Yoga Therapy Frequently Asked Questions

I offer private sessions, small group classes, and workshops.

• Private sessions are typically 60-90 minutes each week and are completely tailored to you and your needs.

• Small group classes meet weekly and will primarily focus on stress reduction and centering.

• I also offer periodic workshops on particular themes such as Finding Your Voice, Self-Acceptance, Creating a Personal Practice, and more.

Sign up for a free introductory session, so I can learn more about you and discuss options for working together.

My passion is to help you peel back the layers you’ve acquired and built over the years, which may not serve you and may even be harming you.

Yoga therapy on its own is a powerful means for self-study and change. Singing/vocalizing on its own is a powerful means for expression and beauty.

When the two are combined, remarkable release and self-expression are possible.

If you’re experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, pain, fear— anything that primes the sympathetic nervous system—you’ll struggle to express yourself freely. Your breathing, muscle tension, blood flow, and mental state will be in high-alert mode, unable to relax. You’ll also be in a perfect state to be overcome by your inner monkeys.

When you sing/vocalize, your body is the instrument. The sound is produced through you and resonates in you, and this has physical and mental implications.

To sing/vocalize freely your body needs to be aligned and in a relaxed yet aware state. Same with your mind. The body and mind work in harmony to allow the voice (and the self) full expression. Making sound with our voices can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which allows us to relax and feel at ease.

A typical yoga class (at least in North America) is often a purely physical (asana) practice which might include a little meditation or chanting. There can easily be many people in the room, all with varying knowledge, experience, and challenges. A good yoga teacher will always offer adaptations for physical issues but there are usually too many people to give much individual attention. The emphasis is generally on a good experience for the group. I’m not knocking yoga classes! Practicing with a group can be a wonderful experience.

Yoga therapy is different in a few ways.

• Individual sessions allow me, the yoga therapist, to focus completely on you, the client.

• It’s a collaborative process between us.

• We focus on your personal goals.

All yoga therapists must complete an accredited 200-hour yoga teacher training and then an additional 800 hours of yoga therapy training through an accredited program. They are knowledgeable in teaching yoga classes and have completed a great deal of advanced training in all the aspects of yoga.

You can think of me as a mixologist of yoga therapy cocktails, and your order can be changed as your needs and interests change. Perhaps for a few weeks I’ll serve you a special drink with a base of guided meditation, a splash of journaling, and a dash of asana. As you continue we may find that a sprig of mantra is called for. I think you get the somewhat wacky picture.

I’m trained as a yoga therapist and I work within the realm of Yoga, applied therapeutically. We may explore emotional and mental aspects of you and your life in our sessions. Talk therapy and yoga therapy can certainly be effective together but they are separate practices. For talk therapy, medication, or help with a crisis, please consult a trained psychologist, psychiatrist, or your health care practitioner.