Negentropy is reverse entropy and it means a bringing of chaotic things into more order. Yoga as an intact system is intend to heal. It is considered a negentropic source of healing because it is a modulator of biological systems. Negentropy is the key to understanding the healing process. Ref: Dr Laxmi Sutter class.

In order to attain negentropy, we'll have two meetings of 40 minutes each and a daily practice for one month, that includes: affirmations, chakra based asanas- muladhara (to ground) and swadhistana (connect to feminine), mindful breathing, yoganidra (before sleep) and journaling. (Ref: Manual of Stress Management, Anodea Judith-Chakra Yoga)

She is a 51 year old woman, yoga teacher, with a strong sadhana, daily yoga practice, mother of 4. She is in a moment of transition in her life: since last year she began the process of menopause and she's going through a divorce. She wants support for this transition. She has no physical pain, but her cortisol is in a high level probably because of stress. She is not sleeping very well. She feels fear about her future . She says she has low self esteen and history of verbal abusive husband.

1.Pre-assessment.
2.Talk about yoga as a negentropic tool (5min), then: warm up (neck and shoulders to release tension), mindful breathing to bring the mind to the present moment (5min), asanas: (15min) cat cow, downward dog, bioenergetic exercise (Chakra Yoga, Anodea Judith) -chakras 1 and 2, tree pose (ground, nutrition), ananda balasana, supta badha konasana with chakra visualization, yoganidra (affirmations). Homefun: journaling/10min yoganidra (app) before sleep everyday.Practice 3x week.

Through Hatha Yoga (chakra based asanas, mindful breathing, yoganidra), she is working the energy of the muladhara chakra to promote stability of body/mind which helps in the organization of mind process that leads to negentropy. She is also energizing her swadhistana chakra to strengthen the feminine energy that is hurt by abuse and low self esteem. Raja Yoga (affirmations) will help her control her mind, still her thoughts "then all limitations are transcended" (swami Satchidananda). When the mind is still, the vision is clear, we are more ready to fight the "chaos of life" or entropy. Journaling helps the process of self-analysis and awareness (Jnana Yoga). She can recognize the false beliefs, "ceasing to identify with body, mind and ego", that are chaotic and subject to change; and stay in the Self observing the mind moving between chaos (unpredictability) and self-organization.

At the pre-assessment, I noticed her shoulders tight, which denoted some tension. She answered a Generalized Anxiety Disorder test to measure levels of anxiety, which demonstrated zero anxiety, because she was coming from a week retreat. She had no difficulty breathing or practicing the asanas in any session. After the first session, she reported that she was having now the same feelings of abandonment that she had when she was 10 year old. We talked about how this new situation is giving to her the opportunity to overcome that old fear that never left her, although she didn't know it was there. Before the second session, she reported that she was feeling much better and practicing journaling and yoganidra every night. She said that this practice was very important to her. She is also practicing the class 3 times a week and this it is calming her down and stilling her thoughts.

I suggested that she could continue practice affirmations during the day and about 10 min yoganidra before sleep for now on. She could also do journaling before yoganidra. These practices can change someone's mind from chaos and fear to a state of peace and stillness. I suggested her to place some affirmation cards where she could see them and those would be a reminder of her strength. The affirmations are from Paramahansa Yogananda as she is his disciple. She already meditates twice a day, and practice Hatha Yôga every day, what helps a lot in the process of negentropy. She really liked the suggestions.

I first met my client in a pre-assessment meeting. We filled together the client intake form (Foundations) and the GAD-7 and talked about what was her goal with the yoga therapy. The second time, I applied the plan with the client and she could begin to organize better in her mind what was going on in her life and the possible roots of this situation. In this meeting the process of negentropy began to take place. The third time, about a week later, I changed a little bit some asanas, but always working the 2 first chakras. She continued feeling a sense of grounding and inner peace. We recorded the practice so she could watch it later and practice by herself.

Actually I didn't have to adapt anything. I knew very well my client and what she needed in order to help in her own process of healing. This was very important to make the plan work.
I learned to have more confidence in me, in what I know and in what Yoga can do for everyone. When we practice these techniques (Hatha Yôga, mindful breathing, affirmations, yoganidra), we’re balancing our energy, reorganizing our koshas (annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, vijnamaya, anandamaya) in a negentropic way.
I also learned to listen more to what the client needs than what I think they need.

If I was faced with the same situation and same person, the approach would be the same because the results were very good. After the first session, the client reported that she was beginning to perceive the root of her problem: the sensation of abandonment was still in her mind, which she felt first about 30 years ago.
But if she was another person I would approach it differently. I tried to personalized the therapy, giving her affirmations from her Guru and visualizations during yoganidra that she would enjoy.
If I didn't know her well, I'm sure it would be a little more difficult to make a plan that fit so well for her. Maybe I should have more pre-assessment meetings before the first session, which I didn't need in her case.

• ClientIntakeForm_FoundationsofIYTh2021-211112-140600.pdf
• affirmations.pdf
• the-generalized-anxiety-disorder-7-item-scale.pdf