January 23, 2018 -- After nearly 20 years working at a desk, Moriah Diederich’s body hurt. Hip and shoulder pain kept her from sleeping through the night and stole her enthusiasm for hiking. The longest walk she could manage involved baby-stepping from her car into the office. She was 36 years old.
On a quest for relief, she tried chiropractic, acupuncture and massage, but nothing stuck until she began exploring yoga therapy. Once she started learning new ways to move and breathe, in addition to better posture and ergonomics, the pain began to subside. Soon she decided to study yoga therapy so she could help others.
On Jan. 2, Diederich’s dream came true: Now a certified holistic yoga therapist and registered yoga teacher with 500 hours of training (RYT 500), she opened Yoga Mojo and Movement Therapy at 108 SE 124th Avenue, Vancouver, WA. The location is a few blocks east of I-205, just off Mill Plain.
Instead of group yoga classes taught with a one-size-fits-all approach, Diederich’s studio offers customized one-on-one sessions that meet clients right where they are.
“Yoga is for everyone, regardless of age or ability,” Diederich said. “I’m not interested in having you put your foot over your head, but I do want you to be able to carry the groceries, play with your kids and tie your shoes with ease.”
When she meets new clients, Diederich begins with a full assessment to understand their goals and to learn where they feel pain or stiffness. This includes analyses of how they are walking, sitting, standing and picking things up to see whether there are movement patterns that are contributing to pain or mobility issues.
Then she puts together a treatment plan that can include numerous bodywork modalities -- yoga, rolling methods, functional movements and core exercises.
“In a holistic yoga therapy session, I work with my client to help ease pains and improve range of motion,” Diederich said. “And knowing how busy life is, I also share self-care techniques, breathwork and restorative yoga to help clients manage stress.”
An initial 75-minute session at Yoga Mojo is $80 and includes a full postural and movement assessment. Subsequent 60-minute sessions are $70. Package pricing is available.
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About Moriah Diederich:
Diederich moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2000 and now lives in Camas with her best friend and husband, Bret Canfield, and their two furry kids: a sweet and cuddly pitbull named Rookie and a spicey torbie cat named Evie.
