I am so happy you are here

Welcome, my name is Kirsten Wilkinson, but some people call me Kaye. I have a few letters behind my name that represent the professional certifications that I have earned. I hold a Masters Degree in Dance and Research from American University in Washington, DC and a BA in Dance and Kinesiology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. I am currently a PhD candidate at Meridian University in Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Therapy.

I am a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) having completed all three years of the official course work with the Trauma Institute under the guidance of various lead faculty members.

I am a TCTSY-Facilitator, which is a 300 hour professional certification. I have completed various trainings in yoga for specific communities including certifications through YogaEd, The Prison Yoga Project, Off the Mat - into the World, Yoga for Humankind, and Veterans Yoga Project. I am Bikram Certified, teach Vinyasa, Yoga Nidra, Prenatal Yoga, and yoga and movement for youth and adolescents.

I am a Mind/Body Practitioner, which is a 300hr professional certification that blends psychology and somatic therapy modalities. I am also a certified Qi Gong and iRest Facilitator as well as Thai Yoga Massage Certified. I also hold a certification as an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner. I am also a Breath to Heal Facilitator studying under Max Strom.

I am the Founder and Executive Director of Legacy Motion, a 501(c)3 NGO organization that supports individuals and communities impacted by trauma by offering sustainable programing and trainings to community members in trauma informed, restorative movement based practices and somatic therapy modalities .  Each program and project honors traditional healing methods, supports the collective human experience, and provides learning opportunities to aid in accessible and equitable mental healthcare through the mind/body connection.

I have over 20 years of experience working with moving bodies, trauma, and building trauma informed curriculum.  I love to travel and have lived in, worked in and visited more than 60 countries. My background with movement based practices began as a Professional Ballerina. My dance career spanned over 10 years during which I performed with such companies as The San Francisco Ballet, David Dorfman and Heidelberg Ballet.

I have held positions at The Library of Congress, Dance Heritage Coalition, and various adjunct professorships at American University Cairo, University of Oregon, University of Hawaii and many more. After much physical trauma sustained in a car accident, I found sanctuary in my yoga practice and teaching. I still teach dance occasionally and specialize in Vaganova Technique. My other movement training comes from a broad background including Hawkins Technique, Graham Technique, Alexander Technique and LabanNotation.

I facilitate movement based modalities with trauma impacted youth, displaced populations (refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants), survivors of torture and terror, veterans and active duty military and their families, first responders and their families, humanitarian aid professionals and volunteers, survivors of violence and oppression, individuals who have a history with substance abuse and body dysphoria, and anyone who is seeking a way of discovering their true potential, restoring their feelings of relative safety and transcending anything that is not currently serving you. My work is through a trauma informed lens and I feel much gratitude to be able to hold space for you in our journey together.