While the orientation of western medicine is to treat the disease; the orientation of yoga therapy is to treat the whole person.

Yoga therapy offers an approach to wellness founded on the observation that each of us is an ever-changing process arising out of hereditary factors, mental and emotional attitudes, dietary habits, exercise patterns, and a host of environmental factors.   It holds that each of these factors is intimately linked to our present state of health and together will act to influence future states of wellness.  

Yoga therapy is founded on the belief that healing is a natural process, one that arises from within when appropriate conditions exist.  Before any attempt at applying yoga as therapy it's important to understand what might currently be inhibiting this natural process - what in the individual's life is skillful and supporting harmony and healing and what is unskillful and potentially supporting separation and dis-ease.  This is therapy intended to help each person discover their own innate ability to heal and to guide and support them in that process. 

Sessions are designed around the individual and may include tailored plans for simple movements to release chronic tension, develop structural balance and strength, or open blockages to the free flow healing energy within the body, instruction in breath and energy techniques, developmental practices to help calm and focus the mind.

Yoga therapy session structure:

We have found that therapeutic yoga is best accessed in a three session format. 

The first session is a 90 minute session primarily focused on evaluation.  The structure can vary based on the type of assistance being sought.  This session will include time with us to discuss your therapeutic objectives and to review the health information survey form we'll ask you to complete before meeting with us.

Actual work together during this first session varies based on your therapeutic objectives. Sessions to work with more physically oriented objectives might include postural assessment and range-of-motion evaluation in a classroom setting or some therapeutic bodywork for a more hands-on evaluation. When objectives relate more to working with the downstream effects of chronic stress early work might include guided relaxation, breath and energy work, and simple tension relieving movement programs. Following the first session your therapist will develop a personal plan designed to help you meet your therapeutic objectives.

Your second and third sessions will each be 60 minute sessions.  In the second session you'll receive instruction in the early plan including both plan adjustments and some discussion of how this work might fit into your life.  The third session is a brief re-evaluation and possible modification of the plan.  The long-term interest is both in offering you a personal practice plan for work on your own and, if desired, assistance in finding a suitable classroom practice to support your ongoing work.

Please contact us about your objectives and allow us to assist you in selecting the combination of individual or classroom instruction, therapeutic bodywork, and/or yoga therapy to best serve your needs. Our therapy fee schedule offers complete pricing information for yoga therapy as well as other therapy offerings at heartwood yoga.