• 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.

Continue her weekly yoga classes, bike rides, swimming and other activities she enjoys, modifying each day according to her energy level (practicing brahmacharya).

Continue exploring the LifeForce Yoga Bhavana practice - and perhaps share it with the ladies at The Healing Place.

Session #3: Movement/Asana. During check-in the client shared her next infusion appointment is March 8. So far she has had no negative side effects from the treatment. She continues to pursue her goal of some movement every day, and is looking forward to her trip to Guatemala in five weeks! She felt very calm and relaxed with great physical energy today.

We began with an Awareness practice, after which the client reported some stiffness in the right side of her lower back, which she has been feeling this week after lying down or sitting for long periods of time. As she added a little gentle movement, she reported the stiffness was less with external rotation and abduction of her right hip, and the tension increased with external rotation and adduction.

We explored the LifeForce yoga practice of cultivating a bhavana. I shared with her my "bhavana album" of photos on my phone, which feature pictures of the beach at the Sivananda Bahamas ashram. I encouraged her to find an image for the practice, and she also chose a beach that was meaningful to her. She really enjoyed the practice, and mentioned sharing it with the women at the Healing Place during a teaching she was giving later in the week. I also shared what I call my sensory pouch, which features a smooth piece of conch from that beach that I use as a worry stone, my rose essential oil, a lavender lip balm, and my favorite mala beads.

Since the client felt energized today, we explored Virabhadrasana 2. Vira, meaning courage, is about more than physical courage, and as the client has - and continues to - pursue her treatment, she demonstrates courage across all of her koshas. We explored what it would feel like to first focus on the Anamaya kosha in the pose, finding the physical strength of the warrior - then explore the pose with the intention of drawing energy from the arms, legs, and eyes into the heart. I encouraged the client to explore the pose across all the koshas, working with her energy in the Pranamaya kosha, being aware of the information entering through her senses and emotions present in the Manomaya kosha - and even withdrawing the senses a little (could this be considered a modified practice of pratyahara in that sense?)

We concluded the session with an extended time of Shavasana, allowing this practice to also be one of pratyahara. Afterward the client shared she really appreciated a particular cue I gave to her: when the mind wanders, return to the breath. She shared that returning her thoughts to awareness of her breath is becoming more "automatic" for her.

She felt very calm and relaxed with great physical energy today.

I had struggled/wondered a bit about sharing my personal practices (like my "sensory pouch") but felt it was appropriate and helpful for the client to see ways in which I incorporate practices into my daily life - beyond the context of being the gym yoga teacher that she knows.

Next week I would like to focus on meditation with the client. I am not sure what meditation technique(s) she has tried, so I would like to introduce mala meditation and tratak meditation techniques for her to explore.