Nydia offers Hybrid Therapeutic Yoga classes that combine the on site studio practice experience with Livestreaming. This has opened up more opportunities for individuals who have an internet connection anywhere in the world to access the unique melding of physical therapy, fitness and yoga that Nydia has been sharing with her students for the last four decades.
As a licensed healthcare professional, Nydia keeps current with ALL vaccinations and recommends the same for everyone. You are welcomed to wear a mask to help you meet your individual needs while in practice.
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.
With over four decades of experience blending physical therapy, fitness, and yoga, Nydia translates complex clinical knowledge into practical wisdom you can actually use. Whether you’re managing pain, trying to move more freely, or simply want to age with confidence, her writing meets you where you are – so you can stop guessing and start feeling better.
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.
I am the proud mother of 2 beautiful children, Jake and Micha, and am happily married to my husband of 33 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.
Nydia’s Yoga Therapy is a unique practice and lifestyle approach that melds fitness and neuromuscular rehabilitation with western physical therapy and traditional eastern Hatha yoga practices. This practice addresses the “whole” person and focuses on acknowledging everyone’s unique history and abilities. This focus helps individuals be at peace when they recognize limitations as they present themselves. This practice is effective in helping to reduce the suffering of those who experience acute and/or chronic pain and empowering those individuals who want to avoid suffering future orthopedic or neuromuscular challenges. This practice is directed towards helping individuals improve their physical function to positively affect their quality of living. This practice aims to teach those who are willing to learn— as much as they care to know about their physical bodies, to help reduce the fear of the unknown and to empower them to make informed choices about the care of their most precious possession—their whole health.
I present this practice to the community via Nydia’s Yoga Therapy studio and the Open Hand Institute (LINK) in San Antonio, Texas. The studio’s presence allows me to act as an ambassador for yoga in the San Antonio medical community and facilitates the continuing education of the general community and its community of medical and yoga professionals. I can dispel misconceptions about yoga and promote safe and effective yoga instruction and practices that emphasize breath centered awareness, functional mobility and stability, use of proper technique and balanced spinal/joint alignment modified to meet the needs of the individual whether they practice alone or in a group setting. The studio presence also allows me to mentor and train my team of yoga instructors and participate in yoga research through the Open Hand Institute, so that the healing and transformational approach that is Nydia’s Yoga Therapy can positively impact as many lives as possible.
Yes, you need to check in with me before scheduling to attend on-site or livestream classes. My studio is now operated on private property, and I want to make sure that I am offering the form of practices that will be most effective for your needs. This involves your reaching out via a low-stress email (link). In some situations, some individuals may wish to schedule a private Therapeutic Yoga Assessment (link) when they have an old history of injury or want to start their therapeutic yoga journey in a private class.
I operated my first studio at a commercial / public location for 10 years and knew that I eventually wanted to have my studio on my own property. In 2017, I closed the commercial location and moved my studio on to my own private property. My studio is smaller now, but I still offer excellent small group therapeutic yoga classes that are designed to meet everyone’s needs when they practice with me over time—as they learn how to use the practices to benefit their own individual selves. The address is 1403 Blue Crest Lane, San Antonio, TX 78232.
My studio is located at 1403 Blue Crest Lane. You will see that the front fence is made of off-white stucco. The front gate opens about 15 minutes before class begins. When you arrive, drive through the opened gate, and take a right turn directly on to the rock parking area. There are five parking slots directly in front of the house/studio. Please fill these slots first if there is an open spot. The remaining cars can line up along the right-hand side on the semi-circular drive (and can even park behind the first 5 cars since all are leaving at the same time at the end of class. More cars can park along the left hand or inside of the circular drive, all the way up to meet the concrete drive. Do not park on or drive forward on the concrete drive, as it needs to remain clear for maintenance vehicles or in case of emergency. Please drive slow and mindfully on the premises. The safety of each of our students is of primary importance.
I recommend that all students who are new to our studio begin with the Gentle Therapeutic Yoga class that is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This class introduces the breath as a fundamental part of the structured sequence that is practiced lying on the yoga mat and will gently and therapeutically mobilize every major joint and connective tissue in your body. It will feel good. All levels are encouraged to attend. You can create an online account, purchase a class pass, and schedule your first class here. (See schedule).
I recommend the Gentle Progressive Therapeutic yoga class that is held on Wednesday’s at 10 am. This class introduces the Therapeutic Sun Salutation© that helps us learn and practice getting down on to the floor and back up off the floor with my signature movement sequence that also serves as a wonderful warm up for the practice to follow. We then move into a few standing postures and then move back on to the floor for seated and lying down postures. I guide us in some extra breathing activities and sometimes a meditation practice too. It is a wonderful bridge between the Gentle and the Progressive classes. All levels are encouraged to attend, especially those who wish to begin working on balance and coordination in the upright position. (See schedule).
I offer a Therapeutic Yoga Assessment for individuals who are interested in setting a solid foundation for their whole self in a program that is tailored to meet your individual needs. This is optional and is excellent for those who may have an old history or orthopedic or neurological histories, or for those who wish to experience private therapeutic yoga instruction. These sessions are scheduled with Nydia directly. (Link to contact us).
You will need to bring your own yoga mat, yourself in comfortable clothing, a sense of adventure, and a sense of humor. If you don’t own a mat yet, you can borrow one of my community mats for your first visit. I have blocks, straps, and yoga blankets that you can borrow for your practice while you are in class. You may also bring your water bottle to encourage your hydration goals. We practice in bare feet on our yoga mats to make the best contact with the earth and improve the strength and mobility of our feet.
I recommend that you refrain from wearing perfumes and scented lotions when you come to practice at the studio. Many persons are sensitive to the chemicals in perfumes, and this can make it difficult for a pleasant experience for all. We are focusing on gentle breathing with purpose during our practice. Also, be aware of the highly scented detergents used for your clothes. Full disclosure, these highly scented products irritate your instructor (Nydia) throat and nasal passages. Research is showing evidence of negative health effects to humans and animals due to exposure to highly scented synthetic chemical products.
The essential oils that I offer at the end of your practice are made from the pure essential oils of Lavender, Peppermint, and other blends. There are no artificial chemicals used in their extraction and are less likely to cause irritation. It is optional to receive.
We have a wonderful group of individuals, persons of all ages, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, who are each interested in helping themselves move forward in gaining improved mobility, flexibility, strength, and well-being. You will notice that the studio is a great place to meet other like-minded persons and make friends. We have a lovely community. As the instructor, I am the only one that will be observing you to make sure that you are understanding and performing the movements in a manner that honors your body. This is a NO JUDGEMENT ZONE. ☺ The practices should feel good, you have permission to take rest at any time. “The ONLY thing that you have to do is BREATHE.”
The direct answer is NO! While it is correct that I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I am NOT YOUR physical therapist when we are in the group therapeutic yoga classes. I recommend that you schedule and attend traditional physical therapy per your doctor’s recommendation. During your physical therapy sessions, you can consult with your PT and ask their opinion about attending therapeutic yoga classes at my studio at the end of your PT sessions.
I do offer private physical therapy evaluation and treatment and schedule these on a case-by-case, and fee for service basis. I specialize in helping persons prepare for a surgery, rehabilitate after a surgery, as well as help to prevent surgery (when indicated). Orthopedic, neurologic, and neuromuscular challenges are my specialty. I love to help persons to prepare for and then recover from joint replacement surgery. My approach is a ‘whole person’ approach in our private physical therapy programs. I do not process insurance or work with 3rd party payors. You can (contact me) to discuss options.
Train for your next and best decade with Therapeutic Yoga developed and delivered by an integrative Doctor of Physical Therapy / Therapeutic Yoga Specialist and researcher. Join me at the Omega Institute Oct. 11-16, 2026. Join me on Oct 11-16th for a 5 day therapeutic yoga, functional mobility, breathwork, learning and meditative practice.
