With over 30 years of teaching experience, Dr. N. Raine O’Connor is a seasoned ambassador of breathing, yoga, and Pilates, and a doctor of physical therapy.
In 1987, Raine quit smoking 2-3 packs of cigarettes a day and transformed her sedentary, self-sabotaging lifestyle into a life that is active and fulfilling.
She credits her makeover to practicing Lifestyle Medicine: weaving meditation, yoga, and Pilates techniques into her daily life. She’s helped countless people fulfill their goals ranging from aging well, healing and preventing injuries, excelling at sports, and enjoying their lives more fully.
Her dedicated practice of Lifestyle Medicine has led to her excelling at sports; at age 43 she ran her first marathon in 3 hours and 43 minutes to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
“Natazha [Raine] is my favorite PT. She is kind, passionate, professional, and extremely capable. After three pregnancies, I had serious problems with sciatica. I started seeing her and went from sharp pain every time I sat down to getting back to my regular spinning classes. I’ve also been able to do HIT training and weight lifting since Natazha [Raine] was able to collaborate with my trainer to improve my form.
She supported my health and fitness goals by teaching me stretching, core strength training, and posture. Her expertise expands beyond her PT field, attending her classes is a holistic lifestyle learning experience.”
- Dokleida K. MD
From transforming her own life, to helping others do the same
Raine turned her lifestyle around in 1993 when she started teaching yoga. Since then, she has synthesized 30 years of practicing and teaching meditation, yoga, Pilates, sports conditioning, and Physical Therapy into her Lifestyle Medicine practice. Dr. O’Connor earned her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco State, and is a certified yoga and Pilates instructor.
Her favorite exercise partner is the frigid San Francisco Bay where she enjoys rowing and swimming without a wetsuit. The sea demands she raises her consciousness to safely navigate its notoriously unpredictable, strong currents.
“What I learned working with Natazha [Raine] one on one and in groups over the subsequent four years was how to strengthen the body through posture and Pilates, and the spirit through calming breath. She helped me not only repair my injured parts but to regain a sense of wellbeing and peace after a traumatic life experience. She was able to shepherd me from a scared and skinny post-trauma patient to a confident, strong, and balanced person who can mountain bike, hike, and work at full capacity.”
-Renee Howard, MD
Professional Credentials & Training
Doctorate in Physical Therapy, UCSF 2011: Specialties: Lower back pain, chronic pain, arthritis, post-surgery conditioning, scoliosis, neurological disorders, Gait Training, Sports Performance
Renowned Kaiser Permanent program in Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF): Hands-on technique that retrains breathing, postural, and movement patterns
Certified Pilates Instructor: All levels and all apparatus
Certified Yoga Instructor: Yin and Acupressure Therapeutic Yoga. Studied extensively Iyengar, Kripalu, Bikram, Integral, Kundalini, Anusara, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga.
Certified Fitness Trainer and Running Coach
Formal Meditation Training: Zen, Vipassana, Berkeley Psychic Institute Running Energy, HeartMath, Biofeedback, Method Acting Techniques
ChiRunning Six-Month Marathon Training Program: Featured on ChiRunning Video
“On my recent European vacation, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my endurance and strength. For the first time in years, I managed my own luggage and my back and neck didn’t ache when I stood for hours in museums. Plus I can do planks….a real victory! Natazha [Raine]’s classes get the credit. Her classes are grounded in scientific research and she knows just how hard to push. I wouldn’t go anywhere else!”
– Carol Fox