About Us
Thistle Yoga Therapy was born from both the symbolism of the resilient thistle plant—representing protection, humility, beauty, and strength—and a legacy of wisdom, courage, and character. Like the thistle itself, this practice honors the coexistence of tenderness and fortitude, rooted in heritage and guided by resilience. Here, every path, every moment of growth, and every lived experience becomes part of a shared space—one that honors the past, acknowledges the present, gently opening toward healing and transformation.
Meaning Behind the Name
Pictured here is Mildred Bell Thistle (1894–1929), my maternal great-grandmother. Born in Pennsylvania to a lineage of doctors, philanthropists, and merchants who emigrated from Scotland in the early 1700s—where the thistle is the national flower—she embodied curiosity and independence. A world traveler, she journeyed to places such as Japan, Egypt, and Brazil—often traveling alone at a time when such autonomy was rare for women.
From Spirit of Lineage to Living Practice. . .
Beyond the family name, the symbolism of the thistle aligns seamlessly with the practice and path of yoga.
There are hundreds of varieties of thistles across the world, most of which retain their signature features: prickly spines, spiky leaves, and delicate purple-hued flower heads. A symbol of pain and protection, beauty and resilience, the thistle mirrors the qualities often associated with the lotus, a flower deeply woven throughout the sacred texts of yoga.
A symbol of spiritual awakening and transformation, the lotus flower emerges from murky, muddy waters, reflecting the unfolding of consciousness. While the thistle blooms and thrives within its harsh, prickly environment boldly displaying a vibrant flower atop its resilient stem.
Though different in appearance and habitat, both plants embody resilience, teaching us how to transcend adversity and emerge with strength, clarity, and beauty.
Maggie McCuiston, MS, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500
Rooted in an ancestral lineage of medicine, service, and community, I carry a deep respect for healing as both science and sacred responsibility. From an early age, movement, music, and creativity shaped my world — influenced by my mother, a former art teacher, my father, a blues musician, and years of dedicated dance and music training.
My parents owned an antique store in a downtown shore town, where I spent countless hours curating display shelves and immersing myself in vintage clothing and textiles. Those early experiences cultivated a lifelong appreciation for fashion, texture, color, and the beauty of unique patterns — an aesthetic sensibility that continues to inform the way I see and support the unfolding of each individual’s path.
My comprehensive education led me to acceptance at the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ where I was first exposed to yoga when my voice teacher said it would help strengthen our breath for singing. After a year of intensive music study, I felt called to a broader exploration of the human experience and moved to Philadelphia to study Anthropology.
During this time, I discovered Reiki at a local yoga studio, igniting a deep fascination with the mind-body connection and the profound ways awareness of thought and energy can support healing. I began formal yoga teacher training in 2012 and soon joined one of the first cohorts at Maryland University of Integrative Health to complete my Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy.
Master of Science in Yoga Therapy
Received one of the first Master’s degrees in Yoga offered in the United States, awarded by Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Integrative Health (formerly Maryland University of Integrative Health)
Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT)
Credential from the International Association of Yoga Therapists, representing advanced training in yoga therapy, evidence-based practice, and professional standards for supporting healing and well-being.
B.A. in Anthropology
Completed degree from Temple University in Philadelphia studying the diversity of human experience and developing a lens to understand our unique stories, patterns, and connections that shape us.
Adjunct Faculty, Southern California University of Health Sciences (prior)
Developed and taught a graduate-level yoga research course for doctoral students pursuing careers in chiropractic care, integrating evidence-based yoga research with clinical application.
