Client Testimonials

  • Ronnie

    “My 11-year-old daughter who has autism attends Live Lively Yoga classes and it is one of the activities she looks forward to the most and truly connects with. Sophie lays out the steps of the class in a way that E can easily remember and anticipate. In the past it has been difficult for E to make a mind body connection, but I see it happening in this class! She is connecting the breath and movements and now I stand back and watch her go. It is not only an activity she can do with friends (which is rare for our neurodiverse kids) but something that carries over into her day-to-day life. E uses deep breaths, her yoga chants and "kind self-talk" in moments of frustration and anxiety. ALL kids need healthy movement and that is what this class provides. We have met many people on this autism journey and Sophie is truly one of those people who just gets it. Live Lively Yoga has been life-changing for our daughter and our family!”

  • Alison

    “When my son started taking Adaptive Yoga in Princeton, he was hesitant. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to, but Sophie was so warm and welcoming that he quickly warmed up. Now, he looks forward to going and has become quite the yogi! Sophie teaches yoga in the most inclusive and non-judgmental manner. She gives everyone enough freedom to do things their way while keeping everyone focused and attentive. We love Live Lively Yoga!”

  • Meghan

    “We all had little experience doing yoga and Sophie made us feel comfortable and did a great job modifying to our needs. Most of us had not done yoga before and she added a lot of tips on how to do the same pose many different ways which was very helpful for us.”

  • Amy

    I am so grateful we met Sophie!   My son has taken adaptive classes yoga classes with Sophie for several years.    While he has trouble sitting still for even five minutes in most activities, he will follow all the yoga movements and poses with full attention.  Outside of classes,   Sophie made personalized videos for our son to do targeting his favorite yoga exercises and addressing him personally.  He loves following his videos every night before bed to help him relax.  I love watching him doing something he loves so much. Thank you, Sophie!

  • Raileigh

    “Sophie is a compassionate and resilient spirit; and resilient spirit; she inspires health, authenticity and empowerment. I am forever grateful to have worked with her, I pray many more souls are warmed and transformed by her guiding light.”

  • Leo

    “As a beginner to yoga, these sessions with Sophie have been easy to follow and have helped ease my soreness from weightlifting. She’s helped break down some of the movements to help incorporate them into everyday life as an added bonus. Ultimately it’s been a great addition to my routine.”

  • Taylor

    "Sophie is one of the most passionate and knowledgable teachers of wellness I know. I love her emphasis on breath and presence. Sophie meets you where you are."

  • Kaylah

    "Sophie's classes strike an ideal balance between relaxing poses and challenging flows that push your body in a good way. Through her holistic approach, I learned how important posture is when it comes to yoga and how subtle tweaks when holding a pose can be a game changer. I always look forward to diving into a solid yoga session with Sophie. I definitely recommend her empowering classes"

  • Lindsey

    “The yoga classes were absolutely amazing! I personally use a walker but Sophie made sure to show every move adapted to everyone’s needs! I would highly recommend her classes.”

  • “Working with Sophie at the Robert Wood Johnson Field of Dreams was a fun, impactful, and eye opening experience. Live Lively Yoga offered all of our members the opportunity to do yoga in a light-hearted environment! I have not seen yoga taught in this way before and it was truly adaptable and inclusive.”

  • Mary

    “Sophie was able to keep the whole group focused and engaged for the duration of the yoga class. She used many different techniques to meet the clients needs. She even played singing bowls for our clients! They all enjoyed the session!”

  • Lauren

    “We all had little experience doing yoga and Sophie made us feel comfortable and did a great job modifying to our needs. This was our favorite activity we did while we were in Asheville and I will highly recommend others to do this!“

Trainee Testimonials

  • My name is Norelle Bondar and I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst serving clients of all ages on the spectrum and I/DD and CYT-200. I have always been drawn to how movement can benefit the lives of the clients I serve. After discovering the Adaptive Yoga Resource and talking to Sophie, I fell in love with the idea of making yoga inclusive for all and sharing the knowledge with my clients. I have always had the idea of combining what I do as a full time BCBA, and my love for yoga so when Sophie shared this opportunity with me, I had to take it as a sign. Since completing the training, I have felt inspired, grateful and motivated to start sharing this beautiful practice with the world. This training was like no other. Sophie is an eloquent speaker, gifted instructor, and excellent trainer. Her confidence beams and her love for what she does is truly contagious. Learning from her has opened my eyes to what my future can look like. She took the time to answer each of our questions thoughtfully and with patience. Anyone who is looking into this training should know that you may walk in nervous and unsure, but you WILL leave with so many new tools in your bag, skills you never thought you’d have and excitement for sharing the practice of yoga in a new way. Thank you so much Sophie for everything you have done and for the time and commitment you put into adaptive yoga resource! -Norelle, Behavior Analyst, CYT 200

  • It is a true honor to learn from Ms. Sophie Schnitzlein. I attended one of her adaptive yoga trainings at Asheville Yoga Center. As a teacher working with many children on the spectrum as well as with children and elders with specific physical challenges for many years, it is important to honor the diverse needs of every authentic individual. Sophie is someone led by her heart and is a lifelong learner. She taught important tools and ways to reach every individual with inclusive meaningful experiences that can be used in many diverse settings by bringing in opportunities to connect with body, breath and mind in simple and practical ways. I feel so grateful and inspired to have met Sophie. She will make a difference wherever she teaches and shares for she has great wisdom, experience, heart and is down to earth. She values giving all people an opportunity to participate regardless if someone is in a wheelchair, or on the spectrum or in any situation so that all can connect in simple yet powerful and profound ways. Sophie is making our world a better place! -Ainhoa

  • I am a Hearing Instrument Specialist and a Yoga Instructor. Research is now showing that 1/3 of individuals with dementia are living their experience as a result of untreated hearing loss. To combat this statistic I have been offering free hearing screenings at senior care facilities in my community. This has really sparked a passion for working with not only the older age demographic- but those that are navigating dementia and Alzheimer’s. I was wondering how I could extend my offerings and get more involved in serving my community - especially the aforementioned demographic.  As a long time practitioner and teacher of vinyasa style yoga-  I never thought I could share my passion for yoga with the individuals that I was hoping to work alongside. Then I saw that Sophie was offering a workshop focused on Adaptive yoga and suddenly a door opened and I realized I could combine my 2 passions.  The training was incredible - Sophie facilitated a space that was comfortable, organic and very very welcoming. I can be shy at times and felt at home immediately. The training was very well thought out and organized so that it was digestible. We had stations and games that allowed us to connect with other workshop attendees and that allowed us to experience what an adaptive yoga student would experience first hand. This allowed us to learn WHY different approaches are helpful and inspired ideas on how one might facilitate their own class.  We also practiced yoga how our students would. This was incredibly informative and eye opening.  Yoga is beneficial for all ~ this workshop proved that you don’t need to be upside down or in a pretzel to experience those benefits. -KC

  • For many years I had been looking for a course like this! As an OT, I have taken other yoga continuing education courses that focused on patient care. I have been teaching yoga for 5 years now. I started with zoom due to the pandemic but now teach chair yoga and a foundation class. Since taking your class, I feel more empowered to lead a yoga session with a slightly different approach. I will be adding more breath work, assessing energy levels and modifying as needed. Sophie, you are very welcoming, knowledgeable and encouraging. Your course was well organized with fun learning experiences. I would highly recommend anyone interested to take your course! -Gina, OT

  • I feel so lucky that I was able to participate and complete AYR’s 12-hour Adaptive Yoga Certification course. Hi, I’m Nikki and I work as a behavior therapist for children and adults with autism. Being able to participate in this training has given me tools that I get to share with my clients in our day to day sessions, which makes me so excited! Tools such as finger tap affirmations and square breathing have already proven to be a huge hit amongst some of my friends. When I first signed up for this training, I was quite anxious, as I don’t love to put myself out there, but the space I shared with 14 other wonderful women was inspiring. Everyone was kind and genuinely wanted the best for one another. Sophie led us all and helped us learn and grow. It is safe to say my confidence has grown through this process. I can’t wait to continue to share adaptive and inclusive yoga with the world! -Nikki, Behavior Therapist

  • What Sophie has created emerges from lived, embodied experience. The learnings she shared are practical and support the development of sustainable, grounded relationships with clients. A key reminder was that excessive education can sometimes pull us into the cerebral. Returning to simplicity and staying true to oneself is often what works most reliably. I didn’t expect to walk away with a structure that was so easy to understand and remember. I feel more confident than before in keeping my work simple and authentic. -Kavya MA, Dance/movement therapist, E RYT 500