The process begins with the first phone conversation where we will chat about your situations. I will ask some basic questions and you will be given lots of time to ask questions. After our chat we will decide if Yoga Therapy seems like a good fit for you.

Before your first appointment you will be given an intake form, which is very much like an intake form you might get from a Medical Doctor or Psychotherapist. I use this to help prepare for our first appointment.

Yoga Therapy is based on the belief that every person and situation is uniquely different. It is impossible to say exactly how a session will unfold. With this in mind, the following will give you a general idea of what to expect.

At our first appointment we will meet at my home studio or online. My home studio is in Old South London with ample parking and easily accessible from three major bus routes. Unfortunately it is not mobility accessible. If you need an accessible space we can discuss options during your free consultation call.

Our session will begin by reviewing your intake, giving you an opportunity to talk about what brought you to Yoga Therapy and your goals. We will spend time chatting about what's happening in your body and emotions. We may also discuss what’s happening in your day-to-day life that could be contributing to physical and emotional stress. If you have experienced trauma you won’t be asked to go into details of the incident(s). However, providing high-level details can help guide our time together.

Depending on your goals we will look at your physical holding patterns and imbalances (where do you carry stress?). Holding and imbalances are a good indication of the root cause of physical pain. They are also an indication of – or created by - emotional holding or spiritual/energetic blockages.

We will work together to develop a personalized treatment plan. The plan will likely begin with either breath awareness and/or asana (movement /stretches /postures) and will likely include other supportive tools of yoga including: Yoga Nidra, meditation, guided relaxation, visualization, mudras and sound. I may provide psycho education on nervous system regulation and offer deeper teachings of yoga to support your healing.

Unlike a traditional group Yoga class there will be dialogue throughout the Yoga Therapy session. You will be encouraged to witness and share what is happening in your physical and emotional body. The intention of this dialogue is to help you build agency and an embodied sense of your Self - becoming more deeply attuned to sensation and open restrictions that may be causing pain.

At the end of the session we will work together to develop a program that you can practice at home. The home practice is always based on the time you have available and the poses you felt where most beneficial.

Yoga therapy for mental health is not intended as a one time solution. The first session is around 90-minutes, follow-up sessions are 75-minutes. Typically clients come weekly for 4-6 weeks after which they may continue meeting bi-weekly-ish or transition to group classes. Most people should expect to come for a eight to twelve sessions in order to get the full benefit of Yoga Therapy.

If you would like to find out if Yoga Therapy is right for you I encourage you to schedule a free consultation where you can ask any questions you might have.