers for you to borrow and use during your stay. Most of them also provide some type of shawl. I’ve travelled to about 30 different countries and I’ve never experienced such a thing before. These are the things you get the pleasure of experiencing when you sign up for one of Doris’ trips. I’m an impatient, somewhat selfish person so when I considered signing up for one of Doris’ group trips I had to decide if I was capable of group travel. I braced myself and took the plunge. Yes, you’re with a group. Yes, people will be late at times and want to do things you won’t want to do. But Doris’ trips will push you into new, glorious experiences. I was shocked at how easy it all was. We went to a new hotel every night but it didn’t feel overwhelming. We absolutely scoured the country of Morocco. From conquering the Atlas Mountains, to staying in both quaint and luxury hotels, to offering food to Nomadic children pulling their lifelong possessions behind them on donkeys as we drove from one remote village to another. We experienced true Moroccan culture.

The food, the sites, the new friends as relationships bloomed with fellow Doris Yoga-worshipers. Not only did my body “hold up” on this trip, but daily Doris Yoga had us all flourishing. And it was incredible to see my body responding to the consistency of daily sessions. Each movement would lock in within seconds as opposed to minutes that would sometimes drag on like hours in my mind at home. I’m a 42 year old woman and my body has been to hell and back as a former pro snowboarder. Thanks to Doris I crushed those Atlas Mountains with a 30+ pound pack on my back (my choice, as there were mules available to carry the load).

My history with Doris goes back a couple years to when I first started my sessions with her to heal a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder. Once weekly sessions lead to twice weekly sessions as I was able to see the transformation in my body from pain to strength. I’m now able to deadlift over 220 pounds and I only weigh 138. More importantly, I’m pain free. If you’ve yet to experience a session with Doris my advice is to dive in and not fight her process. If you’re anything like me then you’ve had a lot of personal trainers, fitness “experts” and even medical professionals telling you the opposite of what Doris may tell you. This conflicting information may lead you to resist Doris’ process. Don’t. You signed up for a reason, let that reason guide you to listen to Doris. Give her four-six sessions and you will see improvement.

Would I sign up for another of Doris’ trips? To that question I answer with a resounding yes! This trip reminded me of my strength. It solidified my appreciation to be an American. The gratitude I felt abroad has come home with me in a way that has strengthened my relationships with my friends, family and most importantly, with myself. Because whatever it is you think you can, can’t, should or shouldn’t do…just take one look at Doris leaping and bounding like a gazelle in the final descent of our Atlas Mountains climb and you realize this woman not only walks her talk, she defies age and gravity. And she’ll teach you how to do the same.” Candice. 

When I started Doris yoga, I was in pain by the evening almost everyday.  With pain in my glutes, IT band and piriformis, I was taking my daily dose of ibuprofen to get through the evening. I had tried everything – foam rolling, stretching – but nothing provided relief lasting more than a few hours. Now, just three months into my journey with Doris, the persistent pain has almost completely disappeared. Doris is teaching me how to truly feel and understand my body, from finding my hips to discovering and strengthening other muscles, to how to sit properly at my desk using a yoga strap.

It’s incredible how such a simple technique could make such a profound difference. For the first time in years, I can sit comfortably for hours without pain. I’ve struggled with poor posture my entire life – hunched shoulders, forward-tilting head, rounded lower back – and I never knew what ‘sitting straight’ actually meant. Thanks to Doris, I now find myself automatically sitting straighter, effortlessly.

While I still experience some discomfort, as I continue to work on engaging my core, “finding” my muscles again, learning to fire them and improving my overall strength, I believe that one day I’ll be aligned, stable and strong.  Doris has not only helped alleviate my physical pain but has also given me the tools and confidence to take control of my health. Doris doesn’t just teach yoga; she empowers you to understand and care for your body in ways you never thought possible. Suprada.

I have been with Doris for several years now, following her love and light. When I am away, returning to the mat with her is like having tea with an old friend- comforting, grounding. She listens intently, adjusting her class to meet my needs. Movement with her has helped me grow into my power and strength in ways I did not think possible. She cheers me on and pushes me to reach my full potential and best self during our time together. Several times through the day, I find myself correcting my posture, reaching for a prop, or breathing into my collar bones. These tools she provides to care for my body, soul and spirit make carrying on into the second half of my life something to look forward to and not dread as we have so wrongly been taught to do. Take her classes, she will change your form, function and therefore your life. Megan G.

Doris is more than a yoga teacher – she’s a body guru and innovator. Doris fearlessly dedicates herself to exploring new ways to align the body and build core strength. She won’t be satisfied until her students are pain free and strong enough to play and move like they were 12 years old (even those of us who are quite a bit older than that!). Since I started working with Doris, I’ve traded my back pain for more energy and taken up running. A Doris Yoga class leaves me feeling better than a massage (and I have a fantastic massage therapist!). I wish everyone had the opportunity to study with Doris. Marielle S.

I’ve been taking classes with Doris for more than 5 years – a feat for someone like myself who bounced around across various classes and exercise routines. I’ve become a regular because Doris has a truly inspiring teaching style and a constantly fresh approach to the discipline of yoga. The class is not traditional yoga, but rather focused on building core strength, and re-aligning the body thrown off by the demands of modern life. Her techniques are unique, well-informed by her years of teaching and knowledge of the body, and the constant innovations bring endless fun to each class! Each time I leave her class I feel re-set and centered, and more aware of my own body. I give credit to Doris’s teaching for my ability to bounce back quickly from kidney stone issues, knee injuries and the recent birth of my daughter at 51 years old. I consider this class a foundation of my hard-won self-care routine. Thank you Doris! Jennifer B.

I have been religiously attending Doris Yoga classes at least weekly for the past 6 years. Though I am now older than when I started, my body feels younger and stronger. I have a better understanding of how my muscles work, which translates into less or no pain on a daily basis. Doris is a great role model for how one can be strong and fit at any age. Irene D.

Doris is a phenomenon. She’s a wizard; a medicine woman. She is able to teach anyone and everyone plenty of new tricks, because she has never stopped making new discoveries herself. Thanks to Doris I learned that your core involves your psoas (connecting your trunk to your legs), and that your “360-degree core” (a term I now love) involves your lats in a big way. What does that mean concretely? It cured my neck pain at my desk job; it cured my long-standing shoulder pain while swimming and climbing; and it cured my hip pain while hiking. It’s not an exaggeration to say she has helped me turn back the clock 10 years on this 40-something body of mine. I don’t mean my looks (although let’s claim a 2-3-year rollback on that, too), I mean how alive and capable and pain free I feel. The value is beyond gold. Strength and vitality make everything in life better. Kelly H.

Since taking Doris’s class, my body, mind and soul have grown stronger. My body is able to adjust and maintain healthy muscle activity throughout the day at work, yoga, and when I trampoline. The strengthening of my body through Doris’s teachings has improved my mindfulness; more over helped me become more open to new challenges and reexamine established attitudes without fear and anger. I feel more at peace and more appreciative of the wonders of just being in the moment.  Now, I have a greater understanding of how to integrate all aspects of body, mind and soul to become one continuous flow of centeredness. Emil M.

Doris is a wizard! After a severe spinal injury left me wondering if I’d ever be able to walk normally again (let alone run/hike/climb/ski), and physical therapy wasn’t doing much to help, I found Doris. I am thankful every day for her. I can’t fully describe how much her class and methods have done for me. I am stronger now than I ever was before. I am a faster and more efficient runner, and by far a more efficient climber. She has given me balance, strength, and the knowledge and ability to engage my muscles as they were designed to be used. I feel like I am well on my way to having a “fully functional 360-degree core” as she says. She is tough, and her class will crush you. But it is worth every second. Thank you, Doris! Jen V.

Doris Yoga is a highlight in my week! And I feel the positive effects for 1-2 days after. For the first time someone is paying detailed attention to my entire musculoskeletal system and giving me exercises that work. I’ve been training with Doris for a month now, after my friend told me that Doris Yoga helped her regain height! That’s right. She’s measuring 1 inch taller now consistently (not a one-off data point) at the doctor’s office. Doris discovered immediately that my right hip flexors are weaker, spotted the gaps in my abs and lats and helped me strengthen them in this short period of time. I have much to work on and train but already see the incredible effects. My movements have improved tremendously! Running is easier, dancing is much more fun. Smoother, more range of motion and freer. She’s picky like an old-school ballet teacher who comes around and really does the micro adjustments, the slight pivoting of the heel that makes the world of a difference. She is devoted and not focused on herself. I’ve seen many yoga teachers show off their gorgeous poses but don’t move around to help the newbies. She’s devoted to her students’ successes and celebrates the small wins from day 1. I’m not surprised that she has many, many followers! I’ve become one of them. Schirin R.

I have been a student of Doris for over 5 years, both in person and on Zoom. I first came to her after unsuccessful attempts with acupuncture, acupressure, other types of yoga, and physical therapy to help with chronic shoulder pain stemming from an old injury and lots of desk work. Doris’s alignment-based classes were the only thing to provide lasting pain relief. Doris’s classes are truly unique because she trains you how to strengthen your muscles and use them to move and heal your body. I have turned to Doris to help me through two pregnancies—one of them with in-person classes and one entirely on Zoom. Her classes helped me manage the extra aches and pains of pregnancy and recover much more quickly than I otherwise would have. Doris also always keeps it fresh. Over the years she has added new poses, props, and mental imagery to keep classes interesting and to challenge our bodies and minds in new ways. I have practiced yoga for 15 years with various instructors and there is truly no one like Doris. Laura T.

I had been going to Doris’ in-person classes since before the pandemic. One of my main concerns was not being able to go to Doris’ class. Thankfully, she decided to launch the online classes. The online classes have been just as effective as the in-person classes. Doris shows us the poses on her video, and keeps an eye on what we are doing. I’m always amazed at how Doris is able to point out adjustments by just looking at our tiny videos. It also helps to have my own video on the screen to do self-adjustments. There are more classes to pick from online, so I can go to an evening class if I miss the morning class. I continue to notice changes in my core body even though this is an online class. As someone who has hypermobility, this class is a key component of my self-care plan. Divya G.

I have tried many different methods to heal from a chronic hip issue that I have, from acupuncture to lots of PT and foam rolling, and even surgery, but Doris Yoga has been the most helpful work I have done to get me back on track to running again. When I came to her class 6 months ago, I could not run for more than 2 minutes without walking, now I can easily do 30 minutes. My favorite is to run right after going to her class where my body feels and performs at its best! I think I will be doing Doris yoga for many more years to come. Tristen S.

I *always* feel so much better after doing Doris Yoga, and, quite frankly, cannot imagine living without it. I started during the pandemic, online, once a week, then progressed to twice, and now average 2-3 times each week. Her focus on building body alignment and strength in stages (hip flexors, deeeep abs & glutes, lats, inner lining of legs) has given me more energy and balance—literally as well as figuratively—in my daily activities, and in walking/swimming/personal training. (As context, I’m a 5’8” 170+ lb female approaching 60 w a hip replacement, somewhat active though never very flexible.) Even though my squats are a continual work in progress, I feel like my body moves so much more organically now, the way it should, with joints plugged into sockets and everything working in concert. Thank you, Doris!  Joan M.

Working with Doris has made me understand that this practice is not just a workout, it’s a way of living, literally breathing (I’ve been breathing through my nose more naturally these days!), moving and healing. I happened to share with her specific ailments I thought I’d have to suffer through indefinitely, (migraines) that kept me from being able to attend class. In response, Doris restructured that day’s class to show me how I can use yoga to help alleviate my migraines. I’ve never had that kind of dedication before and it makes me that much more grateful for her attentiveness and encouragement toward all of us and our specific goals. Lauren C.

Our lemon tree branches needed to be cut.  I climbed the tree as my ladder didn’t reach the tree branch that needed to be cut.  One of the branches I was cutting down gave way and caused me to fall off the tree.  Miraculously, I landed in a squat position on the ground, and said “Thank you, Doris!”  I did not sustain any injuries and walked away with just a few scratches on my legs. I attribute this miracle to all the hip stability, butt and lat work we have been doing in class. Thank you Doris!” Pearl V (68 years old) .

As a weekend adventurer and a weekday medical professional, when I had a major rib injury five years ago and my physical therapist recommended avoiding the sports I loved, I knew I needed other options. I’m so lucky I found Doris! Five years after working together, I feel stronger than when I was a teenage athlete. My snow season was record breaking with over 700,000’ of pain free fun. Doris didn’t just fix my last injury- her method teaches you to retain your muscles and corrects all those old patterns and pains I’d collected over the years. I cannot recommend Doris enough! Chloe W.

I was grappling with chronic back pain. After a single class with Doris, I found myself smiling and free from pain. Since then, Doris’ style of core stability yoga has played a BIG role in my journey towards achieving mobility, alignment, stability, and endurance.  In the midst of struggling with chronic back issues stemming from scoliosis and poor posture, Doris was a godsend. She not only assisted me in addressing my physical challenges but also played a crucial role in strengthening the connection between my body and mind, restoring my faith in my ability to heal. My day now begins with core stability yoga, bringing a profound sense of balance to my life. Doris incorporates elements such as mindful breathing, muscle activation, and alignment before delving into traditional yoga poses. Through this practice, we not only release blocked energy but also create space for positive energy flow. Divya G.