• 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.

Check In (a little lengthy)

Awareness Practice

Raja Yoga: Sutra 1.33 - the Locks and Keys

Pranayama: Waterfall breath

Shavasana

When I began check in with "How are you doing?" she responded with "I couldn't wait to tell you!" Client reported loving her bedroom/private space in her home, having a consistent bedtime since our last session, and feeling the most organized that she can remember: "I'm feeling like I'm coming together." She also feels like she is in a "different spiritual space...more calm and inner peace." She's been singing more and happier, feeling like her "heart and head are coming together... I'm a whole person."

She noticed that she is being mindful of people around her in general - she shared a moment where she offered a shopping cart to a lady at the grocery store, smiling and making eye contact with her - she felt that previously she was too wrapped up in her own world to notice others - now she is "connecting with others." "My actions reveal my hope."

She feels more at peace with her relationship with her husband, Harry. She had felt disconnected from him but also needed her own space in their home. But as she's been focusing on caring for herself she's finding herself more accepting of Harry where he is. I shared with her a little about practice/abhyasa and nonattachment/vairagya - continuing to invest in the practices that are promoting her health and healing, and releasing any expectations of how others will respond to boundaries.

She's also been setting more boundaries with her daughter, and feeling free to support her in practical ways without feeling resentment. I used this as a moment to introduce the locks and keys - and how they provide tools to respond to others in a healthy way that does not disturb her peace.

After the practice of waterfall breath, the client shared "That's my favorite now." She really connected with the image of the waterfall - could hear the sound of the water, the image of the clean water flowing - she felt the rhythm and "became one with it." At first she felt the need to try to lengthen the inhale, but the let that go and felt deeper calm.

The client was so excited to share the growth and progress she was feeling in her life that I didn't want to cut short her sharing. And all that she shared felt like a natural lead in to talking about the Locks and Keys. I haven't found a write up to share with her - perhaps a good challenge for me is to write a summary of the Locks and Keys that I can share not only with her, but with future clients as well?

In practicing the keys, I felt happiness/friendliness for her happiness. I was also excited that she connected so well with Waterfall breath.

Have our mentor session tomorrow - want to craft the measurement tool to use for evaluation purposes as we move forward with the Capstone work.

Think next session would be a good time to check in on goal progress - improvements in sleep, improvements/changes in energy, looking at movement practices to support her goals of gaining strength.