• 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.

Most of the adaptations to my care plan were made on the fly based on conversations I had with MLA, which is a skill that I am happy to be developing through my work across all my clients. The main adjustment was to incorporate movements that are specific to improving outcomes related to treatment of a herniated disc. This meant using props and the wall as well as focusing on stabilizing postures and subtle movements, while avoiding twists, deep forward folds, and rounding of the spine.

MLA's initial goals were to improve his core strength, tap into a sense of inner peace, reduce pain, improve his sleep quality, and explore tools for stress/anxiety. We have made the greatest strides in improving his sleep, stress, and anxiety. He did say that the teachings have been coming to his mind more often lately and do give him a sense of peace, and that the pranayama is helping him to feel more calm. Core strength has increased; I introduced the bandhas to MLA during our session last night and plan to continue to work with him on activating and restoring these deep stabilizing muscles. Pain reduction is a work in progress and will be a large part of our focus moving forward as we aim to detach from the suffering that physical pain can cause through a multilayered approach.

While I do feel that we wound up making progress towards strength and stability on the physical level, his potential herniated disc could be perceived as a worsening, even if it didn't come directly from his yoga practice. He definitely mentioned that he felt limited in his body and that the pain and limitation has been affecting his mind and his general life.

MLA has likely made the most drastic improvements on his energetic level of being, since he has been getting so into kirtan and pranayama. He has been noticing how much his thoughts affect his energy levels and has also been making an effort to think more positively as a result. He acknowledges that being in pain diminishes his energy which is a helpful insight though it might be having a worsening effect.

MLA has been dealing with the ups and downs of his stress and anxiety for a long time, and the ups and downs of his alcohol addiction before that. His nightly practice of listening to sound bowls before bed has been helping him to relax, and he has been finding utility in the meditations that we have been doing (guided imagery, divine light invocation, so hum chant, body scan, yoga nidra). He still struggles with stress and anxiety but feels that he has more tools now than he ever has.

Self-inquiry will be especially important for this client, as he does still seem quite disconnected from this faculty of his Being. While he has made noticeable improvements in the first 3 koshas, we are still working on his faculties of higher discernment. He was interested in Jnana Yoga philosophy while we were having our discussion about it, but didn't bring it up again and doesn't seem overly interested in pursuing it. A pain journal would be useful for this client, as will reading some kind of inspirational texts in some form. We will also discuss the kleshas.

This client is not very spiritually inclined at this point, but he is loving the chanting and the pranayama, so I will encourage him to continue to chant and introduce him to more chants, mantras, and mudras. We will also continue to work through the yoga sutras.

The clients feedback has been very positive. He has praised me on my knowledge of different aspects of yoga philosophy as well as anatomy and physiology. he has been very appreciative of the movements I have showed him and has said that he hopes to keep working with me.

I have asked him to study the different branches of yoga and continue to practice his asana and pranayama. For Jnana Yoga, I asked him to do a witnessing practice. For Bhakti Yoga, I asked him to chant. For Raja yoga, I asked him to do his own research on the subject. I also asked him to work on activation of the transverse abdominus throughout the day.

I would have started to use the wall from the very beginning and made my focus entirely stabilizing and grounding. This particular client does enough other forms of movement that he would have really benefitted from having the entire focus be on stabilizing and grounding from the beginning.

I feel very supported in this program. I know that if I need help with anything, there are a ton of people that I could reach out to. Brahmi would be the first person I would contact, and I feel very confident in her knowledge and wisdom.

Yes, I have loved working with this client and plan to continue to see him whenever I can.