What is therapeutic yoga?
Therapeutic yoga is a combination of restorative yoga poses (where the body is supported with yoga props), gentle stretching, breathing exercises, sound therapy, aromatherapy and more. The practice is designed to heal and restore the body and mind.
Anyone can practice therapeutic yoga: you don’t need to be flexible, you don’t need to be able to stand on your head, and you don’t have to wear a certain type of pants to practice.
Yoga teaches us emotional intelligence, gives us the ability to watch our reactions, and trains us to be kinder people.
It’s not a selfish practice, even in private one-on-one sessions. If anything, yoga is the opposite—it teaches us compassion, awareness of others, and listening skills.
Most importantly, it teaches us to be present in our own lives.
If you’re battling illness or dealing with an injury, you’ll usually feel stress—fear manifested in the body.
We all feel this stress/fear at times in our lives, but it seems that when we feel weak or overwhelmed, it is more present.
Therapeutic yoga teaches you to confront those fears, rather than hide from them or stuff them down. Together we’ll use stillness and our breath to gain insight about our feelings and experience them fully, without trying to change or run from them.
With regular practice, you’ll be able to recognize the potential of your body—however physically limited—to heal you and make you stronger. You’ll also learn patience, both with your yoga practice and ultimately with yourself.
When you begin to accept what you’re feeling, whether it is fear or any other intense emotion, you’ll come to view emotions as a natural part of your being, and will be better able to embrace your true feelings moment by moment. You’ll come to honor each emotion and realize that there is a reason for what you feel; there is a higher intelligence at work guiding you through life.
It takes energy to avoid feeling emotion—and there is a direct connection to feeling exhausted from this emotional suppression. When you release into feeling your emotions, tremendous energy is freed within; your body can then channel that energy into healing on a deep cellular level. Allowing the fullness of your true feelings to emerge and be felt will help you move into greater balance in many aspects of your life. As you come into stillness, you’ll be more able to hear the guidance of your inner voice and begin to restore.
When you practice one-on-one therapeutic yoga with me, you’ll have the time and space to relax into the postures, while listening to the wisdom which guides healing from within. The postures themselves will help your body release accumulated tension by deeply stretching the muscles and connective tissue. And the process of deep breathing will guide you into a profound, relaxed, and stress-free state.
As your body is cared for, new energy will flow, and your body will begin to heal itself.
What are the benefits of therapeutic yoga?
- Increases flexibility
- Improves joint and bone health
- Boosts immune, circulatory and organ function
- Calms the nervous system to reduce stress
- Quiets the mind
- Strengthens mind-body connection
- Teaches mindfulness and present moment awareness
- Tones muscles and deeply stretches out tension
- Increases lung capacity
- Encourages well-being and health
- Encourages spiritual growth and inner peace
- Boosts mood and overall mental health
How can private therapeutic yoga sessions help you?
When practicing therapeutic yoga, you’ll have time and space to relax into the postures, while listening to the wisdom which guides healing from within. The postures themselves will help your body release accumulated tension by deeply stretching your muscles and connective tissue.
The process of deep breathing will guide you into a profound, relaxed, and stress-free state. It is said that the breath is the bridge that connects the body and mind. By allowing the breath to flow freely, we allow the life force to flow throughout the body, removing stuck energy, emotions or blocks buried within the cells, creating a space for healing.
As you begin to care for your body and practice proper breath control, new energy will flow through you, and you’ll receive tremendous vitality for healing.
How are these yoga sessions different from what you find at local yoga studios?
Private sessions with me are one-on-one, so there is no need to worry about rushing to class, trying to find a parking spot (or a place to put your mat), being judged by the 22-year-old behind you, or any of the other hassles that come with yoga in a large studio.
When you book a session with me, we’ll work to find a time that’s right for you. Then I’ll guide you through yoga in the privacy and comfort of your own space, whenever it makes the most sense for you.
Sessions with me are all about you and your needs. Because you’ll be the only student, you’ll have 100% of my attention, knowledge, and expertise at your disposal. My sole purpose is to make you feel better by designing and helping you through a plan that is catered specifically to you, so you may experience healing through yoga — at your own speed and on your own terms.
When you make the commitment to healing with therapeutic yoga, we will create a strategic plan that is right for you and your needs — and I’ll be with you every step of the way — showing you how to do the poses properly and helping you walk through the door to healing.
One gentle word of advice, however: your progress will depend on your commitment to your health and well-being and your willingness to let go of old beliefs and limiting thought patterns. A positive attitude is a must. What do you have to lose, besides your pain and suffering?