• Check in, centering, balanced hatha yoga set considering contraindications, relaxation (with imagery as appropriate),
• Balanced pranayama considering contraindications, meditation/centering.
• Include at least one suggestion from Karma, Bhakti, Raja, or Jnana Yoga tailored for this client.

Asana: Wanted to offer the client some asana to explore while on her vacation - some of the more athletic standing postures with which she was familiar, while also encouraging the slower, supportive postures to give her a new experience of the practice.

Pranayama: Continue beginning practice with Dirga Swasam - while practicing asana think "slow moving, slow breathing, slow thinking."

TRE: Explore a few rounds if she chooses - still no more than 5-8 minutes per round, no more than 3 rounds, no more than 2 sessions per week

Check In

Awareness Practice

Dirga Swasam

Surya Namaskar - 4 rounds - client reported feeling tightness in left shoulder lowering down to the floor from dandasana/plank.

Ardha Bhujangasana - practiced baby cobra with no hands ("snakes have no hands") to focus on engaging the rhomboids and stabilizing the scapulae.

Virabhadrasana II - flowing between Surya Virabhadrasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana

Trikonasana - flowing with Viparita Trikonasana

Supta Padangusthasana - adding abduction and adduction with a strap

Supta Matsyendrasana - offering support of blocks under the legs, 4" MFR ball behind shoulder or under low back as needed

Matsyasana - with support of block between scapulae and behind the head

Shavasana

During check in reported had a challenging day the day before with her daughter. She is responding well the the boundaries and practices that her mom and dad are offering, but it's still hard for the client to maintain her peace and honor what she's feeling as she's working with her daughter to de-escalate situations.

It is still very challenging for the client to slow down her movement practice and allow herself to get more into her body. As we explored the asana - especially the supine poses - I kept cueing her to tune into the sensations in her body, to notice where she felt the movement of each cycle of breath.

During Shavasana I observed her breath was still more rapid and shallow than I would have expected, and encouraged extended exhalation as we began the practice.

I had promised the client I would include more asana during this session. I feel like I offered more than I originally had planned of the standing work, but the client was excited by the practice, and was able to slow down more during the supine postures.

I wanted to offer more on the side of raja and pranayama, and will do so during our next session. During check in I failed to ask specifically if she had practiced any of the finger compressions or brahmari breath - I will remind her of them in the homework email follow up, and check in during our next session.

The client is going on vacation and then starting her daughter's new school routine as soon as she returns. We'll meet back up in a few weeks at the client's convenience.