• 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: Nadi Shodhana - Explore the practice at different times of the day and in different contexts. There is not set amount of time - you might practice for 2 minutes, you might even explore it as a meditation on the breath for 15 minutes... just some ideas. Notice how you feel before and after the practice.

Continue: Practices of Surya Namaskar, Netra Vyayamam, and Dirga Swasam with finger compressions whenever you find them supportive.

Practice: Virabhadrasana II - alone or with Surya Virabhadrasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana, perhaps following your Surya Namaskar practice. Notice any shifts in the body, mind and emotions as your practice these asana.

Check In

Modified Awareness Practice

Child's Pose

Supported Matsyendrasana

Nadi Shodhana

Virabhadrasana II - adding a flow between Surya Virabhadrasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana

As I pulled up outside the fitness center, I saw the client sitting in her car. Before she got out it appeared that she was wiping tears away from her eyes. As we walked together to the building she commented on the beautiful weather. When I asked about her week, she shared it was "intense... while the external weather was beautiful" her "internal weather was turbulent." Once we were settled inside and the client found sukhasana on her mat, I asked her, "What do you feel you need from our practice at this moment?" Her response: "To feel my emotions... allow them to move... they're heavy."

I encouraged her to find whatever position for her body felt most appropriate, and she chose Balasana. She remained in the pose for about 10 minutes. I offered her a lot of silence and space, but gave sparse, direct encouragements: to feel how her body was being supported by the ground, noticing all the points of contact and connection; to notice where she was experiencing her various emotions in her body; to follow the movement of her breath through her body, allowing the breath to help bring movement to her thoughts and emotions. After this practice I asked how and what she was feeling: she shared that she felt tension in the back her head, as well as tightness in her throat and upper chest. I encouraged her to explore supported Matsyendrasana with a block between her shoulder blades and the back of her head comfortably resting on the mat. She remained with this pose for about twenty minutes, until she felt it become "intense" in the opening it encouraged across her chest. During her time with the pose I encouraged her to continue to feel the movement of the breath in her body, with awareness of specific energy centers/chakras and sensations she was experiencing. After the practice she reported a reduction in both the tension in her head and tightness in her throat and chest.

I gave her an introduction to Nadi Shodhana, and the benefits it offers to bring balance, offering calm and energy to the body and mind. She enjoyed the practice, sharing that she indeed did feel both calm and energized after.

I did still want to offer her some asana, and returned to one piece I had included in the session plan: Virabhadrasana II. I shared the mental focus inspired by Judith Hanson Lasater's work, and the client reported feeling "strong" and grounded after the practice. I showed that she could also flow between Surya Virabhadrasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana - allowing herself to feel the steadiness and grounding of the lower body, with the movement and ease of the upper body.

I had to completely through my session plan out the window, but I feel the session explored with the client today was exactly what she needed. In writing it all out it seemed like somewhat of a backwards practice - offering something very Shavasana - like at the beginning, and finishing with standing asana.

While I initially only planned 3 sessions for the case study, I asked the client if she would like to do one more session, and she said yes. Personally, after the intensity of this session I would like to offer her one more - in this sense I do feel attached to the outcome, wanting her to feel supported. We both have busy weekends over the next few weeks, so our final session will be on September 15. I would like to review practices offered so far - asana, pranayama, raja - and perhaps explore how she might incorporate karma yoga through her interactions with the team she supervises at work, or how else she might explore it.