• 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.

Body awareness—sensing into the shoulders while in asanas and making adjustments so that the shoulders are not elevated up to the ears, or arching back during poses where the shoulders should be neutral.
Breathing practice—A-kara breathing with Shanka Mudra
Sadhana practice—Reestablish a daily practice to include meditation, helping to calm the mind and build a routine of regular practice

Check In
Guided Awareness
Discussion of Yoga Sutras 1.30-1.31
Reassessment of shoulder
Balanced Hatha Yoga considering contraindications:
Joint freeing series with shoulder shrugs, gentle neck stretches, and
Sun salutations with adaptations
Modified plank pose (on hands and knees with a neutral neck)
A-Kara Breathing with Shanka Mudra (Conch Shell with prolonged A sound during exhalation)
Cognitive defusion guided meditation to alleviate attachments to negative thoughts about self and attachments to thoughts that cause suffering. This meditation will be about placing thoughts as they arrive in the mind on a leaf and letting them float by down a stream.
Yoga Nidra with tensing and releasing and sensing into the body to create a parasympathetic system response.

The client self-reported that she was still feeling some frustrations related to their living circumstances but that she’d started their daily meditation practice back up and felt like this was helping. The client indicated that her shoulder was feeling a bit better, but was still tender. When I offered discussion about Yoga Sutras 1:30, the client laughed and indicated that she’d taught this Sutra during Raja Yoga TT and that she thought this was a sign from the Universe that I was offering it, and she should listen to the teaching closely.

This client is an experienced yoga practitioner and teacher whom has lived in Yogaville, immersed in a yogic lifestyle. This initially felt a little intimidating for me, but then I realized that the client wouldn’t have come to me for yoga therapy unless there was something that she wanted to work on for herself. I realized quickly in the intake session that she had a lot that she was dealing with energetically. I was really pleased to see how well she responded in our first session to the activities that I offered. I still continue to get to know her, as she struggles with communication about feelings. This reminded me again how important it will be to support her throat chakra and energetic/spiritual needs as we work together.

Check In
Guided Awareness
Discussion of Yoga Sutras 1.32 and 1.33, Locks and Keys with application to self
Balanced Hatha Yoga considering contraindications:
Joint freeing series with shoulder shrugs, gentle neck stretches, and
Sun salutations with adaptations, including Tadasana with strap in hands, arms out in front with palms facing each other and then rotated up to help with proprioception and strengthening the muscles around the shoulder joints
Creeping Urdhva Hastasana, walking the fingers up the wall to improve shoulder flexibility and mobility
90° Abduction & External Rotation of shoulder while lying down in savasana with towel roll under active arm
A-Kara Breathing with Shanka Mudra (Conch Shell with prolonged A sound during exhalation)
Cognitive defusion guided meditation to alleviate attachments to negative thoughts about self and attachments to thoughts that cause suffering. This meditation will be about placing thoughts as they arrive in the mind on a leaf and letting them float by down a stream.
Yoga Nidra with tensing and releasing and sensing into the body to create a parasympathetic system response.