Ryan Gervasi LCSW, RYT
Ryan earned her undergraduate degree from Kean University in Psychology. During her time there, she studied Drug and Alcohol Use and Community Mental Health. She continued her education and was trained at Kean University’s School of Social Work where she graduated with a Master of Social Work specializing in the areas of Trauma and Healing, and Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Ryan is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Ryan’s path of restoration and wellness was birthed through adverse life experiences that called her to the art of healing herself and others. Through conscious breathing and awareness of the prana (life force energy), Ryan has found that the breath is our best medicine for managing pain and suffering.
Ryan’s passion for healing the mind, body, and soul holistically aligns with her clinical approach as she integrates her knowledge and experience as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) and Reiki 1 practitioner into wellness and recovery practices by combining the clinical piece and intuitive healing methods. Specializing in Vinyasa flow as well as gentle, restorative, and yin-focused traditions, Ryan believes that joining the three parts through flowing as well as still movements is a beautiful and blissful foundation for self-exploration, self-love, and self-compassion, which inevitably facilitates forgiveness, healing, and growth. The practice of tuning out to tune in is a healthy way to disconnect from the material world and come back to our truest nature, but to do this we must listen to our body.
Ryan guides a gentle flow of movements concentrated on staying present for ourselves and proper alignment filled with loving instruction so all students may reach their greatest potential regardless of their fitness level. Ryan has many years of self-study in the practice of yoga, adding to her expertise in the area of holistic care. Ryan continues to be a faithful student of yoga and meditation practice, grateful for all of her teachers who continue mentoring and supporting her journey.
Get to Know Ryan
One of Ryan’s favorite quotes that resonates on and off her mat is, “Often one goes for one thing and finds another.” By Neem Karoli Baba.
Her practice of journeying beneath the surface of the skin to reunite with our highest self is similar to Thich Nhat Han’s mantra, “Come back to the island within myself.” Ryan believes that through the meditation practice we give ourselves permission to “just be,” accepting where we are at, in that moment.
Her invitation and encouragement to listen to the body presents itself throughout the practice allowing intention to be present in every pose, for as Deepak Chopra puts it, “Without intention in our poses the pose is just a pose.” Within these various traditions of yoga, breath is the foundation and as such has a deep and calming effect.
Ryan’s favorite authors and poets include B.K.S. Iyengar, Deepak Chopra, Thich Nhat Hahn, Kahlil Gibran, Neem Karoli Baba, Deborah Adele, Pema Chodron, and Eckhart Tolle. What Ryan is most often heard speaking of is nurturing the child within ourselves and coming back to our highest, truest self to practice forgiveness, acceptance, compassion, and love. The experience of healing and transformation evolves us on our unique, individual paths to freedom and bliss.
Ryan specializes in providing:
- Adult anxiety, depression + trauma counseling
- Holistic + spiritual integrated care
- Trauma sensitive yoga, meditation, breathwork, reiki
- Females struggling with body image
- Women’s empowerment
