My Journey
Hi, my name is Thais. I was born and raised in Brazil and moved to the United States when I was 20 years old. San Diego has been home for almost 30 years now, where I have raised my family and built my life.
I am the mother of two wonderful boys, and much of my path into yoga has been shaped by my experience raising children with different learning and developmental needs.
Yoga first became part of my life as a mother, long before it became my profession. Like many parents, I was simply looking for ways to help my children feel calmer, more supported, and more connected to themselves and the world around them.
My journey into yoga began years ago when my oldest son was part of an inclusion program. One of his teachers suggested yoga as a way to support his focus and regulation.
After beginning private lessons, I noticed a remarkable change. Yoga helped him slow down, become more aware of his body, and develop tools for self-regulation that did not always come easily. Seeing that change inspired me to begin practicing yoga myself.
Soon after, we joined a studio that offered both children’s and adult classes. For five years we practiced there together — in separate classes, but under the same roof. It became something special that we shared as a family, each of us growing in our own way through movement and breath.
That is what led me to pursue my yoga teacher certification and begin sharing yoga in more inclusive environments.
For the past three years, I have been sharing yoga with students in special education classrooms. Through this work, I have also seen how these practices can support children, teens and adults with diverse learning and developmental needs.
Over time, I began to realize that traditional yoga studios are not always designed with neurodivergent individuals in mind. Many people who could benefit from yoga the most don’t always have access to spaces where their needs are truly understood.
As a parent, that was something I could not ignore. I kept thinking about families like ours and how meaningful it would be to have spaces where individuals feel comfortable, supported, and welcome to practice.
One of those students is my youngest son, Dylan, who has moderate to severe autism and continues to inspire me every day.
Through both my personal life and my work, I have seen how powerful yoga can be. It is not only about movement or poses. Yoga can help support self-regulation, coping skills, body awareness, and emotional balance.
Simple practices like breathing and mindful movement can help individuals slow down, settle their bodies, and reconnect with themselves, while also helping them feel more confident and supported in their experience of movement.
In group settings, yoga can also support social connection. Practicing together creates opportunities for shared experiences, cooperation, and building relationships with others.
Today my work is grounded in both my professional training as a yoga teacher and my lived experience as a mother. I understand the challenges families face, but I also see the incredible potential that exists within every individual.
My hope is to share yoga in a way that helps people feel calm, capable, and connected — both within themselves and with the people around them. I believe yoga can be a gentle but powerful tool to support regulation, confidence, and meaningful connection in everyday life.