• 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.

Incorporate breath/body awareness meditation into the morning and end of day for 10 breaths each.
Incorporate 15 minutes of legs up the wall at the end of the day, perhaps during breath/body awareness meditation.
Incorporate supported chair pose against the wall with a block between the knees.
Read the Beatitudes and listen to the song version of it by Sweet Honey in the Rock. Practice the Locks and Keys with self and others.

Centering: Guided Awareness with proprioception
Check In
Discussion:
We discussed the Locks and Keys from the Yoga Sutras

Hatha Yoga with adaptations:

Joint Freeing Series
Supported chair pose against a wall with a block between the legs to stabilize the knees and strengthen the quadriceps.
Pelvic tilt, lying or standing the hip extensors and knee flexors and stretch hip flexors while relieving low back pain, while stimulating the root, heart, and throat chakras.
Heel slides to stabilize the knee and hip, stretching the muscles around the joints and increasing range of motion.

Pranayama/Pranayamakosha:

Breath awareness through extended exhalation breathing to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system response.

Emotional & Mental/Manomayakosha:

Yoga Nidra focused on tensing and releasing to help the client with emotional self regulation. Guided meditation focused on following the breath with loving-kindness messages.

The client was very tired when she arrived for our session and said that she had not been sleeping well because of her anxiety. She self-reported that she feels like she needs to be in control. She said that she tries to “put systems in place to help but [she] feels like they’re not working.” She has been experiencing semi-constant tightness in the piriformis.

I had a plan to cover the Beatitudes during our session but ran out of time before we needed to move on because this client talks a lot. I ended up assigning it for homework. She’s an experienced fitness instructor and prior to this session mostly looked at yoga as an effort one should strive for achievement in, like she might approach strength building and other classes that she teaches. I offered some very brief discussion in our intake from Sutras 1.1-1.3 to help shift this mindset a bit. She responded well to deep relaxation. I will need to focus more in future sessions on the subtle practices and the yoga philosophy to help her balance out her need to always been In control and always be busy, in order to address her goals.

Centering: Guided Awareness with proprioception
Check In
Discussion:
We will discuss the Yamas.

Hatha Yoga with adaptations:

Joint Freeing Series
Supported chair pose against a wall with a block between the legs to stabilize the knees and strengthen the quadriceps.
Pelvic tilt, lying or standing the hip extensors and knee flexors and stretch hip flexors while relieving low back pain, while stimulating the root, heart, and throat chakras.
Heel slides to stabilize the knee and hip, stretching the muscles around the joints and increasing range of motion.

Pranayama/Pranayamakosha:

Ha breath/Breath of Life for three rounds to help stimulate the throat chakra and clear fatigue.

Emotional & Mental/Manomayakosha:

Yoga Nidra focused on tensing and releasing to help the client with emotional self regulation. Guided meditation focused on following the breath with loving-kindness messages.