Kali Basman is more than the founder of Kali Durga Yoga. The Colorado local, mother, partner and devoted Dharma student is the pioneer behind the integration of Buddhist psychology, internal family systems (IFS) therapy and yin yoga. These three bodies of thought intersect and manifest to heal trauma and optimally train the mind. She guides people from self-judgment to self-trust and from fragmentation to wholeness, inviting every individual to restore dignity back into a relationship with themselves.

Photos courtesy of Kali Basman

ONE-OF-A-KIND INTEGRATED WORK 

Basman holds a master’s degree in environmental public health from UCLA and certifications in IFS therapy, trauma-informed yoga and yin and restorative yoga. Her work evolved organically from lived experience, professional training and years of practice and teaching yoga. 

Think of Basman’s work as a formula, each element added together leads to an authentic life well-lived. Basman breaks down each element. First there is Buddhist psychology — a map of the mind teaching “us how to meet experience with awareness rather than reactivity,” Basman says. IFS therapy is a “therapeutic model that understands the psyche as composed of ‘parts,’ each carrying protective roles and wounds. At our core is self: a steady presence characterized by clarity, compassion, curiosity and calm.” The third essential element is yin yoga: the meditative practice targeting connective tissue, fascia, the meridian system, stillness and nervous system regulation. 

Often times, people understand their patterns on an intellectual level but remain stagnant psychologically and emotionally. “By working through the body, the nervous system and compassionate awareness, transformation becomes embodied rather than conceptual,” Basman explains. 

IGNITING LONGEVITY 

Basman believes longevity is not solely quantifiable. She views the word as a way, a continuity of vitality, clarity and presence. She shares that “it is the capacity to remain supple in the body, adaptable in the mind and open in the heart.” 

Her integrated work ignites longevity in a way that does not merely add years to a life. 

“Through Buddhist psychology, we cultivate equanimity and reduce suffering caused by grasping and aversion,” Basman says. “Through IFS, we reduce internal polarization and free the energy bound in protective patterns. Through yin yoga, we nourish connective tissues and regulate the stress response.” 

When asked what tips she has to inspire longevity using her work, Basman emphasized the following: 

• “Slow down enough to listen. Stillness is medicinal. 

• Befriend your nervous system through breath and long held, supported postures. 

• Meet inner parts with curiosity rather than criticism. 

• Align with seasonal rhythms instead of pushing against them. 

• Practice compassion — toward yourself and others — as a daily discipline.” 

Working alongside Basman is an immersive experience designed for deep transformation, blending ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic insight. Beyond leading weekly classes at Yoga Pod in Boulder, Colorado, she leads retreats and teacher trainings across the country and internationally. She also offers virtual practice bundles and online courses, including a twice-yearly IFS immersion.

kalibasman.com

Chloe Wasserstrom
Community Engagement Coordinator
@chlowass

Originally published in the summer + fall 2026 issue of Well.