Raja Yoga teaches the difference between knowledge and ignorance, it teaches discipline and Sadhana - the tools that help us have more control of the mind and emotions (Manomaya Kosha) and how to develop our intellect, concentration, discernment and discrimination (Vijnanmaya kosha) so that we may change ourselves and come closer to our true self.

Introduce Client to Ashtanga Yoga as per Yoga Sutras of Patanjali to orient her to the path of Yoga, and teach Client a meditation practice. Present client with a practice routine that includes asana, breathing practices, and meditation to do daily for 30 minutes; include Yoga teachings, bee breath and additional asana in future sessions.

Female age 64, in good health.
Client needs support with establishing a meditation practice, she is bewildered by how meditation has been so difficult for her, and she does not use a meditation technique. Client’s spiritual orientation has been an amalgamation of what she has learned from various paths and finds herself always in flux without orientation and seeks religious/spiritual orientation. Client wants to re-learn to connect with God. Client wants to be more flexible through asana.

We met for 6 weeks. Intake was completed prior to first meeting.
The following practices and activities where given:
• Pre and Post Survey.
• Daily: Hatha Yoga practice/Chair Yoga - 30 to 40 minutes; Meditation 15-20 minutes.
• Discussions on understanding the process of meditation, specifically why the mind resists meditation and how techniques help us to control the mind.
• Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga; Yogas Citta Vrtti Nirodhah, Pratipaksha Bhavana, Vairagyam, The Four Locks and Keys; Karma, Bhakti, Jnana and Raja Yoga; and the Koshas.

Please note the abbreviation for the following below: Pratipaksha Bhavana, Vairagyam, Prananyama and Meditation (PB,V, P&M)

Raja Yoga is the tool used for the management of Client’s stress. Discussions on the Sutras to understand the 8 Limbs, how the mind works and what happens to the mind in meditation; and to achieve a sense of the importance of Sadhana and discipline through practice. The Gita for an explanation on the Koshas, and Autobiography for understanding of the relationship between a disciple and Guru.
The client was having episodes of stress due to issues that arise with her daughter. Client explains that as a result of stress she injured her knee. Client says that what has helped her regulate her emotional state during has been PB,V, P&M and “that although she still gets jarred, her heart pounds and she gets weak from the issues that arise, she has used Pranayama to stablize, she has been using so much of what she has been learning; its informing her life and how she sees things, and decisions."

First 4 weeks client was able to do an Integral Hatha Yoga Class 3 times a week; 3 Sun Salutations the rest of the week. W1: Reports feeling more flexible. Om Shanti mantra was added to her daily 15-20 minutes meditation practice. W2: Client has 10 minutes for meditation in between her massage clients. We discussed Pratipaksha Bhavana as it was useful to her over the prior weekend. W3: Reports that she is even more flexible, and has set up a room for mediation. W4: Reported she injured her knee and is unable to do asana, so I switched her to Chair Yoga. Says that what has helped has been PB,V, P&M. Discussion on these practices as what we do "off the mat". The readings have helped her to realize how long she has been looking for Union with spirit; Bee breath helps her to feel “intact”. W5: “Delightful to read about the love Yogananda has for his Guru," chair yoga is working well.

I suggested that she continue with what she has begun to develop and to practice her mediation and asana daily (during her ‘protected time’) as that will give her the reserves to help her especially during difficult times; and to refer to the Yoga Sutras, The Bhagavad Gita, and Autobiography of a Yogi for guidance, and to catch the Livestream services on Saturday evenings from the Satchidananda Ashram. Client says that her goal “is to continue to use what she has been doing, meditating and work on her feelings.”

I also asked her to keep me posted upon completing her Hatha Yoga TT (in 2001 she took a Hatha Yoga TT but was unable to receive certification because she didn’t take the qualifying exam), and I suggested that if she is very interested she too could enroll in a Raja Yoga class to continue to learn.

Yes. Pre/Post Surveys showed the Client went from being “flexible but want to be more flexible” to “very flexible”; meditation improved from “still difficult but hopeful that will get easier” to “getting easier, with more good days, and I am able to concentrate and feel a bit of flow”; and for: How happy are you with your belief system or worldview now? she went from “Not entirely happy” to “so far trusting the knowledge and principles that I am learning in Yoga, and I would like to continue to learn more about the path of Yoga.” Client expressed that she “has reconnected with the desire to be of service and she feels she has reconnected with healing and that the reason she has reconnected is because she now feels like she’s reconnected with God again.” This is what she wanted out of Yoga Therapy.

During the first week I sent Client the full Integral Hatha Yoga Class to practice the Sun Salutations, instead client practiced the entire class, as a result, I did not have to introduce additional asanas. During weeks 1-4 she does the full class 3 times a week and on the other days she does 3 Sun Salutations. Additionally, Client was eager to learn, so our sessions went a little longer than expected as we dived into discussing the readings and she would explain how “she has been using so much of what she has been learning.” She also requested that I extend the class by one week for a full 6 weeks.

At fourth meeting the client reported that she injured her knee. Client was unable to do go down on the mat. (Note: this did not happen during asana.) Chair Yoga was recommended, that worked for her.

By the sixth session she gradually resumed Hatha Yoga asana.

Faced with the same situation again I would do it the same way because this Client was appreciating everything that she was learning - and from what I can see she used the tools during our weeks together. Client said she achieved what she wanted from Yoga Therapy: Client expressed that she “has reconnected with the desire to be of service and she feels she has reconnected with healing and that the reason she has reconnected is because she now feels like she reconnected with God again.”

Additionally, Client expressed that her life has been “brightened” and she has decided to go back and finish her Hatha Yoga TT and is now on track to receive her certification in July 2022.

The Client has all of the books that have been recommended, and she was able to read all of the assigned Yoga Sutras, as well as most of the additional reading including the two science articles on Yoga, and she shared the articles with her husband. She also watched The Science Behind Yoga.