Yoga Therapy uses evidence-based yogic practices for an alternative, complementary approach to overcoming emotional and physical distress.
How is Yoga Therapy used in counseling?
Yoga, applied as a therapeutic tool, utilizes postures, breathing techniques, mindfulness practices and meditation to benefit and improve a client’s overall mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Some examples of what research has shown yoga therapy to be helpful for:
- Reducing hyper-reactivity of the autonomic nervous system (the fight or flight response) in cases of trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress
- Calming a busy mind and improving physical relaxation in cases of stress and insomnia
- Improving mood and comfort in one’s body for those with disease and/or chronic pain
- Improving coping tools for highly sensitive people, neurodivergent individuals and chronic disease sufferers
How is yoga as a part of my therapy at Bluestone different than going to yoga class?
Most often people attending a yoga class are focused on improving their physical strength and flexibility. It’s an excellent way to improve one’s overall fitness in a way that’s different from more typical cardio and strength training work.
When using yoga therapy as part of their mental health treatment at Bluestone, a client is coming to yoga therapy for reasons other than fitness. For example, a client may be seeking to improve an ongoing ailment that is impacted my their mental health (such as chronic pain); to learn additional/new approaches to soothing their body’s response to an emotional issue (such as chronic muscle tension or heightened startle response due to trauma or anxiety), or to improve their ability to manage their stress (such as correcting dysfunctional breathing or developing mindful awareness).
But I’m not flexible enough or skinny enough to do yoga
There are no ‘not enoughs’ here. Yoga therapy is a therapeutic tool that looks totally different than yoga done in a fitness context. As long as you can breathe, you are welcome and encouraged to try this out! All that is required is for you to come with an openness to try something new, in clothes you feel comfortable in, and with a willingness to communicate honestly about your experience. Improved body image, coping, self-awareness, and mood will be part of the outcome.
What does yoga therapy treatment look like?
We will start exactly where you are. There are so many ways to engage with your body! Together we will find exactly what works specifically for you. If you have certain things you already find beneficial, great! There’s no need to give anything up, including any other therapist or helper you’re working with. Depending on your interests and goals, we may do some yoga postures, some Qing Gong movements, some gentle seated movements, mindfulness-based stress reduction practices, breathing practices, and/or guided meditation. We will bring it all together into your personalized toolkit of self-care.
We will begin working one on one. We will explore your breathing patterns and correct any patterns that may be causing dysregulation. We will find ways of moving that feel empowering, restorative and joyful for your unique embodied experience. We will explore any form of meditation that you find helpful, whether it’s a sitting meditation, guided meditation, prayer, mantras, journaling, or any other approach you find useful for slowing your busy mind and settling your body. Your progress will build more quickly if you practice in your daily life outside of the therapy office so you will also be given worksheets and other resources to help you build a home practice that feels good to you.
As you progress in your individual work, you may have the option of joining small group sessions when they are offered. Groups will only consist of a few people so no need to worry about feeling anxious or too cramped in overcrowded rooms with a bunch of people you don’t know. Without having to share a lot about yourself or pretend to be anyone other than who you are, you can continue strengthening your skills in a group of people just like you – people working on improving their lives.
Yoga Therapy at
Bluestone Psychological Services
Through personalized sessions and your practice at home, you will gain a new found appreciation for and enjoyment in your body. Together, we can start building your self-confidence and improve your mood.