If you're searching for yoga therapy in Ottawa, you might be looking for something gentler than a fitness class and more body-aware than talk-only support.
At Vistas Psychotherapy & Wellness, Amanda Carver is a Registered Psychotherapist who is also a certified yoga teacher. She sees clients in person by appointment at 317 Catherine St., and virtually across Ontario.
You're welcome to book a free consult to explore whether yoga-informed psychotherapy, one-on-one yoga instruction, or both might fit.
Think of this work a little like adjusting a backpack you've been carrying for years. Same road, different fit. We're not throwing the pack away; we're loosening the straps, redistributing the load, and noticing how it feels to stop leaning forward against an invisible hill all day.
In Ontario, yoga therapy isn't a regulated health profession, and no one at Vistas holds a yoga therapist certification. Instead of a blended "yoga therapy" label, we keep two services clearly separate:
For a full side-by-side comparison, see yoga-informed therapy in Toronto or our billing breakdown.
Psychotherapy by appointment at 317 Catherine St. Breath, grounding, and simple, supported postures may be woven into a nervous-system-informed treatment plan for concerns like anxiety, trauma, and burnout. Nothing physical is ever required.
Billed as psychotherapy · $140–170 per session
Individualized online sessions with Amanda Carver, RYT-200, Natalie Anthony, or Mark Atherton, ERYT-500. Limited in-person sessions with Amanda can sometimes be arranged in Ottawa, though the space is small. Educational and movement-based, and not psychotherapy. Amanda teaches yoga only to people who aren't her psychotherapy clients.
Billed as yoga instruction · $80 per session
Group yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness sessions for workplaces, in person in Ottawa or virtually. Designed around your team's schedule and space.
Billed as workplace wellness · $120 per hour
People who reach out for yoga-informed support often describe:
If you've tried fast-paced yoga classes and left feeling more overwhelmed than grounded, you're not alone. For many people, the problem isn't yoga itself. It's the speed, the intensity, or the lack of attention to how the nervous system is responding.
If anxiety, trauma, or low mood are central for you, you might also explore anxiety therapy in Ottawa or EMDR therapy in Ottawa, with yoga-informed practices woven in at a pace that feels manageable.
First sessions tend to be spacious and slow.
You might start by talking through:
From there, you might explore a few gentle options:
In psychotherapy, some sessions may be mostly conversation with brief movement, and EMDR may also be explored when appropriate, with readiness assessed together. In yoga instruction, more of the session is guided movement, breath, and rest. Either way, you set the pace.
Cultural safety means we honour your autonomy and your relationships, your family, community ties, and the knowledge systems that support you, if and when you choose to bring them in. You're welcome to request an Indigenous therapist or a culturally informed therapist if that feels important for your comfort or connection.
Amanda is both a Registered Psychotherapist and a yoga teacher, and she keeps those roles separate. She offers yoga instruction only where it fits the relationship, with care to avoid dual relationships, and doesn't take her current psychotherapy clients on as yoga students. Psychotherapy sessions are billed as psychotherapy; yoga sessions are billed as yoga instruction. How we bill our services →
Office (by appointment): Vistas Psychotherapy & Wellness, 317 Catherine St., Ottawa, ON
| Service | Fee | Billed as |
|---|---|---|
| Yoga-informed psychotherapy (Amanda Carver, R.P.) | $140–170 per session | Psychotherapy |
| One-on-one yoga instruction | $80 per session | Yoga instruction |
| Workplace yoga (groups) | $120 per hour | Workplace wellness |
For all current fees, see Services & Fees.
Not exactly. Yoga therapy isn't a regulated health profession in Ontario, and no one at Vistas is a certified yoga therapist. We offer yoga-informed psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist who is also a yoga teacher, and separate one-on-one yoga instruction. Each is clearly labelled and billed.
Yes, for psychotherapy, by appointment at 317 Catherine St. In-person times are limited, and virtual sessions are available in between. One-on-one yoga for Ottawa clients is usually virtual, since the office space is small.
Studio classes usually move at the pace of the group and focus on fitness, flexibility, or flow. Sessions at Vistas are one-on-one and slower, with more time to notice how each breath or position actually feels in your body.
No. Many people who reach out feel stiff, tired, or intimidated by typical yoga spaces. Practices can be done seated in a chair, standing, or with supports. The goal isn't to perform shapes.
That's a common experience. Sessions move at your pace, with options to stay seated, keep your eyes open, or skip anything that feels like too much. You might begin with something very small, like feeling your feet on the floor for a few seconds.
Yoga-informed psychotherapy is billed as psychotherapy, so it's often eligible under Registered Psychotherapist coverage. Yoga instruction is generally not covered under psychotherapy benefits, though some plans have separate wellness coverage. Check your specific policy.
Yes. Workplace yoga sessions can be held in person at your Ottawa workplace or virtually, and are designed around your team's needs and schedule. Reach out through our contact page for details.
If your backpack has been feeling heavy, whether it shows up as tension, exhaustion, or a constant sense of being "on," you're welcome to reach out. A free consult is the first step, in Ottawa or online.
This page is for general information only and does not replace individualized mental health care or medical advice. It does not establish a therapeutic relationship. Yoga instruction is a non-regulated wellness service and is not a substitute for psychotherapy; outcomes vary and are not guaranteed. Amanda Carver's psychotherapy and yoga instruction services are offered separately and delivered as appropriate to each relationship, with care to avoid dual relationships. Vistas is not an emergency or crisis service. If you are in crisis, at risk of harm, or unable to stay safe, please call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline), call 9-1-1, or contact your local crisis service before reaching out for non-urgent care.