What is Mind-Body or Yoga Therapy?
Have you ever had emotions arise unexpectedly during yoga?
Experiencing emotions arise during our yoga practice is common, and even expected. This can happen through any type of movement, however we may notice it more during yoga because we are paying attention and in a quiet state. Deeply embedded memories are stored in our body.
As we move, breathe, and stretch our bodies, our energy channels are opened, and unprocessed emotions can manifest. An effective yoga class can move us just as deeply on an emotional level as it can on a physical level.
We store these emotions and memories in our physical body by holding tension in certain areas. These areas most commonly include the hips, back, shoulders, neck, jaw, and chest. You may have noticed a welling up of emotion as you do a heart opening pose, for example. Or as you move inward into Child’s Pose.
When we surrender into a pose, some of the stored energy may be released, resulting in tears, sadness, fear, anger, or frustration. If we stick with the surfacing emotions, and give them the opportunity to manifest, we can gain great insights and understanding. This can be key to gaining clarity and finding more ease and peace in our lives.
The asanas are designed to affect our subtle body so that we can experience a spiritual transformation. Many people start practicing yoga for physical fitness, but ultimately see that spiritual development can occur. As we bring awareness inside the body, we can feel things that lie under the surface of ordinary awareness.
By working with what comes up during our yoga practice, we can gain information regarding long-standing patters and blockages, that when explored, can offer profound insights and healing.
A Yoga Therapy approach to healing and wellness adapts the various means and methods of Yoga practice to the unique condition, needs and interests of each individual. Each practitioner receives tools for personalizing the process of self-discovery, thus establishing genuine transformation.
Call or email me to discuss further. I'd be honored to work with you.
As we move, breathe, and stretch our bodies, our energy channels are opened, and unprocessed emotions can manifest. An effective yoga class can move us just as deeply on an emotional level as it can on a physical level.
We store these emotions and memories in our physical body by holding tension in certain areas. These areas most commonly include the hips, back, shoulders, neck, jaw, and chest. You may have noticed a welling up of emotion as you do a heart opening pose, for example. Or as you move inward into Child’s Pose.
When we surrender into a pose, some of the stored energy may be released, resulting in tears, sadness, fear, anger, or frustration. If we stick with the surfacing emotions, and give them the opportunity to manifest, we can gain great insights and understanding. This can be key to gaining clarity and finding more ease and peace in our lives.
The asanas are designed to affect our subtle body so that we can experience a spiritual transformation. Many people start practicing yoga for physical fitness, but ultimately see that spiritual development can occur. As we bring awareness inside the body, we can feel things that lie under the surface of ordinary awareness.
By working with what comes up during our yoga practice, we can gain information regarding long-standing patters and blockages, that when explored, can offer profound insights and healing.
A Yoga Therapy approach to healing and wellness adapts the various means and methods of Yoga practice to the unique condition, needs and interests of each individual. Each practitioner receives tools for personalizing the process of self-discovery, thus establishing genuine transformation.
Call or email me to discuss further. I'd be honored to work with you.
Subscribe to my monthly newsletter
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Customized for you. The impact of your injury, illness, tightness, pain, strain, condition, stress, trauma, or (physical, mental, emotional) concern is unique to you. My approach is to understand your background, assess your movement and design a yoga practice specific to helping you meet your goals and intentions.
Your body can change. It doesn’t matter how big, small, old or young you are. With the appropriate combination of exercises, movements and breathing techniques, every body can experience an improvement in function and a reduction or elimination of pain/tension and stress.
Don’t force. The less you force the faster you will get well. Those who “let go” of forcing are the ones who not only get out of pain the fastest - their strength and stability also improve the quickest.
Yoga Therapy sessions are taught on a 1-on-1 basis in order to select tools from the practice of yoga to provide the means to bring out the best in each practitioner. To do this, I require an understanding of a person's present condition, personal potential, appropriate goals and the means available. Just as every person is different, these aspects will vary with each individual.
Yoga therapy is a personalized approach to relieving your pain, improving your flexibility, enhancing your strength and developing the ability of becoming relaxed and connected to what is important to you.
Based on your current state of wellness, a personalized practice of yoga postures, meditation and breathing techniques is designed specific to your needs and goals. During your session, I will guide you through your program, helping you progress at the pace that suits you best.
Based on your current state of wellness, a personalized practice of yoga postures, meditation and breathing techniques is designed specific to your needs and goals. During your session, I will guide you through your program, helping you progress at the pace that suits you best.
THE BENEFITS OF A THERAPEUTIC YOGA PRACTICE
Since the practice of Yoga Therapy is modified to suit the individual, the person does not need to meet any requirements of fitness, age, or health in order to start a therapeutic process. Almost everyone would benefit from Yoga Therapy, regardless of his or her medical condition.
What makes Yoga Therapy so beneficial is its ability to affect all levels of the human system.
By practicing Yoga therapeutically, the student not only feels better, but also gains a way to actively participate in the care of his or her own health. Common benefits experienced by many students include: improvement in quality of sleep, elimination of pain, and reduction in stress. Medically speaking, you will be educated in how to support the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn supports your homeostasis, healing and overall wellness.
Physiological
Psychological
Physical
Other Benefits
Since the practice of Yoga Therapy is modified to suit the individual, the person does not need to meet any requirements of fitness, age, or health in order to start a therapeutic process. Almost everyone would benefit from Yoga Therapy, regardless of his or her medical condition.
What makes Yoga Therapy so beneficial is its ability to affect all levels of the human system.
By practicing Yoga therapeutically, the student not only feels better, but also gains a way to actively participate in the care of his or her own health. Common benefits experienced by many students include: improvement in quality of sleep, elimination of pain, and reduction in stress. Medically speaking, you will be educated in how to support the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn supports your homeostasis, healing and overall wellness.
Physiological
- Increase circulation (especially peripheral)
- Improve digestion
- Improve immunity
- Increase distal sensation
- Increase amount of O2 in blood
- Regulate heart rate
- Regulate blood pressure
- Regulate respiratory rate
Psychological
- Increase emotional stability
- Increase confidence
- Reduce depression
- Reduce panic attacks and anxiety
- Reduce fear
- Increase level of alertness and sharpness of mind
- Acceptance of limitations
- Eliminate insomnia
- Improve quality of sleep
- Promote relaxation
- Improve quality of relationships
- Assist with weight loss
- Promote healthy food habits (less emphasis on sugar, caffeine)
- Promote healthy life habits (decrease craving for alcohol, smoking)
Physical
- Decrease pain
- Increase ease of breathing
- Improve ease of movement
- Improve joint mobility
- Decrease risk of falls
- Improve spine / joint stability
- Increase strength and flexibility
Other Benefits
- Reducing pain and discomfort, overcoming physical or emotional trauma, and recovering from illness, injury, addiction, or other health concerns
- Reducing stress, overcoming depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma, and helping to manage and deal with life-threatening illness.
- Maintaining current health and well being, preventing illness or injury, and increasing flexibility and strength including preparing for, or complementing an existing health maintenance or fitness program
- Personal and/or spiritual growth. In the case of spiritual growth, we feel it is important to note that the course followed would be initiated by the student's own interest and complimentary your personal spiritual practices, beliefs, and preferences.
Location |
What Clients Are Saying
|