Today, much of yoga practice in studios focus on flexibility and various forms of asanas. In an ever increasing popularity with mastering complex poses, Doris Yoga offers a refreshing and safer alternative of doing yoga, one that will last a lifetime of vitality and strength.

Doris is a gifted and unique instructor who has transformed the lives of her students. After her hip injury, she discovered the mechanics of muscles and understood how the core played an important role in hip stability and strength. Fascinated by how muscles work, she has made this her primary focus when working with clients. 

In an email conversation with Doris, we have the opportunity to learn about Doris and her unique approach to functional core yoga.

Yas: Your style of yoga is very different from other yoga practices. What makes your style so unique from the rest?

Doris: Doris Yoga is built on the belief that movement equals vitality. Rather than focusing on achieving advanced poses or simply increasing flexibility, my approach emphasizes body awareness, core stability, and natural alignment. Every movement has a purpose. Students learn to activate muscles that are often underused, creating balance and alignment throughout the body while reducing unnecessary strain on the joints.

I also believe there is only one yoga in the sense that we are all born with the same fundamental human design. Over time, however, our individual lifestyles, habits, injuries, and movement patterns create different dysfunctions and imbalances in our bodies. My approach is not about teaching different styles of yoga—it is about helping each person restore balance and move as their body was designed to move.

Over the years, I have integrated the most effective principles from multiple disciplines into a movement practice that helps people move more efficiently, whether they are walking, hiking, playing sports, or simply getting through daily life without pain. Every student is unique, so I meet each person where they are and guide them toward achieving their own highest physical potential.

Yas: Research has shown a strong association between poor core strength and both lower back and shoulder pain. What role do you think your practice plays in preventing or addressing these issues?

Doris: Core strength is fundamental to healthy movement. When the deep stabilizing muscles are weak or inactive, the body compensates in ways that place excessive stress on the spine, shoulders, hips, and knees. Many people try to stretch areas that feel tight, when in reality the problem is often a lack of stability.

In Doris Yoga, we focus on awakening and strengthening these deep core muscles while restoring proper alignment. As the body becomes more balanced and stable, pressure is taken off the joints, movement becomes more efficient, and many students experience significant improvements in chronic back, shoulder, and neck discomfort. The goal is not simply pain relief—it is creating a body that moves well for a lifetime.

Yas: You also work with professional athletes. Do you think scientists and other professionals who spend long hours at the lab bench or in front of the computer could benefit from your approach as well? How would they benefit from this method?

Doris: Absolutely. In many ways, office workers and scientists face movement challenges that are just as demanding as athletes, although for different reasons. Spending hours in fixed positions creates muscular imbalances, poor posture, reduced mobility, and weakened core stability. Over time, these patterns can lead to neck pain, shoulder tension, lower back discomfort, and repetitive strain injuries.

My approach helps people reconnect with how their bodies are designed to move. By improving posture, activating the core, and creating balanced movement patterns, people often find they have less pain, greater energy, better focus, and more ease in everyday activities. Whether you’re competing at the highest level of sport or spending long days in a laboratory or at a computer, the body benefits from moving efficiently and in proper alignment.

Yas: Looking ahead, where do you see your practice evolving in the future?

Doris: My mission has always been to help people move pain-free for the rest of their lives. As we continue to learn more about movement science and the body’s incredible ability to adapt, I see Doris Yoga continuing to evolve while staying true to that mission.

I want to reach more people through education, workshops, online programs, and collaborations with healthcare professionals, researchers, and athletic communities. My hope is that Doris Yoga becomes recognized not simply as a yoga practice, but as a movement system that empowers people of all ages and abilities to build strength, improve longevity, and enjoy a higher quality of life through intelligent, mindful movement.

Doris Yoga founder Doris is a professional instructor with over 30 years of experience in functional core yoga. She has a degree in Internal Relations from Tufts University from Massachusetts with a Masters in Mass Communications. Follow her on Instagram @dorisyogasf