Lori Flower | Transpersonal Wilderness Therapy & Yoga | Boulder, CO

In our Women in Wellness series, we spotlight inspiring women who are making waves in the wellness community. Today, we're excited to introduce you to Lori Flower, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Boulder, Colorado, whose unique approach combines transpersonal wilderness therapy with yoga to create transformative healing experiences.

Meeting Lori Flower

With a Master's degree in Transpersonal Wilderness Therapy from Naropa University, Lori brings a holistic perspective to her counseling practice at Sage Dragon Counseling. Her integrated approach combines the healing power of nature, breathwork, and movement to help clients achieve emotional regulation and deep mind-body connection.

"By using breathwork and movement, one can self-soothe and stay connected through mind and body," Lori explains. "Nature helps us co-regulate and be more present."

Beyond Traditional Therapy: The Power of Outdoor Healing

While traditional therapy often occurs within four walls, Lori's approach embraces the transformative potential of the natural world. Her transpersonal wilderness therapy takes advantage of Boulder's stunning natural landscapes to facilitate healing in a more expansive environment.

This innovative approach combines the psychological benefits of being in nature with mindful movement practices, creating opportunities for profound self-discovery and healing that transcend conventional therapeutic settings.

Practical Tips for Mind-Body Integration

Lori believes that emotional regulation begins with awareness of the connection between our thoughts and physical sensations. Here are her practical tips for achieving greater mind-body integration:

1. Practice Body Scanning: Take time to notice patterns of tension in your body and how they may be connected to certain thoughts. By shifting your attention and thought patterns, you can release physical tension.

2. Use Breathwork for Self-Soothing: Conscious breathing serves as an anchor to the present moment. When emotions feel overwhelming, focusing on slow, deep breaths can help regulate your nervous system.

3. Incorporate Nature as Co-Regulation: Spending time outdoors can naturally help balance your emotional state. Even brief connections with natural elements—feeling the wind, listening to birds, touching a tree—can ground you during difficult moments.

Try This at Home: A Simple Body Scan Practice

Ready to experience the mind-body connection Lori teaches? Here's a simple practice to try:

1. Find a comfortable seated or lying position

2. Close your eyes and bring awareness to your breath

3. Slowly scan from the top of your head down to your toes

4. Notice areas of tension without judgment

5. As you identify a tense area, breathe into it

6. Observe any thoughts connected to that tension

7. Gently shift your thoughts and notice how the tension responds

Connecting Through Movement: AcroYoga for Couples

One of Lori's specialties is AcroYoga for couples—a partner-based practice that fosters communication through physical connection. "AcroYoga is a partner yoga based practice that helps couples communicate in an embodied way of listening and sharing," she shares.

This unique offering helps partners develop trust, improve communication, and deepen their connection through supportive movements that require cooperation and attentiveness to each other's needs.

Finding Her Path: From Vermont to Boulder

Lori's wellness journey began in the late 1990s with an inspiring college yoga teacher who was in her 70s and still performing headstands. "That's going to be me at that age," Lori decided, admiring not just her teacher's physical abilities but her calm, grounded presence.

Her path led her through a decade of leading Kirtan (group chanting) in Vermont—a practice that helped her find her voice—before eventually bringing her to Boulder for Naropa's Transpersonal Wilderness Therapy program, where she found her calling combining nature and mindfulness.

What might surprise you about Lori's journey? "I almost considered leaving the US and living in a yoga ashram for a while," she reveals. "Instead, I traveled to India for a couple months to study Ayurveda in 2005, yet returned with renewed appreciation to practice in the Northeast. I also did a 9 month herbal apprenticeship with Rosemary Gladstar in VT, 2006-2007." 

The Impact of Her Work

Clients who work with Lori often experience lasting changes in their self-awareness. "I often hear clients say, 'I heard your voice to remind me to breathe through this difficult thing,'" she shares. "And I love it when eventually it becomes their new awareness pattern."

Through her guidance, clients develop internal resources that stay with them long after their sessions end, creating sustainable tools for emotional regulation and self-soothing.

Breaking Misconceptions

One common misconception about yoga that Lori frequently encounters is the belief that flexibility is a prerequisite. "I often hear people say 'I need to be flexible to do yoga.' This is a myth," she emphasizes. "If you can breathe or lift a finger, you can practice yoga."

This inclusive perspective makes her approach accessible to everyone, regardless of physical ability or previous experience with mindfulness practices.

Connect with Lori

Ready to experience Lori's unique approach to transpersonal wilderness therapy and yoga?

• Website: www.sagedragoncounseling.com

• Instagram: @breathingislife and @sagedragoncounseling

• Email: breathingislife@gmail.com

• AcroYoga Retreats: Check out "AcroYoga hot springs retreats" on Facebook for her upcoming September retreat at Avalanche Hot Springs

This post is part of PeachyYogi's Women in Wellness directory, where we spotlight inspiring women in the wellness community. Stay tuned for more features highlighting women who are making a difference through their unique approaches to health and wellbeing.