"Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of Yoga."
- IAYT Educational Standards for the Training of Yoga Therapists
- IAYT Educational Standards for the Training of Yoga Therapists
Integrative Yoga Therapy Ten Step Process
PRIVATE SESSION FORMAT
OPENING
1. Intake / Check-In
2. Body Awareness
3. Initial Sharing
PRACTICE
4. Breath Awareness / Initial Pranayama / Mudras
5. Warm-Ups
6. Asana
INTEGRATION
7. Yoga Nidra / Guided Imagery
8. Silent Relaxation
9. Mudra / Pranayama / Meditation
COMPLETION
10. Final Sharing and Affirmation
THERAPEUTIC GROUP CLASS FORMAT
OPENING
1. Intake / Check-In
2. Theme / Intention / Education
3. Body Awareness
PRACTICE
4. Breath Awareness / Initial Pranayama / Mudras
5. Warm-Ups
6. Asana
INTEGRATION
7. Yoga Nidra / Guided Imagery
8. Silent Relaxation
9. Mudra / Pranayama / Meditation
COMPLETION
10. Final Sharing and Affirmation
BOOK A THERAPEUTIC YOGA WORKSHOP
Wishes and Wants: The Transformative Power of the Bija Mantras
Are you dissatisfied or unfulfilled? Do you feel stuck or blocked? Do you want to make changes in your life? This is your opportunity to learn the appropriate transformational mantras and chanting techniques to facilitate change, healing and growth.
The seed or bija (Sanskrit) mantras are tools for the expansion and widening of one’s mind by utilizing the power of sound vibrations. “Mantra” is translated as “man” (mind) and “tra” (liberate). In its most literal translation the word mantra means “to liberate one’s mind.” Bija mantras can be used alone or as building blocks for longer mantras.
During this 90 minute class we will explore the bija mantras for manifestation, health, abundance, prosperity, creativity, protection, removing obstacles, strength, and attraction, as well as the healing sounds used to balance each chakra and its associated conditions.
Neck and Shoulders
In this world of chronic stress, texting, typing, and long periods of sitting our neck and shoulders tighten up and our posture suffers. This gentle hatha yoga class guides you through a series of yoga postures that stretch and strengthen the muscles around the neck and shoulders. The series begins with warm up exercises and gradually moves towards deeper asanas that facilitate release of the tension and stiffness.
POC Yoga for Emotional Resilience and Well-Being
POC Yoga for Resilience and Self-Care, is an integrative hatha yoga workshop which includes but is not limited to the following yogic tools: body scan, sharing, mudra, mantra, asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, and meditation. The focus is to address, heal and release memories of overt discrimination and microaggressions stored in the body. This practice will be equally valuable for trauma that has occurred ancestrally, preverbally and/or cannot be recalled chronologically. The therapeutic workshop is grounded in the knowledge that energetic and physical releases have the potential to dissolve remembered and unremembered traumas.
POC Yoga for Resilience and Self-Care will emphasize safety, validation, self-care, stress-management, empathy, body-positivity, transformation, and empowerment. In addition, the workshop will welcome healing practices from the cultures and traditions of its members.
Yoga for Lower Back Pain
Many people with lower back pain believe they first experienced difficulty with their backs as a result of some injury or back-straining activity. But most back problems do not begin at the time of the acute injury; instead, they are the result of tight hamstrings and hips, weak abdominals and repressed emotions. In yogic philosophy, backs are considered the attic of our bodies where everything we don't want to deal with can be stored and hidden away. Back pain is difficult to treat because the areas in pain are often not source of the pain.
This workshop is an integrative yoga therapy approach to lower back pain management and self-care. We will explore the various elements of yoga that can contribute to back health including but not limited to:
1) Yoga asanas to correct posture and release areas of chronically contracted muscles, strengthenareas of weakness, lengthen the vertebral column, and create space between the vertebrae.
2) Pranayama to relax the musculature of the back, massage the back and spine, and increase the supply of nutrients.
3) Body awareness to become cognizant of postural habits and areas of chronic tension that contribute to back pain.
4) Meditation to release the unconscious beliefs and holding patterns that may be at the root of back tension.
Come in comfortable clothes. Please do not eat within two hours of the workshop start time.
Prana Vidya: Breathing Practices for Healing and Transformation
Prana vidya is a progressive and systematic set of breathing exercises by which we acquire knowledge of the aspect of consciousness known as prana, the life force that permeates the entire body. The focus of prana vidya is to awaken and manipulate the breath consciously. As the practitioner develops subtle awareness of the breath s/he is able to perceive and gain knowledge of the nature of the prana, which in turn leads to new dimensions of awareness, understanding and total heath.
Prana vidya focuses both the expansion of consciousness and the awakening of prana. This is a transformative practice done both seated and lying down. Prana vidya is an important step in the journey toward self-realization and wholeness. Please wear comfortable clothing.
Yoga Nidra Soundbath
Journey into your subconscious mind through the ancient practice of Yoga Nidra while being bathed by the healing tones of Himalayan healing bowls and guitar. Explore the hypnogogic state between waking and dreaming as you are guided through a eight stage systematic guided lying down relaxation. Yoga Nidra includes breathing exercises, sankalpa, body scan, opposite practice and visualization techniques.
The benefits of Yoga Nidra include deep relaxation, healing, stress management and personal transformation. As a pratyahara practice (5th limb of Yoga), Yoga Nidra acts as a gateway to accessing deeper states of meditation. No yoga or meditation experience required.
Are you dissatisfied or unfulfilled? Do you feel stuck or blocked? Do you want to make changes in your life? This is your opportunity to learn the appropriate transformational mantras and chanting techniques to facilitate change, healing and growth.
The seed or bija (Sanskrit) mantras are tools for the expansion and widening of one’s mind by utilizing the power of sound vibrations. “Mantra” is translated as “man” (mind) and “tra” (liberate). In its most literal translation the word mantra means “to liberate one’s mind.” Bija mantras can be used alone or as building blocks for longer mantras.
During this 90 minute class we will explore the bija mantras for manifestation, health, abundance, prosperity, creativity, protection, removing obstacles, strength, and attraction, as well as the healing sounds used to balance each chakra and its associated conditions.
Neck and Shoulders
In this world of chronic stress, texting, typing, and long periods of sitting our neck and shoulders tighten up and our posture suffers. This gentle hatha yoga class guides you through a series of yoga postures that stretch and strengthen the muscles around the neck and shoulders. The series begins with warm up exercises and gradually moves towards deeper asanas that facilitate release of the tension and stiffness.
POC Yoga for Emotional Resilience and Well-Being
POC Yoga for Resilience and Self-Care, is an integrative hatha yoga workshop which includes but is not limited to the following yogic tools: body scan, sharing, mudra, mantra, asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, and meditation. The focus is to address, heal and release memories of overt discrimination and microaggressions stored in the body. This practice will be equally valuable for trauma that has occurred ancestrally, preverbally and/or cannot be recalled chronologically. The therapeutic workshop is grounded in the knowledge that energetic and physical releases have the potential to dissolve remembered and unremembered traumas.
POC Yoga for Resilience and Self-Care will emphasize safety, validation, self-care, stress-management, empathy, body-positivity, transformation, and empowerment. In addition, the workshop will welcome healing practices from the cultures and traditions of its members.
Yoga for Lower Back Pain
Many people with lower back pain believe they first experienced difficulty with their backs as a result of some injury or back-straining activity. But most back problems do not begin at the time of the acute injury; instead, they are the result of tight hamstrings and hips, weak abdominals and repressed emotions. In yogic philosophy, backs are considered the attic of our bodies where everything we don't want to deal with can be stored and hidden away. Back pain is difficult to treat because the areas in pain are often not source of the pain.
This workshop is an integrative yoga therapy approach to lower back pain management and self-care. We will explore the various elements of yoga that can contribute to back health including but not limited to:
1) Yoga asanas to correct posture and release areas of chronically contracted muscles, strengthenareas of weakness, lengthen the vertebral column, and create space between the vertebrae.
2) Pranayama to relax the musculature of the back, massage the back and spine, and increase the supply of nutrients.
3) Body awareness to become cognizant of postural habits and areas of chronic tension that contribute to back pain.
4) Meditation to release the unconscious beliefs and holding patterns that may be at the root of back tension.
Come in comfortable clothes. Please do not eat within two hours of the workshop start time.
Prana Vidya: Breathing Practices for Healing and Transformation
Prana vidya is a progressive and systematic set of breathing exercises by which we acquire knowledge of the aspect of consciousness known as prana, the life force that permeates the entire body. The focus of prana vidya is to awaken and manipulate the breath consciously. As the practitioner develops subtle awareness of the breath s/he is able to perceive and gain knowledge of the nature of the prana, which in turn leads to new dimensions of awareness, understanding and total heath.
Prana vidya focuses both the expansion of consciousness and the awakening of prana. This is a transformative practice done both seated and lying down. Prana vidya is an important step in the journey toward self-realization and wholeness. Please wear comfortable clothing.
Yoga Nidra Soundbath
Journey into your subconscious mind through the ancient practice of Yoga Nidra while being bathed by the healing tones of Himalayan healing bowls and guitar. Explore the hypnogogic state between waking and dreaming as you are guided through a eight stage systematic guided lying down relaxation. Yoga Nidra includes breathing exercises, sankalpa, body scan, opposite practice and visualization techniques.
The benefits of Yoga Nidra include deep relaxation, healing, stress management and personal transformation. As a pratyahara practice (5th limb of Yoga), Yoga Nidra acts as a gateway to accessing deeper states of meditation. No yoga or meditation experience required.
