Yoga Therapy at Work

Yoga is a powerful form of mind-body medicine that understands physical ailments also have an emotional, mental and spiritual component.

Yoga Therapists are yoga teachers with a two year extensive, accredited training and governed by a well-defined scope of practice. Unlike a group yoga class, yoga therapy is focused on one person.

Yoga therapists adapt the practices of yoga to suit the individual needs of their client.

No yoga experience is needed.

A growing body of evidence suggests that yoga offers numerous health benefits such as:

• easing chronic pain- including back, neck and shoulder pain as well as fibromyalgia and arthritis.
• enhancing mental health- relieving anxiety, depression and insomnia.
• positively impacting cardiovascular health-reducing heart rate, lowering blood pressure.
• improving the quality of life for those clients living with illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
• boosting wellbeing, through practices to help decrease or manage stress and enhance strength, flexibility and balance.

Key points to health recovery for yoga therapy clients:

• the belief that that what we do makes a difference, no matter how subtle.
• motivation to get well, connection to joy and inner purpose are fundamental.
• understanding that change takes time, requiring discipline and sustained effort.
• identifying a compelling future to make the effort to be well for.
• a clients awakening to their own inner strengths and an understanding that the qualities looked for outside of themselves are already present within.
• to stay well, health recovery happens in community, connected to the environment.

In a yoga therapy session an individuals patterns, habits, thoughts, beliefs, strengths and challenges are addressed.

We use the complete yoga toolbox which include:

• physical practices [asana] for withstanding change, feelings of lightness, sense of stability and ease, structural/targeted practices.
• physiology and breath practices [pranayama] organ function, sleep patterns, energy levels, stress management, anxiety and depression.
• meditation and guided relaxation [pratayhara] intellect to maintain attention, awareness, make educated choices and to learn.
• mantra [music] and mudra [hand gestures] joy, connection, relationships, sense of purpose, equanimity and spirituality.
• Ayurveda [life/knowledge] modifications, personality, tendencies, intuition, expression and vitality.

Prior to the first session, Sally provides her clients with a detailed intake form which is completed and submitted to help Sally understand her clients needs.

Expect:

Deep listening, the first session is 75 minutes and begins with and in-depth conversation to help Sally understand a clients health challenges, history, concerns, interests and goals/

Breathing and movement instruction, Sally will guide you through simple movement and breathing practices to assess your strength, balance as well as habits of body and mind.

Creation of a personalized practice, which may include postures, breathing, meditation as well as other yogic principles such as connection to the natural environment and community. This practice will be based on a clients abilities, health goals medical challenges, interests and time.

Practice instruction, after guiding a client Sally will provide a handout, recordings to help with a clients ability to practice at home.

Return sessions, follow up sessions are 60 minutes and help to refine a clients practice and modified as skills develop. Practice, even for just 10 minutes is vital if any changes are expected in mind, body and spirit.

3- 6 yoga therapy sessions are beneficial with 'tune-up' visits encouraged.

These sessions are held in Sally's home at 12 Gibbs St Griffith.

Please wear comfortable pants and a tank top, all yoga props provided.

Sally has developed a great working relationships with local health professionals including doctors, a physiotherapist, psychologist and dietician. Helping a client to wellness takes a collaborative, multi directional approach.

Yoga therapy is backed by extensive evidence based research with over 486 peer reviewed articles.

Sally has a particular interest in working with those who have Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. She runs a weekly group class every Wednesday @ 11am at Griffith Senior Citizens, All welcome $10 per participant.