• 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 extended exhalation breath, with 1-2 minutes of mantra repetition meditation at the beginning of each day.
Constructive rest pose for 15 minutes before bedtime.
Mantra meditation: Consistently meditate at the start of the day. Walking meditation is an option to try a couple of times a week.
Practice awareness of the emotions: Write down emotions as they show up each day and notice if anything shifts when you apply the locks and keys to self, or if you use a yoga tool like deep breathing. Make note of that and we’ll discuss in our next session.

Centering
Check In

Discussion: We will discuss the clients’ observations from Yoga Sutras 1.15 and 1:16 and application in personal life. We will discuss Yoga Sutra 1.12, restraining mental modifications through practice and non attachment and inquiry into what’s arising in the mind from Sutra 2.1.

Gentle Hatha with Adaptations:
Joint freeing series with emphasis on shoulder shrugs, sighing while letting the shoulders drop
Sun salutations with adaptations
Chair pose with a block between the knees
Constructive rest pose to help relax the low back and calm the nervous system.

Extended exhalation breathing, starting with slow sighs.

Yoga Nidra with tensing and releasing and guided awareness followed by guided cognitive diffusion meditation, placing thoughts on leaves.

T said that she has more awareness and is able to release some of the things that she’s been attached to mentally. She created a space on her patio where she can sit by herself away from family for quiet and this idea resonated with the other clients, so we talked about what that might look like for them. L indicated that she’s noticing when tension shows up in the body and also noticing when she has attachments and is working on letting go. She notices she is more disrupted emotionally when she doesn’t practice the yoga practices. K said that she has a lot of family stress, couldn’t get a set schedule for her life, and that she felt defeated. I scheduled time to meet with her separately and you’ll see a session entry for this later.

It was good to see that two of the clients are progressing with emotional awareness and application of tools. I recognized that I needed to offer a separate session for K because she is really struggling emotionally and I didn't want to engage in too much MI in front of everyone else, when they were reporting that they were feeling some level of impact from the practices but she was not.

Centering
Check In

Discussion: We will discuss observations of emotions and application of locks and keys and tools when those showed up. I will share Yoga Sutras 2.33, 2.34, and 2.35. These are focused on pratipaksha bahavana and the importance of a firmly established ahimsa practice and will help the clients focus on what they do with the thoughts as they arise and why it’s important to practice ahimsa.

Gentle Hatha with Adaptations:
Joint freeing series with emphasis on shoulder shrugs, sighing while letting the shoulders drop
Sun salutations with adaptations
Chair pose with a block between the knees
Constructive rest pose to help relax the low back and calm the nervous system.

Extended exhalation breathing, starting with slow sighs.

Yoga Nidra with tensing and releasing and guided awareness followed by guided cognitive diffusion meditation, placing thoughts on leaves.