ABOUT NYDIA

Nydia Darby has completed a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science degree in physical therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She and her husband David Darby (who is also a physical therapist) earned their Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of the Incarnate Word. Nydia is licensed to practice physical therapy by the State of Texas and specializes in orthopedic, spine and pelvic health rehabilitation. Post Graduate work revolved around manual therapy, neurological, amputee prosthetic & pre prosthetic rehabilitation. Nydia has completed 500+ hours with the Hard and the Soft Yoga Institute under the supervision of its founder, Beryl Bender Birch. Nydia has also been fortunate to have been exposed to the works of many of the current Masters in the popular yoga culture and these experiences have influenced her practices and her teachings over the years.

Nydia has been involved in numerous projects that revolve around her work as Owner and Director at Nydia’s Yoga Therapy studio in San Antonio, Texas. She is an adjunct professor for the Exercise and Sports Science (ESS) Department at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. She has developed the curriculum for “Living Yoga,” and “Yoga for Healthcare and Fitness Professionals” that add 3 credit hours each towards the ESS degree plan. Nydia developed the curriculum for Nydia’s Yoga Therapy Yoga Research Team, a 200-hour training that is recognized as a specialty program with the International Association of Yoga Therapist. Nydia is listed as a co-investigator in Breast Cancer research led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She developed the yoga protocol for the study and is actively engaged in supporting and creating the writing of research articles to share the results of this important study with the Yoga and Scientific community. She is listed as second author in a published manuscript (Sept. 2015) Journal of Physiotherapy Theory and Practice titled “Effect of a six-month yoga exercise intervention on fitness outcomes for breast cancer survivors.” Nydia regularly presents at numerous conferences such as the Texas Yoga Conference, Texas Yoga Retreat, Dallas Yoga Conference, and has presented with the Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research in Austin 2014, and presented her research at the Symposium on Yoga Research at Kripalu in the Fall of 2014. She was listed as faculty at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York when she was invited to present “Therapeutic Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors” in July 2015.

Nydia is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Texas Physical Therapy Association, International Association of Yoga Therapists and the San Antonio Chapter of the Texas Yoga Association. She has acted in the capacity of adjunct faculty and has taught yoga anatomy programs with numerous yoga schools in the San Antonio area. She mentors and provides continuing education for yoga teachers and advanced yoga students as well as community lectures on various topics related to yoga, breathing, stress reduction, health and wellness. She is Co-Director, a Lead Specialist & Curriculum Coordinator and a Lead Trainer of the Open Hand Institute which currently offers a 200 hour Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher Training and continuing education opportunities..

Nydia’s Yoga Therapy classes are influenced by the Eight Limbed Ashtanga Lifestyle practice, presented by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. Nydia presents asana that has been influenced by Ashtanga, Iyengar and traditional Hatha Yoga, along with her extensive experience in movement, breath-work, fitness and physical therapy. This is integrated into 30+ years of core conditioning and physical therapy injury-preventive approach to wholeness that holds maximizing an individual’s function and quality of living in greatest esteem.

I am the proud mother of 2 beautiful children, Jake and Micha, and am happily married to my husband of 28 years, David Darby. As a family, we enjoy cooking and grilling together, spending time outdoors, and exercising. We also enjoy the company of our 2 dogs, 4 cats and chickens! You may see some of the Darby clan around the studio every so often.