Mitra is Sanskrit for "Friend"
or
"One who walks the path with You"
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Angelica Lopez (she/her/ella)
E-RYT 200, RYT 500, TCYM
As a Puerto Rican CSA survivor and dedicated yoga facilitator, I’ve spent over two decades cultivating a unique approach to trauma-informed yoga that honors the lived experiences of survivors. My early journey with yoga provided a lifeline through an abusive upbringing, guiding me through grief, burnout, and ultimately, healing. This personal connection fuels my commitment to making yoga accessible and meaningful for all bodies.
I hold over 500 hours of advanced training from institutions such as The Veterans' Yoga Project, Yoga4Cancer, Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga, The Prison Yoga Project, and Mindbody Solutions. My practice integrates adaptive yoga techniques, mindfulness, and an understanding of trauma’s impact on the body and mind, offering survivors a compassionate space to reconnect with themselves.
Since becoming a yoga facilitator, I have committed to offering yoga as a means to assist communities that are often overlooked. Even before starting Mitra, I created a yoga fundraiser called A Pause for Peace, raising money for Black Lives Matter and Arise for Social Justice. I’ve partnered with community organizations like Dress for Success Western Mass and Brick House to bring trauma-informed yoga directly to those who need it most, creating inclusive environments that uplift, empower, and support healing. I have since expanded my work throughout Hampshire and Hampden counties. Learn about the current community collaborations.
My primary intention of offering yoga to other survivors of sexual trauma led to the creation of the Thrive series in 2021. Originally a 5-week program, Thrive has evolved into an 8-week offering as participants requested more time together. Thrive has been offered eight times as of March 2024, including two free BIPOC affinity groups, and has served 40 survivors to date. This year, Thrive has expanded to create more affinity spaces and a monthly workshop offering. Learn more about Thrive.
"I teach yoga to help people remember that they are already whole. Just like a bird is born knowing how to fly, or an acorn has everything it needs to become an oak tree, we too are born with inherent wisdom. However, this world and its systems quickly tear us away from that truth. Yoga invites us back to our wholeness, reminding us we are part of nature as we breathe in harmony with the world around us. Let us walk this journey together to ground ourselves in wisdom, peace, and love."
CERTIFICATIONS
2024
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Somatic Approaches to Healing Trauma - Somatopia
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Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method Teacher Training - The Trauma-Conscious Yoga Institute
2022
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Intro to Adaptive Yoga - Mindbody Solutions
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300-hour Yoga Teacher Training - Ignite Yoga & Wellness Institute
2021
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Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training - Yoga Sanctuary
2020
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200-hour Yoga Teacher Training - Yoga Sanctuary
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yoga4cancer Certificate Program - Yoga4cancer
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Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga - Zabie Yamasaki
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Yoga for Self-Regulation and Trauma - Hala Khouri
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Elemental Actions Against Appropriation - Susanna Barkataki
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Yoga in Action to Create a Just World - Michelle Cassandra Johnson
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Yoga Through the Lens of Incarceration - Prison Yoga Project
2019
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Mindful Resilience Training for Trauma Recovery - Veterans' Yoga Project
STAY CONNECTED WITH US:
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