• 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.

I changed the sun salutation to the moon salutation, in a situation when she had low energy. The moon salutation is more gentle and quieting compared to the sun salutation and is also helpful for anxiety. The client was in a team meeting and she was told that a young colleague of hers committed suicide. Given the situation, she needed more time to talk. I felt that it was important and appropriate to give her space to talk.
She wanted help to develop a brief yoga session so she can practice before she goes to work, so I simplified the session and took the time so she could write down the sequence of the practice.
we will check in affter about one month.

1. She would like to have more energy. She noticed that when she cut down on her sugar intake she started to have more energy.
2. She wants to have better self care. We designed a brief yoga session, so she can practice every morning before she goes to work.
3. She wants to be more connected. We explored areas where she feels a connection, for example being in nature, gardening or riding her bike. We also explored chanting to feel more joy.

She felt that she had low energy and wanted to increase her energy and exercise on a daily basis to have her own practice. Her physical heath overall is good, she started to notice some joint stiffness in the morning, so I included some elements of the joint freeing practice.

On an energetic level she is both tamasic and rajasic. It is important for her to find the balance between the two of them so I feel that it is beneficial for her to have a mix of asanas that are both strengthening and increasing her energy. She found eating less sugar beneficial.

She does struggle in some of her relationships for example with her boss and her younger brother. We explored the concept of the four locks and keys together and it resonated with her. She especially liked the 4th key "disregard the wicked". She has a very difficult relationship with her younger bother and despite her multiple attempts to reconnect with him he is completely shutting her out of his life. So she has decided to ignore him when she visits her mother.She also has a difficult relationship with her boss, who does not appreciate her work.She has decided to do her work but not to depend on his appreciation and acceptance , this works much better for her.

She does have low self esteem even though she accomplished a good career for herself. She identifies very much with her work and it would be helpful for her to improve her sense of self-esteem aside from her profession so she is not so attached to the need of validation from other people. I feel working with the concept aparigraha, non attachment could be a next step for her.

She does not identify herself as overly religious but was able to explore that concept of spirituality in nature, in connection with other people, it would be nice if she would find her sanga to experience the connection between people but also with nature.

She enjoyed our yoga therapy sessions together. She was eager to develop her own yoga practice and found it helpful that I took the time at our last session to help her create her own yoga practice. She wants to continue with her own practice and see me again in 4 weeks. With the help of the practice she was able to come up with her own conclusions rather than just doing what she was told.

One home work was alternate nostril breathing and she decided to try this in between her clients at work.
She found that helpful to calm her nervous system.
I taught her cat cow with focusing on the breath and going from Childs pose into cat cow in one fluid movement. She enjoyed the flow of the practice.

I don't think I would do much differently except to try the time management strategies my mentor suggested.

I need to continue to work on my time management to not take too much time talking and not getting into the actual yoga practice. I was getting help in supervision so I now have the tools to set time limits. However when it comes to the actual client encounter I still struggle sometimes. I do think this will become easier with practice.
I will used the phrase tell me about your experience in one sentence. I will start right into centering and breathing practice for a smooth transition into asanas.

Yes the service is my most favorite thing about the yoga therapy practicum.