Tara O’Donoghue’s journey into yoga therapy began not in a serene studio but in the raw chaos of caregiving. In 2009, her first husband, Nate Picklo, was diagnosed with cancer, thrusting her into a world of hospital rooms, endless appointments and the emotional weight of watching someone she loved fight a relentless disease. During this time, Picklo encouraged her to pursue yoga teacher training to nurture herself amidst the turmoil. This decision would later become the cornerstone of her healing work.
O’Donoghue has rebuilt her life with her second husband, Ryan O’Donoghue, and their daughter, Marley. As a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and trauma-informed Yoga Therapist (TIYT, C-IAYT) with over 1,200 hours of accredited training, she guides others through the labyrinth of survivorship. Her philosophy? “Grow through what I go through.” She holds this mantra rooted in resilience and the belief that healing is not about erasing pain. Integrating it into a new sense of self is the objective.
Photos courtesy of Tara O’Donoghue
THE LAYERED APPROACH TO HEALING
For those newly diagnosed, O’Donoghue offers a radical simplicity. Wherever they may be, she invites them to pause, feel their feet on the ground, lengthen their spine and take a conscious first breath. As the exhale surpasses the length of the inhale, muscles relax to allow the earth to cradle oneself.
Once in remission, a cancer patient may feel they have “rung the bell” and smooth sailing is ahead. O’Donoghue knows that is not the case. Cancer survivors will be navigating trials for life due to the effects of medications and complications. This phase is marked by the parasympathetic nervous system’s dysregulation, PTSD and the disorienting reality of an unfamiliar body. Survivors may grapple with friend loss, a new identity and suppressed grief challenges that linger.
Her trauma-informed lens shifts the focus inward: Reach in, not outside of, self. In a society that often numbs or distracts, O’Donoghue’s work counters dissociation by fostering connection with the body’s wisdom. This approach addresses the nervous system’s imbalances of depression, anxiety or rage to replace it with regulation.
Beginning with breathwork to downshift the nervous system, we access heart-centered intuition. Based on the idea that motion is lotion, movement follows as fitness which soothes physical and emotional pain. For one stage-four breast cancer survivor, weekly sessions over a year transformed her journey. She learned to manage pain, reclaim agency and eventually earn her own yoga certification for a new career. “Tara’s sessions helped me tap into potential I thought I’d lost,” the survivor shares.
ADVENTURE HEALING WITH FIRST DESCENTS
O’Donoghue’s work extends beyond studios to outdoor adventures with First Descents (FD), an organization that takes young adults impacted by cancer and serious health conditions on transformative journeys. Leading the mindfulness programming for the nonprofit, she curates a community where survivors confront trauma and grief collectively.
Mindfulness involves cultivating awareness of the present, observing experiences without judgement. While joy often anchors us, self-criticism arises when we encounter emotions like sadness, anxiety or frustration. With consistent effort we can transform awareness into actionable insight.
Participants surf, climb and kayak. O’Donoghue’s mindfulness curriculum includes yoga, grounding techniques and body scans, tools survivors use during challenging and stressful moments. Imagine ascending a rock face, adrenaline pumping as you navigate holds. Suddenly, you realize you are sky-high and anxiety grips you. Your breath catches and muscles tense. With mindfulness tools, you assess if the fear aligns with actual danger. With a calmed nervous system, you move on with intention instead of panic.
Beyond the live programming, The FD Mindfulness Series is an online library of video resources that teaches mindfulness through breathing exercises, therapeutic movements and meditations to support the participants forever. The short segments and classes, led by FD alumni and staff, offer joyful flashbacks to past program adventures.
THE HEALING ADVENTURE CONTINUES
Redefining survivorship is an ongoing journey. “You don’t always get to choose how life goes,” O’Donoghue says, “but part of the adventure is learning to navigate with people who understand.” Her approach weaves breath, movement and community into a tapestry of love.
For O’Donoghue, yoga is not just a practice but a spiritual act. “Yoga is for everyone,” she says. “Posture is not the point. It’s how we embrace the movement — how we connect with ourselves.” Survivors like Marieve Bonin attest to this: “Tara’s sessions have been a godsend in my recovery.”
Her vision to build a healing community is clear: healing thrives in connection. Her company Lov Yoga’s prenatal and postpartum yoga further expands this vision, addressing life’s cyclical transformations.
Through her work, O’Donoghue transforms isolation into collective strength, reminding us that healing is not about erasing scars but wearing them as badges of resilience. You are still inside the body. It’s remembering who you are.
Editor’s Note: We are deeply saddened to share that Ryan O’Donoghue passed away after this story was written. We extend our love and heartfelt condolences to Tara and Marley.
