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ASTTARTE DEVA HEALING WELLNESS CENTER
Reiki, Advanced Energy Healing & Somatic Massage in Philadelphia
Professional In-Person and Distance Healing Sessions with Asttarte Deva
Asttarte Deva Healing Wellness Center is a private healing practice based in Manayunk, Philadelphia, offering in-person and online support for emotional, energetic, physical and spiritual well-being.
Services include Reiki, advanced energy-healing therapies, Somatic Massage, Somatic Stress Release, Breathwork, Meditation, Yoga, Transformational Life Coaching, Relationship and Emotional Intimacy Coaching, Holistic Health and Heart-Opening Healing.
Through personalized private sessions, Asttarte supports individuals and couples in releasing stress, understanding recurring patterns, reconnecting with themselves and creating greater balance, clarity, intimacy and well-being.
Yoga & Meditation
Private Yin Yoga, Gentle Yoga & Meditation in Philadelphia
Yoga does not have to be fast, athletic or physically demanding to be powerful.
My private Yoga & Meditation sessions are designed for people who want a slower, more personalized way of connecting with their bodies. You may be experiencing stiffness, tension or discomfort. You may be stressed, tired or disconnected from your body. You may be returning to movement after a long time away, completely new to yoga, or simply looking for something different from the faster-paced classes commonly offered in yoga studios.
My approach emphasizes Yin Yoga, gentle movement, conscious breathing, body awareness, meditation and deep relaxation. Rather than trying to make your body conform to a particular posture or sequence, we work with the body you have today—your mobility, your energy, your comfort and your individual needs.
Some sessions may be almost entirely slow and restorative. Others may incorporate classical yoga postures, gentle flowing movement or elements of Vinyasa when appropriate. Meditation, breath awareness and periods of stillness can also be woven throughout the practice.
You do not need to be flexible. You do not need previous yoga experience. And you do not need to keep up with anyone else.
This is an opportunity to slow down, breathe, move with awareness and develop a deeper relationship with your own body.
Returning to My Yoga Roots
Yoga has been part of my life for more than 20 years.
I began exploring yoga in 1999 and continued studying and practicing through different periods of my life. Over the years, I participated in multiple yoga teacher trainings, completed my yoga teacher certification, explored different approaches to yoga and meditation, and worked privately with individuals.
Much of my relationship with yoga developed outside of the traditional studio environment. I was drawn not only to physical postures, but to yoga as a practice of breath, meditation, embodiment, energy, self-awareness and spiritual connection.
As my work evolved, Breathwork, energy healing, somatic practices and other forms of healing became more visible in my professional life. Yoga remained part of the foundation underneath much of what I was doing, even when I wasn't actively marketing myself as a yoga teacher.
Bringing Yoga & Meditation forward again now feels like returning to one of the roots of my own practice.
I am especially drawn to the slower places within yoga—the moments when we stop striving, stay with a posture, breathe into what we are experiencing and begin listening to the body rather than pushing against it.
That is the kind of yoga I want to share with you.
Yin Yoga Butterfly Pose — a slow, supported practice for the hips, inner legs and lower back
In Yin Yoga, we may stay in a pose for five minutes or longer, allowing the body time to gradually soften and open.
In this Butterfly variation, the feet move farther forward from the pelvis as we gently fold. This can create a deeper stretch through the hips, inner legs and lower back, while also allowing the shoulders, neck and upper back to relax.
Rather than forcing the stretch, we breathe, listen to the body and allow gravity and time to guide us deeper.
Yin Yoga Butterfly Pose — Slowing Down & Going Deeper
In Yin Yoga, we slow everything down. Rather than moving quickly from one posture to another, we may remain in a pose for five minutes or longer, giving the body time to gradually settle, soften and explore the posture without forcing it.
In this variation of Butterfly Pose, the soles of the feet come together while the feet are positioned farther forward and away from the pelvis than in a traditional Butterfly Pose. This creates a more relaxed shape through the legs and allows us to gently fold forward.
As we stay in the posture, we breathe and allow gravity to do more of the work. The position can create a gentle stretch and sense of opening through the hips, inner legs and lower back, while the forward fold may also invite the shoulders, neck and upper back to soften and release tension.
Rather than trying to achieve the deepest possible stretch, I encourage you to notice what your body is communicating. We can adjust the position of the feet, knees, spine or upper body and use props when needed so that you can remain in the posture comfortably.
The longer hold gives us an opportunity to move beyond simply “doing a yoga pose.” We practice staying present with sensation, breathing into areas of tension, noticing where we instinctively brace or resist, and allowing the body to gradually find its own way into greater ease.
In Yin Yoga, deeper does not necessarily mean pushing farther. Sometimes deeper means staying, breathing and listening.
Yin Yoga Half Butterfly Pose
In this Yin Yoga posture, one leg extends forward while the opposite foot rests gently toward the inner thigh or groin. We slowly fold toward the extended leg, allowing the body to soften rather than forcing the stretch.
Holding the pose gives us time to breathe into the hamstrings, hips, lower back and spine, while also allowing tension through the shoulders and upper back to gradually release.
We practice this posture on both sides of the body, noticing that each side may feel different and adjusting the pose to meet the body where it is.
Yin Yoga Pigeon Pose
In Pigeon Pose, we settle into a deeper stretch through the hips, glutes and surrounding areas, allowing time and gravity to gradually soften the body.
Each of us practices on our own mat, turning our attention inward rather than focusing on perfecting the pose. A yoga block supports the arms and upper body as we gently lean forward and breathe.
In Yin Yoga, we may remain here for several minutes before practicing the opposite side, giving both sides of the body time to open while honoring the differences we may feel from one side to the other.
Easy Pose — Sukhasana Meditation
Sitting comfortably in Sukhasana, or Easy Pose, we close our eyes, settle into the body and allow the breath to become slow and natural.
Each person practices on their own mat, turning their awareness inward and gently bringing attention toward the third-eye center, the space between the eyebrows.
Through stillness, breath and focused awareness, meditation can help quiet mental activity, deepen self-awareness and create space for grounding, clarity and inner connection.
Go Slowly.
Listen to Your Body.
Yoga is not about forcing your body into a pose. We move slowly and mindfully, taking the time your body needs and using blocks, bolsters, blankets and other props for additional comfort and support.
Every body is different. We can modify poses, rest when needed and work within your individual mobility, experience and comfort. The goal is to develop a more compassionate relationship with your body—not push beyond its limits.
Ready to begin? Schedule a private one-on-one Yoga & Meditation session with Asttarte in Manayunk, Philadelphia, and experience a practice designed around you.