Hello

Lucy's Thoughts on Yoga Therapy

What do you love most about yoga therapy?

There is so much to love about Yoga Therapy! I love how this therapeutic modality is able to simply, with often profound affects, invite both the body and mind to self-witness with individualized movement and dialogue. It offers us humans a place to meet ourselves, in a kind and curious manner, to process living with compassion and love. It is accessible to anyone with a body, mind, and heart who wants to grow, heal and live to their fullest potential. Yoga therapy uses the multi-layered philosophy and practices of yoga to support non-attachment (Aparigraha)*, non-judgement and compassion (Ahimsa), and self-acceptance (Santosha) to help us delight, grieve, heal, grow and live.

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What do you wish everyone knew about yoga therapy?

I want everyone to know that yoga therapy does not require that you stand on your head or be a flexible person. Yoga therapy is an invitation to witness yourself using the many principles of yoga. It is an approach that works with our incredibly designed central nervous systems through dialogue and movement and hands on support to therapeutical process difficult life transitions, trauma, chronic pain and heal physically and emotionally from the many ways life challenges us. It is a form of self-witnessing that fosters our innate wisdom to heal, thrive, grow and live fully.

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How do you embody yoga therapy in your life?

As a life long student of yoga, I sometimes feel strange calling yoga therapy “yoga therapy” because Yoga in its very essence is therapeutic. The words yoga therapy almost seem redundant! A few ways that I use yoga therapy in my daily life are through: self massage techniques (Abhyanga) to ground myself when I’m nervous or feeling physical discomfort; breathing techniques (Pranayama) when I’m upset or cannot sleep; self-witnessing (Sakshi) and discernment (Viveka) when I find myself judging myself and others as a means of finding the truth (Satya); physical movements (Asana) to support my body especially for my lower back which needs special attention to stay healthy and strong. I am so grateful for the gift of yoga as it has been a roadmap for me for self healing, navigating loss, expanding my self-awareness and delighting in life. It is with so much respect to the ancient South East Asian roots of Yoga and teachers who have passed down this lifestyle and wisdom. I have had many gracious teachers and continuously seek knowledge to best share the gift of yoga with others.

 *The words in parentheses are in Sanskrit. The classical language of India and the liturgical language of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism. It is the language in which most of the classical

yoga texts are written.