• 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.

No changes were necessary.

Client wants to reconnect with her heart and operate from the heart instead of the mind (“head”) as this is causing her to be uncompassionate.

Undoubtedly Yoga wisdom teachings have helped this client see things differently, because she is looking at herself now, how her mind behaves, and how she can change rather than how others should change. As mentioned above, “she has been able to be more conscious of being more loving to her husband” which is helping her achieve her goal of operating from the heart instead of the head. And she is learning to be less on “survival mode”.

Client has begun a regular asana practice of 20 minutes about 5 times a week. Prior to Yoga Therapy, client was taking yoga classes but did not have a regular daily practice at home. Client has also been more conscious of noticing when she is holding tension in the form of contracting in the upper body (vampire spots).

Client has begun regular breathing practice of Nadi Sudi along with her asana practice. She counts on Nadi Sudi as her breathing practice.
Client reports that her energy level is good.

Client has been coping with stress much better since her understanding of how her internal chronic stress was related to her psychological and emotional reaction to her husband’s condition and the acknowledgement of her aversion to this condition. Through the teachings of Yoga wisdom, her mind understands more clearly what she was doing to herself, and now she is able to regulate her responses better and her emotions have been more stable as a result of understanding.

Client has been coping with stress much better since her understanding of how her internal chronic stress was related to her psychological and emotional reaction to her husband’s condition and the acknowledgement of her aversion to this condition. Through the teachings of Yoga wisdom, her mind understands more clearly what she was doing to herself, and now she is able to regulate her responses better and her emotions have been more stable as a result of understanding.

Once client was able to understand her mental and resulting emotional blockages as a result of the Wisdom teaching, she was able to open her heart as stated in her goals - that is what she wanted to do. Yoga wisdom was the key for her unfoldment.

Client wants to have an anchor in her life that she can go to, to help her with life’s challenges and so she really wants to have a meditation practice. She has started a regular meditation practice, and she has been having some challenges with it but she seems to be determined to have something that can support her.

Client will continue to study the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Translation and Commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda which she purchased. She has been reviewing and reading ahead of our sessions on her own. Additionally, we will continue to have Yoga Therapy session to go deeper in the Sutras, and so that the client is encouraged to build her Sadhana practice.

Client reports that she “relies on doing breath work Nadi Sudi to keep her balanced and she has not experienced any extremes of angst.” “She has been happy and she has been sad but not lost in it.”

Client likes to use the term ‘Vritti’.

Client expressed that because she has been watching her mind-stuff - “I am so much calmer, I keep thinking of detachment and loving detachment instead, and how that detachment and centering is so precious. And to allow the distractions is not worth it.“
Client said “she felt a little more guided.”

The asana really helped the client to see where her body is usually contracted (Vampire Spots).

Centering.

Asana Poses (with noticing where she has tension):
Standing:
Tadasana
Ardh Chandrasana/Half-Moon standing
Scapula movements for the contraction that she does in the upper body:
Elevation - Inhale and shrugged shoulders up.
Depression - Exhale slide the shoulder blades down.
Protraction – Extend arms out exhale and press shoulder blades forward.
Retraction – With arms extended out inhale the bring the shoulder blades back together.
Lateral rotation – place hand on shoulders and Inhale bring elbows up.
Medial rotation - and exhale bring elbow down.

Body Scan – down and up
Breathing practice – Nadi Sudi
Meditation on the breath, with imagery for healing body, emotions, mind.

Review Sutra I.2, Sutra I.3 and Sutra I.4

Although the client usually mentions what has been happening in her life. I find that I should ask a question for example “what has happened in your life this week where you would have needed Yoga Therapy.”

I found that having a Care Plan menu to follow, the structure beginning with the centering, asana, relaxation, then breathing, meditation, etc. is very helpful because it’s like you know where to begin and where to end, and all that goes in the middle.

Of course, I understand that the administrative work is necessary. But I found myself spending a lot (!) of time doing administrative work for each client and this really ties my time and because of all the other things I have to do I still have to do them, it has ‘affected’ with my daily sadhana. Nevertheless, doing the administrative work is part of the learning process that I have appreciated that about.

Yes, it's very satisfying to work with a client that is enjoying the yoga sutras and is using the teachings in her life and is grateful for this knowledge.

This client needed support, and I find with this client that a little bit of support is enough for the client to self-re-direct with the benefit of the Wisdom teachings.