Yoga and Wellness Expert – Victoria Garcia Drago
I started Yoga over twenty years ago…
More than two decades ago, I stumbled upon yoga, unaware of its potential impact on my life. From that very first class, I was captivated by the profound changes it brought about. This journey has led me to become a yoga and wellness expert, a path of self-discovery that continues to this day.
As a yoga and wellness expert, my passion centers around promoting wellness through yoga. With a particular focus on research, I delve into areas such as chronic pain, addiction, and depression. My aim is to lend credibility to yoga through scientific exploration and to ensure its accessibility, especially within Spanish-speaking communities. By advocating for yoga as a viable tool for coping and integrating it into integrative therapies, I strive to address prevalent modern ailments such as chronic pain, addiction, and depression.
During my time at Boston Medical Center (BMC), I contributed to the pioneering “Back to Health” initiative, led by Dr. Robert Saper, which examined yoga’s effectiveness in alleviating chronic back pain. From 2010 to 2014, I worked directly with study participants, teaching yoga tailored specifically for chronic low back pain. In 2018, I had the privilege of presenting “Integrative Approaches to Pain Management” at the pre-Conference for Nutrition and Health in Boston. Since then, I led weekly yoga sessions at BMC’s Department of Integrative Medicine, catering to chronic pain patients. Presently, I’m deeply involved in research on yoga’s role in chronic pain, depression, and addiction recovery, overseeing initiatives like Yoga MAT (medication for addiction treatment). I supervise and provide mentorship to yoga instructors in Boston and contribute to refining yoga protocols for research purposes.
Originally from Argentina, I’ve created a bilingual yoga DVD. Currently based in Oakland, CA, I teach Yoga and Wellness Coaching. I’m also involved in a comparative research study with MGH and Butler Hospital on yoga versus activation therapy for depressed adults, focusing on the Spanish-language component. Additionally, I consult with UCSF on a study about chronic pain and social isolation for participants in Spanish.
“Each day, as I prepare to teach, I’m filled with a deep sense of honor knowing that I have the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge of yoga with others.“
I’ve experienced firsthand how yoga empowers me to tune into and address my body’s needs. It guides me in nourishing myself with wholesome foods when hunger strikes, embracing rest when fatigue sets in, and embracing movement and exploration to invigorate my day. Through this practice, I’ve cultivated a deeper sense of self-compassion, which naturally extends to others, fostering greater empathy. This newfound well-being has not only deepened my connection to myself but also filled me with gratitude
What Yoga Means to Me
Yoga has empowered me to navigate through some of life’s toughest challenges, fostering trust in the power of silence to guide me towards optimal wellness for myself and those around me.
Yoga has helped me…
Through yoga, I’ve learned to connect my body, mind, emotions, and spirit. It’s given me the confidence to trust my inner wisdom like never before.
Yoga has shown me that I’m more than just a body conforming to society’s expectations. It’s helped me see myself as a whole person, accepting and loving every part of myself.
Yoga has allowed me to…
Yoga has helped me become more aware, enabling me to attune to the needs of my body, mind, emotions, and spirit. As a result, I’ve achieved a greater sense of balance in my life. I now embrace wellness as a way of life.
Through yoga, I’m learning that love and care, both for ourselves and others, are innate capacities. It’s teaching me that the way we live and the qualities we express are choices we make each day.
Yoga has given me patience to…
Yoga has taught me patience in navigating the inevitable challenges of human experience, be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. It provides the awareness to access inner resources for alleviating suffering.
Having experienced contrast, I guide others to uncover their own inner resilience, aiding in diminishing suffering and enhancing wellness.
Yoga and Wellness Expert Victoria’s BIO
Victoria Garcia Drago has been sharing her knowledge and passion for Yoga in research and with students of many levels, including professional athletes, for more than two decades.
Victoria brings over 20 years of experience and passion for yoga to her teaching and research endeavors. From beginners to professional athletes, she shares her expertise with students of all levels.
Guiding students through a holistic journey of body, mind, emotions, and spirit, Victoria emphasizes breath awareness and mindful movement. Her methodical approach enables even the most timid individuals to explore and achieve poses they never thought possible.
Victoria’s teachings are deeply influenced by her primary teacher, Barbara Benagh, whom she has studied under for over two decades, alongside studies with Shiva Rea. In 2011, she earned certification in Chakra Alignment from Shiva Rea.
Complementing her yoga expertise, Victoria holds certifications in Medical and Legal Interpreting and Translation from Boston University, as well as a BA in Psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. In 2016, she obtained a Master of Arts degree in Mind-Body Integrated Studies
Victoria offers Slow Flow Yoga classes in both English and Spanish and serves as a Wellness Coach. She is also a certified Reiki practitioner, holding certifications in Reiki Levels 1 & 2.
With a rich background in yoga, Victoria has taught classes and contributed articles for Down Under School of Yoga in Boston, she continues her studies with Barbara Benagh. Additionally, she had a decade-long tenure teaching at Exhale Spa Boston.
Currently, Victoria teaches classes and conducts workshops at local studios in Oakland, CA, while also working remotely. She actively participates in the steering committee at Boston Medical Center and Butler Hospital for the Yoga MAT research (Medication for Addiction Treatment) alongside Dr. Robert Saper, MD, with whom she has collaborated for over a decade.
Victoria is collaborating with MGH and Butler Hospital, alongside Dr. Uebelacker, on a comparative study exploring yoga and AT for depressed adults. She serves as part of the steering committee and holds a lead role as a Yoga teacher in both English and Spanish.
Additionally, Victoria holds certifications from the University of Arizona, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, specializing in Integrative Mental Health for Anxiety and Depression, as well as Integrative Pain Management.
Continuously seeking knowledge, Victoria is dedicated to ongoing studies not only in yoga but also in psychology and neuroscience. She is also certified as a Plant-Based Nutrition Coach through the T.Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.
