• 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.

Continue with slow, deep breathing; practice either waking meditation or "peace is in me" mantra meditation; read and ponder a handout on Raja Yoga I emailed to him. He will be on vacation for two weeks with his family including his parents in Italy. Next session: 5/29

Reviewed his practice of observing his mind/emotions. He shared about leaving his swimsuit and goggles at one rec center and not realizing until he arrived to swim at another rec center. He experienced intense anger/frustration with himself. BUT he managed this well by: 1) using slow deep breathing; 2) going with "Plan B" - weight lifting.
Reviewed koshas. When I mentioned the "spirituality of Yoga," he asked what that really meant. In this context, he also shared about thinking about death. Most of his relatives are very long-lived, but his 84-year-old grandfather was killed by being hit by a car. This launched a deep conversation about spirituality, Christianity (the religion of his youth, and the spirituality of Yoga. I mentioned the Yoga Sutras, especially 1.2-1.4 and Book Two on the yamas and niyamas. I also mentioned advaita vedanta and the stream of consciousness (everything IS consciousness). He was very intrigued by all of this. I also explained ishta-devata in Hinduism: each person is allowed to envision and approach God/Divinity in their own way. All is this is very new to him, but he is highly intelligent and interested in the material.

The client is making slow but steady progress in observing his own mind/emotions, and making healthy choices in dealing with anger/frustration.

I was totally amazed at how this conversation unfolded in today's session! This client has seemed totally uninterested in spirituality, so I had no plan to bring it up. However, the conversation moved in that directly quite naturally, especially when he mentioned the death of his grandfather. This is also a great example of the way I like to work with clients anyway: remaining open to whatever they bring up on any given day.

Will review the Raja Yoga handout and any questions he has about what we have learned and practiced so far. He has committed to two more sessions, so I plan to teach brahmari breath for anger management, alternate-nostril breathing, and seated meditation to round out his tool kit of practices. Any other suggestions?