• 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.

Practice: Kapalabati: start slow, keeping expulsions to 10-20 per round, 2-3 rounds. Notice how you feel before and after the practice.

Check In

Awareness Practice

Pranayama: Waterfall Breath review

Pelvic floor activations - deadbugs with breath awareness

Chatarunga - supported by bolster under the chest

High lunge holding straps, with rotation towards the wall, rotation away from the wall - repeat other side

Supported Downward Dog, hammock at the crease of the pelvis, blocks under the hands as needed to decompress the spine, options to walk hands to the corners and invite stretch down the sidelines of the body

Christine - At check in reported soreness in lower body from previous workouts, slightly fatigued from her week. Energy somewhat tamasic. After kapalabati practice, shared she enjoyed the rhythmic quality of it, and second and third rounds of practice felt more easeful. After asana reported less soreness/heaviness in the quads, hamstrings and glutes. In her practice of downward dog, she added traction for the low back choosing a "flying dog" option with her feet on the wall.

Trina - Feeling "OK' - tension in her back and hamstrings. Energy tamasic, also reported a hectic week at work. She also enjoyed kapalabati, and felt "more alert" after the final round. After asana practice reported a reduction in tension in both the low back and hamstrings. With downward dog she was very mindful of the depth of her forward fold, using blocks under her hands for support, and felt a slow release through the low back.

This was the most feedback I'd received from the clients during the session. In week one I would give them time to pause and check in with themselves after each posture, but they really didn't share about the practice - and I didn't push them or force them to. Today they each shared their experiences with both pranayama and asana more freely. As we closed the session I invited them to share with me anything they would like more of or less of with the practice, encouraging them to take as active a role as possible in our group time (as they are used to more of a larger class setting.) I feel like the small group experience is still very new to them, and leading a small group yoga therapy session is still very new to me.

I did not follow up in check in with a discussion about last week's homework - specifically how they might have noticed attachments during the week. I would like to continue talking about practice and non-attachment with them next session.

While I hold the class weekly, I would like the next case study session to be August 9th. The office advised me they've signed up three additional participants for next week's class that might be one-time guests. I have not received their intakes yet (the office sends and collects the intake information for me), so I might have to allow the session to be more general as well as assessment of potential new participants.