Ayn Devera, MS, MSW, ASW

I’m a Movement Educator, Holistic Health Practitioner, and Personal Development Coach. Trained in a variety of somatic and movement-based modalities, I weave together the therapeutic wisdom of Pilates, fascia science, and Ashtanga yoga principles with weight training to enhance breath, posture, stability, and strength. With over 18 years of experience across diverse teaching environments, I’ve developed a keen eye for identifying movement patterns and imbalances that promote a cycle of instability and pain. I especially enjoy supporting individuals with scoliosis and joint mischief, and sharing how to reconnect with the body’s innate capacity to heal. Through sustainable lifestyle practices, I help people move with greater ease, confidence, and vitality—cultivating long-term health and well-being.

My academic background includes a Master of Science in Human Nutrition (magna cum laude, 2015) from the University of Bridgeport and a Master of Social Work (with distinction, 2023) with a focus on urban community wellness. These studies have shaped my holistic, whole-person approach to health, movement, and well-being. My Pilates teaching is grounded in the classical Contrology method developed by Joseph Pilates, and enriched by the teachings of legendary instructors like Romana Kryzanowska, Ron Fletcher, and Rael Isacowitz. I began integrating Pilates with myofascial release (MFR) in 2007, which ignited my fervor for movement as medicine. Exploring the connective tissue beneath the muscles brought a whole new dimension to my work. Along the way, I have been inspired by visionary pioneers such as John F. Barnes, Tom Myers, Gil Hedley, Yamuna Zake, Jill Miller, and Katy Bowman.

My true journey with yoga asana began outside the gym setting at Camarillo Yoga Center (now Camarillo-Somis Yoga & Mindfulness), where I was profoundly influenced by Audrey Walzer in 2009. Her teaching sparked my interest in yoga anatomy and physiology. I’ve also drawn essential insights from the work of B.K.S. Iyengar and Mukunda Stiles, whose approaches to alignment and pain relief continue to inform my practice. The most transformative shift in my yoga path came through my studies with Yogi Kira Sloane, founder of Lulu Bandha in Ojai (now producing Yoga Anytime). Under her guidance in 2013 and again in 2016, I explored the internal landscape—learning the art of yogic philosophy and the power of compassionate self-inquiry.
In 2007, I became a certified personal fitness trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and was selected to teach Pilates at Bally Total Fitness. There, I trained in the Polestar method with Shannon Mealey, gaining a foundational understanding of contemporary movement techniques. I continued my education under Simone Schmidt—former dancer, celebrity fitness trainer, and owner of Roxbury Pilates Spa in Beverly Hills—whose clients included high-profile figures like Madonna. Her teaching blended the precision of Stott Pilates with principles from chiropractic medicine, further expanding my approach to functional and restorative movement.
In 2008, I began working as a trainer for the U.S. Navy at the Port Hueneme and Point Mugu bases, where I taught stretching, alignment, and muscle activation techniques to improve proprioception and prevent injury. Following this experience, I honed my focus on functional movement and fascia by aiding the doctors at Kang Physical Therapy Clinic in Ventura, California—especially under the mentorship of Dr. Josh Turner (Ventura Orthopedics). These invaluable experiences refined my ability to assess movement patterns, support injury recovery, and deliver precise, fascia-informed Pilates instruction on the apparatus. Dr. Kang (George Fox University, Oregon), encouraged me to open my own Pilates studio before he transitioned to teaching in 2013.

Having observed thousands of bodies in motion over the years, I’ve developed a fathomless zeal for helping people recognize injury risks and improve their quality of life through tailored Pilates and personal training sessions. I am continuously expanding my repertoire of movement knowledge through seminars, research, workshops, and dedicated self-practice. My studies in energetic movement include Qi Gong training with third-generation Eastern medicine practitioner Dr. Joseph K. Kim (Encino Acupuncture and Herbs Center, 2000 & 2019), as well as coursework in Self-Healing Qi Gong at Yosan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Los Angeles (2007).

In 2015, I expanded my expertise in scoliosis care through continuing education with international Pilates expert Marie-José Blom. The following year, I became a licensed Yoga Tune Up® Teacher, training under Trina Altman and Gwen Yeager in a system developed by Jill Miller. This transformative approach was first introduced to me in 2011 by somatic expert Lisa West, PT, of Lisa West Wellness in Ventura, CA. I also completed training in somatic therapies—including neuro-structural bodywork and Thai massage—at the Kali Institute in Ventura, earning my massage therapy license in 2016.
I ran my first two half marathons in 2018 and 2019, using the Jeff Galloway training method to deepen my understanding of the running body. In 2024, I earned certification as a Tune Up Fitness™ Instructor, completing training in all three of Jill Miller’s signature methods: Yoga Tune Up™, The Roll Model Method™, and Body by Breath™—the latter two taught directly by Jill Miller herself. Today, my movement classes and sessions blend myofascial release, core awareness, and mindfulness. Using innovative fascial release techniques, thoughtful cueing, and personalized exercise modifications, I teach people how to maintain and enhance their ability to enjoy the activities they love for as long as they live.

As a longtime resident of Oxnard and Ventura for over 45 years, I am dedicated to helping you become the expert of your own health and wellness. I believe that lasting change comes from taking control of your health and quality of life. As Joseph Pilates wisely said, “Change happens through movement, and movement heals.” Alongside my movement work, I’m a licensed esthetician since 2005 with an affection for consciously crafting skincare products. When I’m not researching or managing ISW, you’ll often find me at the pottery wheel or relaxing with my Shih Tzu, Roxy Balboa.

Please note, I offer non-medical, exercise-based guidance and nutritional guidance customized to meet your unique needs and goals. I work in close partnership with your trusted healthcare providers to support your well-being through personalized care that complements and enhances traditional medical approaches for a true continuum of care.