What is Yoga Therapy?
I believe we are all capable of living our vitality every day. Sometimes we forget how or it just takes a little reminder how to tap into our true nature. Suffering in life occurs when we feel lost and disconnected self or source. Yoga Therapy can be a guide toward rediscovering that spark that is already within.
Yoga therapy is a customizable process of exploration that leads to realization. It is yoga from the inside out that brings balance and overall wellness to the body, mind and soul. Through goal setting, intake and assessment, a specific plan is custom tailored to addresses physical, mental and emotional needs of each individual or group. The use of yogic tools and principles such as mindful movement, asana (postures & stretches), breath-work, meditation and self reflection, are applied to create consistent routines and a hOMe practice.
Yoga therapy can also help with the following life challenges: anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, cancer and other serious illnesses, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, addiction, injury recovery and chronic pain. It may sound like yoga experience is necessary however none is needed. I believe that everyone can do yoga and benefit from this practice if it’s taught in a supportive, therapeutic way that honors specific needs and goals. Yoga therapy teaches that yoga is for everybody! Together we find the joy or bliss that is inside through unwinding Samskaras, or energetic knots of stored stress, grief, trauma and pain.
According to the International Association of Yoga Therapists, IAYT, yoga therapy is defined 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.
My Path to Yoga Therapy…
For me, practicing yoga has revolved around hardship. Even though I had practiced yoga on and off since college, I truly found yoga when my first husband, Nate, was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. I was 26 at the time and goodness, I wish I had found this transformational practice of finding balance so much sooner!
Honestly, I don’t remember what drew me toward my first class. I think it was convenience because the little studio was a 2 min walk from our condo. I do remember that it was a sweaty power vinyasa class, although ironically I rarely practice in hot rooms anymore or use yoga as a “workout” these days. At the time though, it was winter and I needed to move, sweat and feel the burn. I was able to leave my worries of caregiving at the door which led to a peaceful presence as though the intense fire inside finally fizzled.
Caregiving was rough. It was also an honor to go through such a challenging time with Nate as his confidant, the person he trusted most with his life. This didn’t rest lightly for me as I felt I needed to make everything just right while also taking care of our business which we normally ran together.
I needed an efficient way to move, breathe and cleanse the anxiety and fear from my aura so I could be positive and present for Nate. Yoga gave me this and more. I also realized it connected me to a spiritual current and reignited the passion for prayer and trust in God during this difficult time.
Nate recovered and we went on to live 6 years of busy life running 2 coffee shops and racing bikes. Yoga stayed part of my life, however it began to look different. I couldn’t keep burning the candle at both ends because the fizzle was turning back into a sizzle. So I learned to slow down, embrace restorative and yin yoga and slow flow.
When Nate was re-diagnosed in 2015, I began a teacher training while caretaking to dive down the rabbit hole of yoga. My practice helped me through not only this bout with cancer but also my grieving process after Nate passed away.
Yoga Therapy became my next pursuit because I wanted to learn how to help others who were suffering from grief, cancer, trauma, infertility, chronic pain and injury recovery. These are all struggles I have experienced in life and my yoga practice has been the guiding light to help me through. I believe I can only help others to the extent in which I helped myself.
During the 3 year program at Inner Peace, I quickly realized that the learning process was fully immersive. I had to face my own skeletons and uproot stored grief and trauma that I didn’t realize existed. In yoga we call these energetic knots that get stuck in the crevices of the body, Samskaras. Apparently I had a lot of Samskaras to slowly unravel and am still working through them today.
With the right support we can grow through what we go through. Will you join me in Living Our Vitality?I’m here to walk with you teaching therapeutic tools that can help you LOV and live life fully.
