About Alison West
Founder + Owner at Alter Design
Alison West is a renowned yoga instructor, founder of Yoga Union and the Yoga Union Backcare & Scoliosis Center in NYC, specializing in alignment-based yoga, backcare, scoliosis therapy, and innovative props like yoga ropes and dowels. Her work emphasizes safe, inventive practices for physical alignment, injury prevention, and therapeutic benefits, drawing from gymnastics and precise body awareness. With a Ph.D., E-RYT, YACEP, and C-IAYT credentials, she teaches classes, workshops, teacher training, and private sessions both in-person and online.
Yoga Philosophy and Teaching Approach
Alison West is recognized for her inventive and safe Alignment Yoga Classes, blending precision, body awareness, and therapeutic elements.[6][12] She directs Yoga Union, offering general yoga programs, backcare, scoliosis therapy, and teacher training.[10][12]
Backcare and Scoliosis Expertise
West is an international expert in yoga for scoliosis and backcare, providing methodical approaches like the three-session Yoga for Scoliosis Basics series.[10] Her Yoga Union Backcare & Scoliosis Center addresses back pain, core strength, and related issues.[7][13]
Prop-Based Innovations
West pioneered techniques using yoga ropes (Yoga Karunta or 'Puppet Yoga,' derived from gymnastics) and dowels for alignment and therapy.[4][5][7][8] Workshops include 'Yoga and The Amazing Dowel' with recorded sessions and bonus materials.[5]
Teaching Formats and Accessibility
She offers private sessions, on-demand workshops, blogs on topics like anxiety, asthma, and awareness, and maintains an active studio with practice rooms.[9][11][12][13] Her work has received press for its unique studio design and programs.[11]
Professional Background
Alison West holds a Ph.D., ERYT, YACEP, and C-IAYT certifications, founding Yoga Union in NYC.[7][12]
Alignment and Safety in Yoga
Emphasis on precise, safe practices to prevent injury and enhance body awareness.
Prop Innovations (Ropes and Dowels)
Creative use of props like yoga ropes (from gymnastics) and dowels for therapeutic alignment.
Backcare and Scoliosis Therapy
Specialized programs and center for back pain, scoliosis, and related conditions.
Entrepreneurship in Yoga Education
Founding and directing Yoga Union with diverse offerings: classes, workshops, online content, teacher training.
Holistic Wellness Topics
Broader applications to anxiety, asthma, core strength, and awareness via yoga.
blog tags: anxiety, asthma, awareness, core, back pain [13]
Every entry that fed the multi-agent compile above. Inline citation markers in the wiki text (like [1], [2]) are not yet individually linked to specific sources — this is the full set of sources the compile considered.
- Group Practice Accelerator: Supply Spend Semaglutide? Systems for Proactively Protecting Your Cash Flow with Method's Alison Farberpodcast_episode · 2026-04-14
- Psychologists Off the Clock: 426. College Mental Health with Colleen Ehrnstrom, Audrey Gilfillan, and Alison Westpodcast_episode · 2026-04-14
- Stolen Podcast: Financial Sextortion of Teens: How Money Moves & How to Protect Your Kids | Expert Alison Jimenez (Ep 22)podcast_episode · 2026-04-14
- Yoga Ropes by Alison West - Yoga Unionarticle · 2026-04-14
- Workshops - Yoga Unionarticle · 2026-04-14
- Descriptions and Levels - Yoga Unionarticle · 2026-04-14
- My Life with a Dowel by Alison West - Yoga Teachers Associationarticle · 2026-04-14
- YOGA UNION Blog | Page 2 of 2article · 2026-04-14
- What's New? | Yoga Union NYCarticle · 2026-04-14
- Yoga Union | New York City | Scoliosis & Backcare | Teacher Trainingarticle · 2026-04-14
- Press - Yoga Unionarticle · 2026-04-14
- About Alison West - Yoga Unionarticle · 2026-04-14
- YOGA UNION Blogarticle · 2026-04-14
- Robert K. West Obituary - Worcester Telegramnews_article · 2026-04-14
- CU Boulder counselors publish book for engineering student wellness - University of Colorado Bouldernews_article · 2026-04-14
- Alison West Obituary March 17, 2026 - newcomerdayton.comnews_article · 2026-04-14