Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Life Changing Is >
  • Employee Stories >
  • Mental Health Therapy >
  • Alison P.
Life Changing Is
Clinical Excellence Stories
Employee Stories
Administrative Services
Environmental Services
Facility Services
Health Care Concierge
Mental Health Therapy
Alison P.
Jenna S.
Multicultural Care
Pharmacy
Scheduling Services
Social Work
Support Services
Transplant
Food and Nutrition Services
Imaging
Nursing
Parking Operations
Research
Supply Chain Management
Awards & Recognition
Share Your Story
Life Changing Is
Clinical Excellence Stories
Employee Stories
Administrative Services
Environmental Services
Facility Services
Health Care Concierge
Mental Health Therapy
Alison P.
Jenna S.
Multicultural Care
Pharmacy
Scheduling Services
Social Work
Support Services
Transplant
Food and Nutrition Services
Imaging
Nursing
Parking Operations
Research
Supply Chain Management
Awards & Recognition
Share Your Story

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Life Changing Is ... Creating Comfort Through Movement

Alison P., BFA, E-RYT, Yoga Therapist

"They teach me and inspire me. I learn and feel so blessed."

Alison knows the feelings of peace and comfort that yoga can bring to people. As a yoga therapist, she gets to use movement practices to help people cope with difficult emotions.

"A lot of times people will say, 'I don't remember when I ever have felt this calm or relaxed,'" she says.

But Alison says the benefits from yoga therapy are mutual — she gets as much out of it as the patients do.

"They teach me and inspire me," she says. "I learn and feel so blessed. It feels like I won the lottery every day when I get to go to work. We just get to be ourselves. I hopefully create a space where they feel accepted and welcome, with no expectations."

Yoga therapy is a more recent addition to the branch of mental health care known as art therapy. Sometimes, it's easier for people to express emotions through art and movement than through words.

Alison works in the Creative & Expressive Arts Therapies (CEAT) Department at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. Other disciplines in the department include art therapy, dance therapy, and music therapy.

"It was my dream goal to have this option for hospitals to be able to hire yoga therapists," Alison says. "There aren't that many, and it is incredible that UPMC has stepped up and acknowledged this field."

In her work, Alison leads yoga/movement classes for people at UPMC Western Psych. A typical day includes three or four classes.

She works with both children and adults, which she enjoys because different ages present different challenges.

Often, people are unsure about trying yoga or are worried they won't be good at it, Alison says. That's why she tries to be as encouraging as possible in her classes. She usually just asks people to give it a try.

“The heart of my work is definitely being on the units and connecting and supporting the patients every day and hopefully just giving them some information and experiential practice of yoga that they might not have had the opportunity to do otherwise," she says.

"I hear a lot that, 'I've always wanted to do yoga, but I never have been able to do it. I'm so glad I get to try it.' Those are the moments where I'm like, thank goodness."

Alison is happiest when she sees that her work has had an impact on people.

"Especially our folks, they just need to be in a community with people who are going to provide options and support and flexibility," she says.

At UPMC, Life Changing Medicine means providing an outlet for people who need it.


Learn More About UPMC Careers



Stories like this one have helped UPMC earn local, national, and global honors over the years. See how our commitment to Life Changing Medicine continues to receive recognition.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login