Yoga Therapy
Help Along the Way
Many of us who practice yoga, especially in the west, have become accustomed to bobbing along benefiting by general practices found in books/online and/or in group classes. We may seek and get guidance, often very helpful, from teachers and fellow practitioners on how yoga may help this or that. I’ve been asked many a times at the end of class ‘do you have something to help my _______’ you fill in the blank. And yes, there are general suggestions or experiences that help some of the time, but how about we inquire into how can you prevent it in the first place, or how it’s effected by your sleep, or disharmony at home or work influence underlying tension. These are just some examples somewhat centered around our physical structure and remember we are more than our muscles and bones.
sometimes we need more than compass and a map
A yoga therapist can add a different perspective on how to navigate our practice, which can offer the stability, courage, or gentleness that supports us in reaching our goals, maybe avoid a washed out bend in the trail, catch the meadow at peak bloom, or realize we come alive in water vs. climbing mountains.
✦ improve focus ✦ be more present with family ✦ adjust habits ✦ prioritize creativity ✦ grieve ✦ rejoice ✦ feel better ✦ rest ✦ what’s yours?
Feelings
When we ‘feel good’ physically it can influence our emotions and feelings. Our emotions or thoughts can in turn influence how we feel in the body. Is our posture because our back hurts or is our posture because we are sad? When we are sad or uninspired we may slump. When we slump, it’s harder to breathe, when it’s harder to breathe, our body has to work harder for less of a return and it can tire us out. Another example I often give is just think about an ice cream headache or a knock on the funny bone- there’s a near immediate reaction.
Remember, yoga is a practice to support and help integrate, actually reintegrate, our whole being.
Maybe may know you like yoga. You remember how it felt when you first practiced - the ease in your shoulders, the joy of your first backbend, the peace of mind, the new friends. And yet, now, when you practice you keep meeting resistance or there’s less joy in your day. For some of us, people recommend yoga to help us with ____________(fill in the blank)- pictures make it look impossible, we try a video or a meditation app and we end up feeling worse. One, you aren’t alone in this human experience.Others have been there before and some are there right now and really there is no there - only here and now. ;) Two, yoga is a multifaceted practice with you at the center. The components, the sequencing, the pacing, all play a role in our daily routine, reflections in meditation, and other supportive actions. Three, while yoga will not prevent challenges, loss, or pain it can assist us in living with less resistance or suffering and support us in optimizing each day. We learn the subtleties of ‘listening to ourself’ without simply repeating habits and patterns of being or moving that keep us from moving forward.
As a yoga therapist I bring 30 years of experience and education to support you. As a yoga practitioner myself, I know first hand what has helped or challenged myself to move towards physical/emotional alignment and what has perpetuated distractions. Practicing alongside and teaching people of all ages, who started yoga at different phases of life, and under different circumstances has inspired and informed my studies. As a teacher I learned what worked for many-but not all, how there are different ways and timelines of learning, and that sometimes the answers lead to more questions, and many times those questions are best addressed outside of yoga.* Yoga therapy is both a culmination and continuation of practice, study, and applications to assist in alleviating the challenges we all face.
*and once yoga is realized as lifestyle and not a practice a few times a week - nothing is outside yoga.
