• 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.

For homework, SC was invited to begin gently noticing where kindness shows up in her day-to-day life —either kindness she receives, witnesses, or offers. She was also encouraged to come up with one or two small, simple ways she can bring kindness into the world this week, even if very subtle or quiet. In addition, she was given the option to use her 5-minute Calm Anchor Practice whenever she feels overwhelmed. This practice includes deep belly breathing, an extended exhale, and a grounding hand-to-heart moment to help her reconnect with steadiness and support when needed.

In Session 1, we focused on establishing a sense of grounding, safety, and emotional steadiness to support SC right where she is. We began with a gentle check-in to explore what felt most present for her that day and set a slow, comfortable pacing for the session. From there, we introduced breath awareness with an emphasis on the extended exhale to help regulate her nervous system. We moved into gentle, breath-led movement—including spinal waves, cat-cow, and shoulder rolls—to begin releasing neck and shoulder tension and ease emotional “bracing.” Somatic release techniques such as light tapping and hand-to-heart grounding helped her reconnect with her body with kindness.

We also discussed the concept of Ahimsa, exploring how non-harm and self-kindness can be brought into movement and daily life. We lightly touched on Yoga Sutra 1.2 (“Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind”) and introduced the idea of the witness mind—the part of her that can observe thoughts and emotions with gentleness rather than judgment. We closed with a brief compassion-focused meditation to support emotional ease and reinforce the theme of moving gently with herself.

SC responded well to the grounding and breath-led practices, easing into the movements with curiosity and openness. The gentle pacing appeared supportive and helped her feel safe as she explored connection with her breath and body. She released some upper-body tension through the movement and showed receptiveness to somatic grounding tools. Her engagement in the Ahimsa discussion and the witness mind concept indicated readiness for a more compassionate relationship with herself. Overall, she left the session feeling more centered, regulated, and supported.

As her yoga therapist, I felt that SC responded well to the pacing, tone, and structure of the session, and it seemed that beginning with grounding practices helped her settle into a sense of safety. I noticed that she was highly receptive to concepts like Ahimsa and the witness mind, which suggests she is ready to engage in contemplative work in a gentle, embodied way. Her openness, vulnerability, and willingness to explore breath and movement indicated a strong therapeutic alliance forming, and I felt encouraged by her ability to soften and stay present throughout the session. Moving forward, I want to continue offering steady, compassionate guidance while being mindful of her emotional sensitivity and the depth of the grief she carries, ensuring that each step feels safe, supported, and empowering.

In the next session, we will continue building the foundation of regulation and safety while introducing more compassion-oriented movement and breathwork. The focus will shift toward softening self-blame and cultivating embodied kindness using intuitive movement, gentle mobility, and short reflective practices. We will revisit her experience with the Calm Anchor Practice and extend the theme of Ahimsa through movement, breath, and journaling to deepen her capacity for self-compassion.