Clients’ health is good. During the Intake I observed a few times that the client moved into a position of sitting in a closed way, with her hands clasped and it seems she’s was holding them a little tight.

Client’s energy is low due to stress. She feels fatigued.

Client seems to be experiencing chronic stress related to her husband’s illness for over 10 months now. Client describes the condition manifesting in something like reverse breathing when he speaks and the articulation comes out as a gasping sound – client says it’s very intense. She has aversion to it (Dvesha). This sound feels like an assault on her senses. She can’t stand to be around it and prefers to leave the house and go to work.
In addition to the sounds her husband makes, the noise is constant in the home because of the toddler and this contributes to the client’s stress. She no longer feels she can relax at home.

Client seems to be running away - She can’t stand to be around the situation at home and prefers to leave the house as much as she can.

Client’s religious background is Native American, specifically Oglala Lakota.

Client needs spiritual guidance of how to begin to feel with her heart again. She needs guidance on how the mind works and to understand why she thinks the way she does which makes her uncomfortable with herself.

The situation described above has cause client to forget her true self. She has been immersed in taking care of others that she has felt some loss of her sense of self.

She feels like she is in “survival mode” – meaning that she is working on not being in flight or flight all the time, and trying to find ways to get through what is going on.

Spiritual orientation and needs:
Client’s religious background is Native American, specifically Oglala Lakota.

Client needs spiritual guidance of how to begin to feel with her heart again. She needs guidance on how the mind works and to understand why she thinks the way she does which makes her uncomfortable with herself.

Client will be introduced to Book 1, Sutras 1 – 5. I find that these sutras are more subtle than then some of the other more commonly used sutras because they have to do directly with the nature of the mind and experience. To experience and understand the forms that the mind makes as the observer is the beginning of being able to also restrain the mind-stuff. I believe this client is able to grasp the deeper understanding that the sutras provide.
Book 1, Sutras 1 – 5
1.1: Now the exposition of Yoga is being made.
1.2: The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga.
1.3: Then the Seer [Self] abides in His own nature.
And 1.4 - the one you suggested:
1.4: At other times [the Self appears to] assume the forms of the mental modifications.
1.5: There are five kinds of mental modifications which are either painful or painless.

Client will also receive instruction on other wisdom teachings from the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita.

The study below was designed to provide Mindfulness Based Yoga: Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga practices to nurses for 6 weeks. They found that perceived stress, burnout, vitality, sleep quality, serenity, and mindfulness improved in the study group. It also included journaling by participants as a reflective practice on the importance of self-care, the following is one excerpt: “I feel that I can approach patients in a more relaxed state, transferring that feeling onto my patients.”

Reference:
Hilcove K, Marceau C, Thekdi P, Larkey L, Brewer MA, Jones K. Holistic Nursing in Practice: Mindfulness-Based Yoga as an Intervention to Manage Stress and Burnout. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2021;39(1):29-42. doi:10.1177/0898010120921587

Comment: I’ve really appreciated re-reading Sutras 1-6 and thinking of how these will help my client.

• 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.