As you may know, I completed a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy this past August. While I continued to work with Yoga Therapy clients I had established through my Master's program, I have waited until now to add Yoga Therapy to my regular offerings at Transform. I needed some extra time to lay the appropriate groundwork. I appreciate your patience!

Please read my article What is Yoga Therapy? (also included below in less fancy form:-) from the latest issue of Opelika in the Know to learn details about Yoga Therapy and how it differs from private yoga and regular yoga group classes. It will help you decide if Yoga Therapy is right for you or someone you know. I will continue to offer current private and group classes, but Yoga Therapy will also be offered in individual and small group workshop formats.

What is yoga therapy?

Yoga therapy uses the tools of yoga (breathwork, postures, movement & mindfulness techniques) to address an individual’s physical, emotional, mental, and sometimes spiritual needs/goals. While a regular group yoga class at a gym or studio can be therapeutic, yoga therapy is tailored to the individual or small groups that share a common health condition. It is evidence-informed and is beneficial for conditions such as chronic pain (low back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia), mental health (insomnia, anxiety, depression, PTSD), illness (cancer, diabetes), neurological issues (Parkinson’s, stroke, dementia, MS, TBI), and aging (osteoporosis, balance/fall prevention). No prior yoga experience is needed to benefit from yoga therapy. The yoga tools used for a session and plan of care are informed by clients’ preferences and goals and focus on relieving symptoms and improving function to foster a sense of well-being.

How is yoga therapy different from a yoga class?

• Yoga therapy includes HIPAA-compliant intake forms and assessments that provide a holistic view of the client, their goals, and their progress.
• Yoga therapy is one-on-one (therapist and client) or small-group (4-6 participants).
• Individual sessions are conversational and experiential: the yoga therapist works with the client to develop and adapt a plan of care to support the client’s comfort and needs. Each session includes follow-up assessments to track progress.
• For small groups, individual intake and assessments are conducted prior to group sessions, and all participants share a common condition (anxiety, low back pain, breast cancer, TBI, for example). These small group sessions are like workshops (educational, experiential, reflective, conversational). Informal follow-up assessments occur at the mid-point and end of workshop series. Groups are small so that individualized attention and adaptations can be safely and successfully provided for all participants.

How is a Yoga Therapist (YT) different from a yoga teacher?

• A C-IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists) certified YT has a minimum of 2 years of additional education, training, and supervised clinical experience. This includes in-depth study of anatomy, pathophysiology, psychology, and biomedicine. The clinical practicum includes many hours of in-person and virtual sessions with clients who are coping with various health conditions. Faculty supervisors observe, evaluate, and mentor YT’s in training throughout the practicum.
• A YT keeps abreast of the latest research and uses evidence-informed practices to support a client’s wellness goals. Some YT’s also conduct research studies.
• A YT is trained to work in collaboration with other health care providers to provide complementary care that supports clients’ healing. YT’s often work in medical settings to provide on-site complementary care.

If you or someone you know is interested in trying yoga therapy, or if you’re curious about adding it to your health care setting, email Susie at susie@transformyoga.org or view current offerings and packages.

Yoga Therapy Introductory Package

To celebrate the addition of Yoga Therapy to Transform's offerings, I created a special Yoga Therapy Introductory Package. The package ($300) includes 4 sessions: 1 (90-minute) intake session and 3 (60-minute) follow-up sessions. With this package, clients are able to track progress with me, and home plans of care are provided after every session. It also offers $80 savings compared to single-session rates. Sessions can be held in-person or via Zoom according to client preference!

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to schedule!

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Susie

PS: Photos below are from our Valentine's Open House and Ribbon Cutting with the Opelika Chamber of Commerce! Thanks to those who came out to show support!