Stephanie Adams Ruff, E-RYT 500, YACEP, CPT, CES

Stephanie Adams Ruff is an experienced yoga educator, program director, fitness expert, and author of the OncoVie™ Cancer and Yoga Handbook. She is the founder of both the Sustainable Asana Yoga Foundation (SAYF) and Flow Yoga Community in Hood River, Oregon — a pioneering space where evidence-based yoga meets compassionate care.

With more than 30 years of experience in yoga, fitness, and therapeutic movement, Stephanie has trained thousands of teachers and practitioners around the world in anatomy, biomechanics, trauma-informed teaching, and sustainable practice design. She holds advanced credentials including:

• E-RYT 500 and YACEP through Yoga Alliance
• Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
• Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) through NASM
• CETI-Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist (OncoVie™)
• SAYF founder

In 2023, Stephanie underwent and recovered from two biopsies and a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy — a life-altering experience that profoundly deepened her understanding of healing, vulnerability, and the body’s innate intelligence. This journey brought even greater authenticity and empathy to her teaching, allowing her to connect with students and survivors navigating illness, uncertainty, and recovery.

Stephanie’s work integrates classical yoga philosophy with contemporary movement science, emphasizing progressive cueing, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed awareness. Her approach invites students to explore movement as medicine — a partnership between breath, awareness, and the body’s capacity to adapt and heal.

Through her programs and mentorship, Stephanie champions yoga that is gentle yet powerful, scientifically grounded yet soulful, and above all, sustainable. She teaches that yoga is not about performance — it’s about relationship: to breath, to body, and to life itself. Her mission is to make yoga safer, more accessible, and deeply restorative for all bodies, especially those facing the challenges of cancer recovery and chronic disease.