Work with Crystal

Crystal is a dedicated trauma-informed yoga teacher, Certified Grief Educator, and Certified Grief Movement Guide committed to creating safe spaces for healing. Through somatic movement and compassionate support, she guides individuals on a journey toward reconnection and restorative well-being.

Cohabitating_with_Grief_Crystal_Dalton_770 (1).jpg

Crystal's Journey

I had been practicing yoga as a student for about 15 years when I made the decision to participate in a Women’s Wellness retreat in 2018 that changed my life. It was there that I met like-minded people and began to feel that I connected with my people, my tribe. The following year, several women from the Women’s Wellness retreat and I attended a Yoga & Wellness Retreat in Costa Rica. This experience left an indelible mark on my life and my soul. Surrounded by the lush jungles and beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, I learned more about yoga, Reiki and other holistic healing modalities which nurtured my whole Self. I found the yogic practices healing to my body, mind, and spirit. The COVID-19 pandemic offered an opportunity for deep self-reflection, and it was during this time that I decided to become a yoga teacher. I completed my yoga teacher training (YTT) through My Vinyasa Practice in October 2020.

Becoming a yoga teacher felt like a natural transition for me, given my educational and professional background. It has always been important to me to listen deeply to those I am serving and make connections to what you may need based on organic conversations. I believe in nourishing the body by creating a safe space to slow down, truly rest and go inward. I understand that life can be busy and pull you in many different directions which often causes a disconnect from your body, mind and spirit. Therefore, I am passionate about fostering an environment dedicated to prioritizing slowing down and reconnecting through movement and breath. I believe there is no “perfect” or “right way” to practice yoga and that yoga is for all bodies no matter the shape, size and ability.

After the unexpected death of my mother in 2021, I decided to focus my attention on sharing yoga and holistic healing with the community. An integral part of this journey was finding tools to help me navigate the unfamiliar, and oftentimes, misunderstood nuances of grief. Although I had many people supporting me, I noticed that it was difficult for folks to do so. Fear of saying the wrong thing or causing me to cry were at the forefront of their minds.

Through my own loss, I realized that our culture doesn’t provide adequate space for talking about death, dying and grief. As a result, people in our community are unprepared and ill-equipped to handle it, whether for themselves or in supporting others. This is one of the primary reasons I have decided to turn my pain into purpose by becoming a Certified Grief Educator, trained by David Kessler. This certification, many years of professionally serving survivors of traumatic grief, my integration of holistic healing practices, and my personal journey with grief allows for a unique, interdisciplinary, and well-informed approach to serving those who are grieving.

My intention is to change the narrative around grieving and help serve others experiencing grief through education and support. I hope to create an abundance of space to normalize talking about death, dying and grief, which in turn may help to create a community where people can easily find the support they are seeking. What you are feeling and experiencing is normal; there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to grieve. There is nothing wrong with you and your grief is not a problem to be solved. I see you and I support you and it would be an honor to walk with you on this journey.

Specialized Education & Professional Training

Crystal has been trained in a collection of clinical and somatic certifications dedicated to trauma-informed care, grief advocacy, and restorative wellness. Each training informs a compassionate, evidence-based approach to healing.

Certified Grief Educator

Extensive training with world-renowned expert David Kessler, this certification is a compassionate, expert‑led training that equips practitioners with the knowledge and tools to support individuals navigating loss. The program blends grief education, practical guidance, and heart‑centered approaches, helping wellness professionals offer grounded, informed, and empathetic care and provide compassionate advocacy for those navigating loss.

Certified Grief Movement Guide

A Certified Grief Movement Guide facilitates gentle, body-based somatic practices that allow individuals to honor and move through pain within a safe, trauma-informed environment. These specialized techniques help people reconnect with their physical selves to find restorative healing and process loss with compassion.

Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga Certification

Trauma-informed, survivor-centered training focused on trauma theory, somatic and breathing practices, grounding and pacing, consent and boundaries, safety planning, language and cueing, appropriate sequencing, and referral/ethical protocols to.

200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher

Foundational Yoga Alliance certification covering anatomy, philosophy, and the safe instruction of Hatha and Vinyasa yoga practices.

Trauma-Informed Yoga

Specialized 40-hour certification focusing on the intersection of yoga, neuroscience, and somatic experiencing to support survivors of trauma in safe, grounded environments.

Restorative Yoga

40-hour restorative yoga certification focused on gentle, fully supported postures, nervous system regulation, and creating safe, deeply restful spaces for healing.

Yoga Nidra Certification

40- hour advanced training in the art of conscious sleep/yogic sleep, enabling the facilitation of deep relaxation techniques that address insomnia, anxiety, and long-term stress.

Prenatal Yoga

40-hour prenatal yoga certification centered on safe, functional movement, breath, and relaxation for pregnancy. Training covers trimester-specific modifications, pelvic floor support, and nurturing, body-affirming practices for expectant parents.

College Education

Bachelors Degree in Sociology: Social Welfare Concentration, Minor in Women's Studies.

Masters Degree in Adminstration of Justice

Kind Words

"Walking into Crystal’s space felt like finally being allowed to breathe again. Her trauma-informed guidance didn’t just shift my practice; it held my heart. Through her gentle wisdom, I learned that healing isn’t about perfect poses, but about coming home to myself with radical kindness. I’ve rediscovered a profound peace that I thought was lost forever."

- Jen P., yoga for trauma survivors client

"Working with Crystal has been a steady, comforting light in one of the hardest seasons of my life. As a grief educator, she holds space with such deep grace and gentle warmth, so the heavy road of loss no longer feels like something I have to walk alone.

After a devastating loss, I had no idea where to turn. With Crystal, I felt truly seen, validated, and understood—and never rushed or pressured to ‘move on’ from my grief. She helped me recognize the many ways grief can show up, offered thoughtful resources, and gently shifted how I relate to loss. I am deeply and profoundly grateful for her support."

-Jennifer E., Grief support client