In movement observation and assessment client had no gross movement restrictions. She experiences constant/daily discomfort in her digestive system. She has upcoming food emptying studies, an endoscopy and colonoscopy scheduled, and describes her discomfort saying it "feels physical." She states she feels "overly full" after drinking a few ounces (ex - 3) of water. Overall she feels she has little appetite because of this. She states that she has struggled with losing weight, only seeing her weight drop when practicing "extreme fasting," defined by her as eating "5 times per week."

When she is stretching or in a yin posture that lengthens the front of the body in hip extension, she feels tightness at the front of the right hip. Discomfort is mild/moderate along both greater trochaters (trochanteric bursitis?), moderate tension in the shoulders, and chronic tension/tightness in the throat (will note more on this in the pranamaya kosha).

Something else not shared on the intake - in high school she swam competitively, spending 3-4 hours/day training. I'm not familiar with the impact on the body of this sport in terms of overuse injuries or patterns of holding in the fascia? This is an area I would like to spend some time researching.

Client described waking up with "feelings of anxiety" in the mornings, with this being worse about a year ago, primarily feeling tension in her throat. Client's speech was not overly rapid but on the rapid side, with breath shallow. Did not observe reverse breathing, but very little abdominal movement as she breathed.

With the reported diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder, client has challenges regulating her emotions, and not having her body and mind controlled by them. She described times of what she calls "catastrophic thinking" - questioning her effectiveness as a single parent the past 13 years, feeling "not good enough". She also struggles with body dysmorphia - at times spending "hours shopping to hide my body" with the clothes she chose. (This overlaps into the vijnanamaya kosha)

In her intake the client shared "working on spiritual, but not consistent - difficult to find a community." She shared during our intake that she doesn't really have friends, but wants to connect with others. I can't help but feel that in offering practices to help the client recognize the presence of and connect with her anandamaya kosha, this will allow her to not only connect more with others and develop friendships, but connect more deeply with her children as well. In her intake she shared that part of the reason she quit her job was to spend more time thinking about her purpose and meaning in life.

In not yet understanding the impact of medications or having familiarity with the client's cyclothymic disorder, I'm not sure how accurate my observations are here. But in looking through the lens of the kleshas, I feel the client struggles deeply with dvesha, especially around her anamaya kosha/physical body. I think asmita as well, both in identifying herself as "not good enough" and questioning how well she serves as both parents to her children. Avidya is present as well, being disconnected from her true nature, even understanding herself as more than her physical body.

Introduction to the Panchakosha model - sharing with the client the image/understanding that we have different layers, that we are more than just the physical body.

Introduction to the sutras, starting with 1.2 - that yoga is more than the physical movements/asana, yet moving the body is helpful in moving the energy and thoughts. Would love to continue moving slowly through the first 12-14 sutras of book one as part of a longer term relationship with this client.

Pranayama: would like to introduce one calming breath practice (perhaps extended exhalation to start) and one energizing breath practice (slow, gentle kapalabati).

The Effects of Yoga on Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9440796/

• 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.