WHAT IS YOGA THERAPY?Through the use of yogic tools and contemporary best practices, the Yoga Therapist focuses on individual assessment and client goals to help an individual improve and maintain optimized health. It enables individuals to manage a health condition, reduce symptoms, restore balance, increase vitality, and improve mental attitude.
To accomplish this, Yoga Therapy uses the Panchamaya Kosha Model. The Panchamaya Kosha model analyzes the individual through the five Koshas (layers) of the body. This multidimensional system includes the physical, energy/breath, mental/emotional, wisdom/intuition and bliss layers. The Panchamaya Kosha Model suggests that the human system is interconnected and functions optimally when there is a state of balance between the layers. Yoga Therapy applies these principles to support an individual’s physical, emotional and mental well-being. |
The International Association of Yoga Therapists defines Yoga Therapy as the “professional application of the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and yoga practices for individuals or small groups.”
Some examples of conditions that benefit from Yoga Therapy include physical pain (back pain, shoulder injuries, chronic pain, fibromyalgia), anxiety disorders, cancer support, trauma, insomnia, depression, and arthritis, just to name a few. Yoga therapy is an extremely useful and helpful adjunct to Western medicine. |
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR FIRST CONSULTATION
1. Prior to your first appoint, you will complete Intake Forms. The intake form is a questionnaire that gathers information of current/past medical history, lifestyle habits and desired goals.
2. During the First Visit, we will complete:
3. When you leave, you will be emailed a Take-Home Practice. It is short sequence specific to client's needs and goals. The practice may include postures, breathing exercises, mediations, visualizations, journaling exercises and/or other helpful practices that can easily be completed at home and help establish healthy practices.
Some of my areas of concentration include PTSD, Healthy Pregnancy and Delivery (Prenatal and Postnatal Concerns), Geriatrics and Healthy Aging, Cancer (Patient and Survivor Support), Managing Chronic Pain, and Healthy Caregiver Strategies.
2. During the First Visit, we will complete:
- A Breath Assessment. This is a close review an analysis of your current breathing patterns.
- A Postural Assessment. This is a complete review of body posture. This may be evaluated through the observation of posture or with the use of various yoga postures.
- A Musculoskeletal Assessment. This is an evaluation of muscle weakness/strength/tightness and basic range of motion. This may be evaluated through the use of various muscle tests or yoga postures.
- A Therapeutic Yoga Session. You will be led through a Yoga Therapy session based on your goals and assessment.
3. When you leave, you will be emailed a Take-Home Practice. It is short sequence specific to client's needs and goals. The practice may include postures, breathing exercises, mediations, visualizations, journaling exercises and/or other helpful practices that can easily be completed at home and help establish healthy practices.
Some of my areas of concentration include PTSD, Healthy Pregnancy and Delivery (Prenatal and Postnatal Concerns), Geriatrics and Healthy Aging, Cancer (Patient and Survivor Support), Managing Chronic Pain, and Healthy Caregiver Strategies.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE PROCESS
THE SCOPE OF MY PRACTICEI work with individuals using the tools of Yoga Therapy to encourage healing. I will only utilize Yoga Therapy tools with which I am trained to help increase your well-being. Since Yoga Therapy is not a licensed healthcare profession in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I do not and cannot diagnose a medical or psychological condition.
It is my responsibility to ensure the safety of a client at all times and to refer to a more appropriate practitioner when a client seeks care for conditions that cannot be appropriately addressed within the Scope of Yoga Therapy. My ultimate duty is to create a space where healing is most possible. Therefore, I will make sure we are utilizing all tools at our disposal, and that may include a greater network of healing professionals. |
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?The relationship between Yoga Therapist and client is an important one. However, you have the most important role in the healing process. Once you and I have decided on a course of action, you begin learning practices to help with your condition. You will have an active role in any home practice.
I ask that you make every effort to engage in that practice. If you find you are unable to do the work, for whatever reason, please communicate with me so that we can collaborate on ways your home practice, and our time together, might improve. Your valuable feedback enables me to adjust the tools and meet your therapeutic needs. |