Hello!
नमस्ते |
My name is YogaTara (Lisa Alessandra Gautschi) and I am the founder & director of the Isha Institute. I work as a spiritual psychologist, yoga therapist, consultant and educator.
From Wounds to Wisdom
The programs and services I offer help people access their innate wisdom and awaken their capacity to heal so that they can step into the flow of their life with ease.
For this I draw on the bodies of knowledge and lived experience of the classical Yogic Sciences, transpersonal psychology and Somatic Experiencing.
I understand healing to be Alchemy. It is a process of transformation & integration that is unique to each person & to each community. Healing “looks” different in each one of us.
My areas of specialisation
Yogic lifestyle & sadhana (focused spiritual practice)
resolution of trauma & other states of high stress
psychological first aid (shock, grief, overwhelm)
life transitions
chronic & acute illness
inter-cultural living/ identity (specifically South Asian & Euro-NA cultures)
How I got here: Science & Spirit
Psychology and Yoga were never things I planned to pursue. But I’m so glad we found each other. Yoga saved my life.
My professional path started in public health in 1996 when I came to Nepal to work with Johns Hopkins University. What began as a well-planned career move turned into a spiritual journey I could never have imagined. In the Himalayan nation that would become my home I turned from the hard science of biochemistry to the life sciences of Yoga, Ayurveda and spiritual psychology in my lifelong search for healing and spiritual growth.
Born in the US, raised in France for almost 10 years, and living in Nepal for over 20, my brain & heart work in different languages & express my varied cultural imprints. Over the years I’ve mined the treasures of living cross culturally & understand firsthand the challenges that this lifestyle brings. All of this has left me with a deep respect for varied traditions, perspectives and ways of knowing.
Just as my life path blends cultures, my academic and professional training blend different bodies of knowledge. I hold a BA in biochemistry from Vassar College, a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Yogic Sciences (Yoga Therapy) from Bihar Yoga University (B.Y.U) in India, and a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University, in California. I am also a certified practitioner of Somatic Experiencing, a body-oriented approach to resolving trauma and other stress-related disorders.
As I have walked the path of Yoga and sannyas for over 20 years I have journeyed through the experiences of being wife, daughter-in-law, step mother, foster mother and divorcee in Nepal. These lived experiences and years of applied study bring dimension, depth and insight to my approach. I find richness in bridging Eastern and Western traditions of holistic wellbeing and spiritual life in order to offer people of all backgrounds a space of rich exploration where their intellect and intuition merge, where theory meets practice.
In 2007 I opened the Isha Institute in Patan, Nepal and now offer my services worldwide to support individuals, groups and organisations on their path to “whole-person, whole-life” wellbeing.
Whether on a yoga mat, in retreat, in an office chair, in the field or a workshop, I am continuously humbled and inspired by the ability of individuals and communities to heal and find renewed meaning in life, even in the face of the greatest adversity.
Through the medium of the Isha’s Wellness Collective in Nepal, I fulfill my calling to bring together experts and sages in the fields of the healing arts and wisdom traditions to offer services, trainings, workshops and retreats that are accessible, empowering, life enhancing and life changing.
The inspiration and Vidya of the Bihar Yoga Tradition remain the thread that weaves itself through these callings and all that I do.
I invite you to explore this site and to become more acquainted with my background, work, travels, inspiration and Joy.
Curious to hear what others have to say?
Scroll down.
Ready to transform & thrive?
“There is a voice within you which no-one, not even you, has ever heard. Give yourself the opportunity of silence and begin to develop your listening in order to hear, deep within yourself, the music of your own spirit.”
— John O’Donahue
A Holistic Approach
Everything about you is wired to heal and return to coherence.
Your Body.
Your Mind.
Your Heart.
Your Life.
I know this to be true because I have seen it in my own process and in the work I do with others.
Our body & psyche have an innate, infinite intelligence. These interact with the other facets of our personality— intuition, life force (prana), creativity and higher consciousness— to give us a whole, human, experience.
Healing & becoming “whole” look different in each person. Over the years I have learned that healing doesn’t necessarily mean the eradication of disease. But It is always a state of serenity, authenticity and “prasanna” (abiding joy). This is, in fact, our true nature.
Every modality I use in my practice with clients, every yogic practice I share, is one that I have used for my own path towards healing and have spent years practicing, learning and refining.
Classical Yoga | Holistic Guidance | “SE”
Classical Yoga
“Yoga is the harmony of the mind, emotions & body.”
Inspired by the vidya of the Bihar School of Yoga, this integral approach draws on the branches of Hatha, Raja, Kriya, Gyan, Bhakti and Karma Yoga in order to develop & balance our different dimensions—our body, mind, emotions, energy & higher consciousness. This Yoga is not simply a practice of physical postures, but a traditional, systematic science that helps us awaken & express our full creative potential.
Holistic Guidance
Drawing on the yogic sciences, transpersonal psychology and creative expression, I invite you to attune to your inner compass so that you can move through challenges, break destructive patterns and embody a more balanced, full life.
Whether you are dealing with short-term or chronic issues, a life transition, or simply need a space to be heard and clear your mind, I strive to offer you a safe & confidential place in which to do so.
“SE”
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a psycho-biological tool designed to renegotiate the detrimental effects of trauma & other states of high stress. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, SE supports the body & psyche to find their way out of self-preservation & coping mechanisms and into more coherence…and ultimately into the flow of our life.
”Trauma is a part of life. It, however, does not have to be a life sentence” (Dr. Levine)
What People Are Saying
“It is hard to put into words the dramatic impact my work with Yogatara has had on my wellbeing. It has been a safe space in which to start healing. She has guided me in the process with compassion, humour and deep respect for what I bring with me to the process.
— Frances, age 56
“I’ve been working with Yogatara for over a year in private counseling sessions.
I’ve been on psychiatric drugs and in talk therapy for years and my well-schooled intellect kept my problems locked in my mind. It was time for my body to let my emotions, fears and memories out to heal.
I’ve made rapid progress in a relatively short time — my anxiety has lessened considerably.”
— Tammy, age 52
“I appreciate the pace at which we work and being allowed the space to go in whatever direction feels right during a session. It is often the only hour of the week where I slow down and really dive into how I'm feeling (or may have been feeling in a particular situation).
In sessions the focus is brought to both the mental and the physical aspect of what I've experienced and how both my brain (thoughts) and physical body have responded. For me, the emphasis on incorporating both felt deeply right from Day 1”
— Maura, age 27
Book a session.
FAQs
I’m confused... Do you offer counselling or Yoga in private sessions?
I offer both. I sometimes combine the two. Depending on your background, capacity, interest and needs, we bring in elements from the different modalities I use: integral yoga, holistic counselling, creative expression and SE.
To find out more about the different modalities, go here.
Will we be talking in a counselling session?
Yes. And no. If we are working with SE (Somatic Experiencing) and yogic techniques, fewer words and less of the story are needed. This is because the conscious mind and memory work in words, but the subconscious/unconscious mind and memory (implicit) work in non verbal languages like images and sensations.
What can I expect from a session?
After an intake meeting we’ll decide what our areas of focus are. Your sessions thereafter might include talking, practices to help you stabilise and self-regulate, or techniques/prompts for you to gain more insight into what you are dealing with. I am here to create a safe space in which you can listen to your own inner compass, release stuck emotions/energy in ways that are not overwhelming, and step into your own power—the flow of your Life.
Do you offer couples counselling?
No. When possible I will refer you to colleagues in your given location.
Is YogaTara your real name?
Yes, YogaTara is my real name. It was given to me by my spiritual teacher. A spiritual name denotes your dharma (your life path) and the qualities you are here to embody. Using this name helps me stay focused on my path and true to my purpose.
Can I focus on Yogic practice only?
Absolutely.
Whether you are new to yoga, or you’ve practiced for 20 years and are ready to go deeper, I am happy to accompany you. Develop a disciplined sadhana, explore mantra, discover Yoga’s many forms of meditation, nurture joyful relationships with family members or friends—the practices and applications of Yoga cover all aspects of our life. I look forward to helping you uncover Yoga both on, and off, the mat!
Have a look at what others say about my approach.
I don’t think I have trauma. Can I still work with you?
Yes. If you are called to pause and look at your life, and your self; if you are dealing with anxiety; if you are needing some inspiration and to connect with your Life force again, this is a space for you.
What work do you do with organisations?
As a consultant I offer a variety of services. As someone trained to work with trauma, I am often called in for psychological first aid in the event of an emergency. I also help organisations plan and prepare for the unexpected—whether designing a comprehensive Wellness Program, putting into place a (mental) health referral system, or training staff in active listening and the basics of psychological first aid, etc…
On the lighter side, I often come in to offer regular Yoga & relaxation classes.
Are sessions live or online?
I offer both. I use Zoom or Google Meet for online sessions. In person sessions will depend on the time of year and my location— Nepal, Europe or the US.
