• 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 to practice Ahimsa with self and others, applying the Locks and Keys both to self and others, especially as it pertains to self-judgment.
Continue to practice at least one minute of mantra meditation in the morning daily
Continue to practice star/modified turtle for 3 rounds in the morning
Continue to practice legs up the wall or legs in the chair at the end of the day for 15 minutes
Continue to practice client’s preferred breathing practice with emphasis on reducing stress and an extended exhalation—-three rounds in the morning before or after meditation.

Check In
Centering
Discussion: We recapped what we discussed throughout the series, including the Kleshas, Locks and Keys, Yamas, helping versus serving, and how to have awareness of emotions without being self-critical (Atman.)
Gentle Hatha Yoga while seated:
Joint freeing series: Overall joint freeing series with emphasis on the breathing accompanying movements. I will encourage some tensing and releasing during this in the upper body, like the shoulder shrugs.
Sun salutations with adaptations
Cat/cow while in the chair or standing
Legs in a chair to reduce hip and low back pressure, to create a parasympathetic nervous system response, and to improve sleep.
Pranayama: Physiological sigh breathing (two inhales through the nose, with one being a deep inhale and then inhaling a bit more, followed by extended exhalation through the mouth) to deepen the relaxation response.
Relaxation: Guided mediation for self-love to help the clients actively apply and practice Ahimsa.
Meditation: Lovingkindness Metta Prayer For Peace.

Most of the group members progressed towards their goals, which was great to witness. M, B, and S all said that they felt less stress, less physical pain (other than recent injury for B), and that they were engaged in regular practices of meditation, pranayama, and asanas. M said she felt like a lot of her grief had begun to process in a way that she felt relieved about and she reported feeling “lighter” from our sessions. S indicated that as a person with autism they have a harder time identifying emotions in themselves but that they found this easier since taking sessions. B indicated that the “In the service of life” lesson was transformative for him and he feels very different about his interpersonal relationships, feeling like he’s been lifted of guilt related to not being able to help his family because of his illness. All three showed relaxed breathing at the start of the session, much calmer talking and more relaxed bodies.

A was the client that had not attended consistently and she seemed to get worse. In reality though, she’s attended exactly the number of sessions that all of my clients appeared worse before they progressed more, due to the awareness of emotions. A indicated that she hasn’t been doing the practices, other than meditation which she does as prayer. She said she was verbally attacked in a group setting leading up to our sessions and she was able to cry in front of people and express emotions, which she normally wasn’t able to do before. She felt like this was progress for her. She appeared tamasic, but was also talking excitably about her stressful experience in the emotional setting a few days before. Her breathing and body, which are normally relaxed in our sessions, were visibly more tense.

I enjoyed working with this group and I’m glad all of the clients reported some benefits. M really processed some of her grief in a way that seemed very healthy and I’m glad that I did an individual session with her to support her. S developing a better understanding of Self as a person on the autism spectrum was major and then learning how to apply Locks and Keys to others also seemed to be a game changer for them. B reached out to me after our session concluded to let me know that the neuropathy in the hand and arm has largely subsided, following our sessions. He attributes a lot of what we did to a better understanding of his condition and to starting to develop an approach to have a healthier relationship with his condition.

I found it interesting that A didn’t come regularly to sessions and also struggled at her week four like other clients did in this group and in one on one sessions once they had awareness about emotions. I am not sure how I could have better supported her without her attending and without being willing to do the practices at home. I think I should follow up with her to see if she wants to do some individual sessions in September when I return to seeing clients. I did use some MI with her to try to help her make some connections to how the practices can help her feel more regulated, but she wasn’t very open to this in the group. She is a Reiki Master, a birth doula, and is largely a healer but seems to lack some level of awareness about her own emotions and needs. I think she would benefit from individual sessions, but only if she’s open to trying the practices. This is a discussion I would want to have with her before I would engage with her individually for sessions and I’d want to use MI to find out more about what’s actually going on under the surface that could be in the way.

There is no plan for a future session.