Client is a 65-year-old cis Caucasian female. Client was diagnosed in May 2023 with HER2+ hormone negative breast cancer. The mass was 1.2cm (“size of an M&M”) at 5 o’clock in the left breast. Lumpectomy was performed in August 2023. There was no lymph node involvement, and her doctors did not even mention lymphedema to her. She felt that her radiologist was aggressive in the treatment protocol. Initially she was scheduled for 12 sessions of chemo, but because of how poorly she felt, she asked to stop after 10 sessions, which the radiologist agreed to provided she completed all of the scheduled immunotherapy.

She feels that her energy has declined over the past 7 months, due to her chemotherapy as well as a knee surgery (left meniscus repair July 2023) - however she is now getting her energy back and is excited to explore yoga therapy as she continues to heal. She is currently undergoing radiation treatments (20 total treatments, with the date of our intake being day #3), as well as immunotherapy treatments every 3 weeks for a total of 16 treatments. She feels that she holds tension in her neck and shoulders, and feels moderate pain when she is on her knees for several minutes. She was diagnosed with depression in 2010 and takes 10mg Lexipro daily. She also takes ibuprofen as needed, no more than 2x/week.

She works from home as an account manager, where she is transitioning from working full-time to part-time. She recently moved to a one-bedroom condominium where her best friend also lives. She is physically active, choosing to get outdoors and walk, bike or swim about 3x/week, as well as yoga classes at her gym. She considers herself to be an energetic person, with more energy in the morning and feeling depleted by 6:00pm.

The client used tobacco for about 4 years in the 1980’s, and has not used since. She is an alcoholic 12 years sober. She remains active in AA and volunteers weekly at a local recovery program, The Healing Place where she teaches classes and serves as a sponsor/mentor. One of her great takeaways as she began her recovery journey was that “the energy spent in fueling addiction can be put towards positive things.”

She describes her diet as generally healthy, eating fruits and vegetables and making smoothies 3x/week. She doesn’t like to “stuff herself” or eat out very often, but sometimes eats too much sugar.

She describes her stress level as low and feels she doesn’t “stress about much.” She embraced through AA the idea of wearing “life like loose clothing,” and if she does get agitated she has learned to let things go fairly easily. She uses positive thoughts/affirmations and gratitude on a regular basis.

She has a “wonderful support system” of friends and family, including her daughters, her brothers and sisters. While she grew up in church she has gotten away from regular attendance, but feels her purpose in life “is to grow spiritually and to enjoy life to its fullest.” She reads spiritual books daily and prayer is very important to her.

Anamaya: On physical assessment, the client has no movement restrictions, other than discomfort when on her knees. On breath assessment the client has no breath restrictions.

Pranamaya: The client is regaining her energy, but there are opportunities here to offer practices to build, move and balance prana.

Manomaya: The client seems to honor thoughts and emotions, with a desire to sit with them long enough to learn without being overwhelmed.

Client has a Christian background - her father was a minister. She has also been in recovery from alcoholism for 12 years and is very active in AA as well as a local recovery center, The Healing Place.

Vijnanamaya: The client's practice of the 12 steps of AA and support found in the sangha of meetings helps her navigate challenges with a desire for sattva, just without knowing the framework of the gunas. Would like to introduce her to the gunas to give her another lens through with to view shifts in her mind. Also introduce her to different practices of meditation that can continue to support her healing.

Overall goal is to share how so many of the yoga sutras are mirrored in sciptures from the Bible - examples include Sutra 2.33-2.34 with Philippians 4:6-8, or my favorite Sutra 1.1 and 1.2 with Matthew 11:28-30.

Also using this client for my YCAT Level 2 internship, using the structure of an 8-week class to focus our sessions: Awareness, Breath/Pranayama, Movement/Asana, Meditation, Imagery, Relaxation/Yoga Nidra, Deepening Practice with Yoga Philosophy/Raja and Integrating Practice into Daily Life.

Previously approved note from old platform, slightly updated/modified to match new format here.

• 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.