• 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.

1. Position yourself near a wall on a blanket and with the following props close at hand: a timer, looped strap, bolster, hand towel to cover the eyes, weighted pillow for feet, & blanket to cover yourself. OR as we practiced, using blankets and a chair.
2. Center then focus on grounding, aligning and relaxing your body.
3. Notice, acknowledge and let go of your thoughts, find calm with your breath, then,
c. Reach the arms overhead for full body stretching,
d. Supine Spinal Twist,
e. Bridge Pose.
4. Set your timer for 15 minutes.
5. Position yourself up against the wall or chair, lying in Restorative Waterfall. To do this you lie on a blanket, then
a. Loop a strap around the thighs, legs up the wall, weighted pillow on your feet, and with a hand towel draped over your eyes, relax your face muscles. Arms may be alongside your body or on your belly and/or heart.
b. Rest in stillness, acknowledging any thoughts then bringing your mind back to your breath until the timer rings.

Anamaya: Seated: Check-in; then Centering in Savasana, relieve physical tension to promote healing and relaxation. Direct awareness to your cooling female energy. Focus on your True Self, breathing and balancing. (pause) Gather yourself on your side.
Sit up (joint loosening) Dandasana with wedge or blanket, Toe flex/extend, Ankle rotations, Flex/Extend, Leg tapping, Knee massage, Wide-Angled Seated Forward Bend, Pelvic then Torso rotations, Shoulder warm-ups, Hands – flex/extend, Variety of Finger movements, Neck rolls, infinity rolls, arms extended overhead Backbend, Side bends, Seated C/C, Spinal Twist w/arm sweeps,

MT, Skiing, Standing twists (hands to upper chest/kidney), MT arms extended, Side bends, MT.

Savasana, Restorative Waterfall. Practice mindful Breath Awareness. Sharing words from Pranayama and Manomaya and other Kosha below.

Yoga Nidra Script: Mindful Breathing Meditation adapted from Thich Nhat Hanh, “A Short Teaching on Mindfulness Breathing” (https://smithcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/files/downloads/mindful-breathing-meditation.pdf)

Energy Work.

Pranayama: Breathe mindfully into the abdomen, lower and upper chest while practicing Dirga Swasam. When mastered, lengthen the exhale to address anxiety.
When one uses the breath to calm the mind the Pranamaya Kosha connects to the 3rd kosha, the mind-body, or Manomaya kosha.

Manomaya: Turn to the breath, feel it moving throughout your body. Notice what feelings arise – physical, emotional. Acknowledge those feelings then continue to follow the breath, allowing it to dwell in different regions of the body. Release subtle stress and tension; release mental and emotional scars.

Vijnjanamaya: Be aware of the quietness – witness the quiet body, quiet breath, quiet mind. Let go of the ego. Feel whatever is present then detach from it as it gently flows away over the still lake. (her imagery)

Anandamaya: Restorative Waterfall enhances the immune system, & rejuvenates the mind. In YN, Mindful Breathing Meditation, following the breath as it moves through the body. Gracing yourself with compassion and love as you cultivate awareness of your experience in the here and now

Energy Work.
Yogic Philosophy: Cultivate Generosity (Dāna) toward yourself. Cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion, self-care.

This moral precept of Dāna applies to oneself as well as others, and forms the foundation of the whole system of yoga.

Breath awareness and meditation can transform us to be more self-compassionate, more aware. Mindfully returning to one’s breath throughout the day can help to relieve pain, and decrease fatigue and anxiety. It can increase immune system functioning; and give one a greater sense of control, calm and peace.

Paraphrasing from Chapter One of the book: Hanh, Thich That, Being Peace (Berkeley, CA, Parallax Press, 2005), pp.13-18..

Close with Meditation, Chant, brief check-out.

Our Saturday sessions seem more restful, less stressful. We moved the sessions from Tuesday mornings to Saturday early afternoons a few weeks ago. She appeared exhausted when she arrived in the morning and it concerned me. When she then reported Lupus, celiac, etc, I offered to see here Saturday afternoons. She said she didn't want it to interfere with her nap time. I offered her anytime on Saturday and we chose 1pm so she could go home relaxed and go straight to bed.

After checking-in and the current home stress, we circled back to her health care. She was unsuccessful in finding a provider. The referrals from the PCP were not taking new patients. I told her about the University of Maryland which she acknowledged. She has work stress, which she mentioned at this time.

I shared that based on my research regarding Lupus and yoga, and the information MML shared about joint stiffness every morning, we practiced toe-to-neck joint loosening, tapping, and knee massages. She stated that she was already doing some of these.

She appeared to completely relax in Restorative Waterfall. As she listened to me guiding her through Thich Nhat Hanh's Mindful Breathing Meditation I watched her breath. I was able to match the words, for example, "Breathing in, I know I am breathing in... etc." with her breath. I added the words from above, spoke of self-compassion, True Nature, love, and kindness for oneself. We ended with a meditation. We spent 45 minutes on this.

Toe-to-Neck Joint releasing worked well today but it's not something I want to use each week. The tapping and massage was well-received.

MML looked more comfortable in the restorative pose with its supports vs Savasana in the past. She said she was almost asleep when we did the check-out.

I, too, felt more relaxed and confident. The thick Nhat Hanh Mindful Breathing Meditation from The Smith Center, and the paraphrasing from the book as well as other Kosha and yogic philosophy input appeared to resonate with her. I want to find some more poems that may resonate with MML.

That check-out at the end isn't a method I would normally use. When the client is so relaxed and in their zone of peace, I would prefer not to ask about the session. I would prefer waiting. I understand the need to gather the information. I wish I could check in the next day to ask about the prior day's session.

Find another poem to read during relaxation. Continue viewing YouTube yoga sessions by yoga instructors with lupus. Read more about tapping and massage; continue the energy work while in relaxation. Ask the Client this week if she has any preferences for our session in two weeks when she's back in town.