1-1 Yoga Therapy:
Yoga Therapy (YT) is nothing short of life changing. It is an emerging field out of an ancient tradition. There is growing body of research indicating yoga’s efficacy for treating a wide range of emotional and mental health issues and there are several major studies underway now at Boston University, Harvard and NIH. It is a safe, effective, accessible, and comprehensive therapeutic modality.
Yoga therapy is strength-based, allowing everyone to gain access to an inner realm that is peaceful, calm, and whole. It is an opportunity to dive deeper into the relationship between your body, mind and spirit, to treat chronic pain, depression, anxiety, weight management and sleep issues. In general, people seek therapy when they want something to change (less pain, more flexibility, improved mood, better relationships) yoga therapy is life-changing to the degree that the client desires.
One’s experience in yoga therapy depends largely on the background and approach of the yoga therapist. For the past ten years Kendall Smith has been engaged in contemplative (meditation) and somatic (body-based) trainings and education. Her approach to yoga therapy is about helping individuals to increase their awareness, alleviate suffering, improve relationships (to self & other) and restore meaning & happiness in daily life. In private, 1-1 sessions Kendall helps clients to facilitate change in the areas of their lives where they most want it. YT is a holistic approach, beyond physical challenges that are likely bring a client in (low back pain, tense muscles, digestion), issues within Kendall's scope of practice include relationships and intimacy issues, self-esteem, anxiety, depression and other mental/emotional health problems, grief& loss, diet & nutrition, motivation, and seasonal affective disorders. Learn more about her background.
Yoga Therapy is a healing process grounded in self-discovery. Clients will have the opportunity to explore their experience on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. Many people go to yoga classes to improve or maintain their physical health but return because of a distinct feeling of deep relaxation and balanced energy that results from the practice. Yoga therapy expands the opportunity for sustained benefits and long-term shifts in health.
What Yoga Therapy Is:
· Client-centered
· Cost-effective
· Holistic
· Non-judgmental
· Preventative Healthcare As Well As Intervention & Rehabilitation
What Yoga Therapy Is Not:
· A Quick Fix
· Religious or Dogmatic
· Exclusive (only for people who are physically fit, flexible, young, etc.)
What to Expect?
Prior to your first session you will complete two forms. Your first 60 minute session is an opportunity for you to review all of your information with Kendall and to create therapeutic goals. Please wear comfortable clothes to all sessions. Your physical practice will involve simple breathing exercises and movement. If you are interested in primarily traditional talk therapy, Kendall is trained to provide more talk-based interventions as well.
Reported Benefits:
· Muscles are stretched slowly (increases anti-inflammatory prostaglandin hormones) and massaged (relaxes them)
· Increased awareness of thought patterns
· Greater sense of connectedness to self & others
· Increased lymph flow, systematically, to the various parts of the body
· Improved sleep patterns
· Lowered blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate
· Re-balancing of sympathetic (alarm) and parasympathetic (relaxation) nervous systems
· Improvement in ability to self-regulate
· Restoration of a sense of purpose & hopefulness
· Decreased stress hormones – epinephrine (adrenaline/alarm) and cortisol
· Increased balancing of right and left brain activity
· Circulation is improved, systematically, to the various parts of the body
Reasons Why Yoga Therapy Might Not Be For You At Time:
· If you are actively suicidal
· If you are in in severe, acute pain from a recent injury
· If you do not want anything to be different about your life
(and are at peace with the fact that change is the only constant so everything is different all the time)
Yoga Therapy (YT) is nothing short of life changing. It is an emerging field out of an ancient tradition. There is growing body of research indicating yoga’s efficacy for treating a wide range of emotional and mental health issues and there are several major studies underway now at Boston University, Harvard and NIH. It is a safe, effective, accessible, and comprehensive therapeutic modality.
Yoga therapy is strength-based, allowing everyone to gain access to an inner realm that is peaceful, calm, and whole. It is an opportunity to dive deeper into the relationship between your body, mind and spirit, to treat chronic pain, depression, anxiety, weight management and sleep issues. In general, people seek therapy when they want something to change (less pain, more flexibility, improved mood, better relationships) yoga therapy is life-changing to the degree that the client desires.
One’s experience in yoga therapy depends largely on the background and approach of the yoga therapist. For the past ten years Kendall Smith has been engaged in contemplative (meditation) and somatic (body-based) trainings and education. Her approach to yoga therapy is about helping individuals to increase their awareness, alleviate suffering, improve relationships (to self & other) and restore meaning & happiness in daily life. In private, 1-1 sessions Kendall helps clients to facilitate change in the areas of their lives where they most want it. YT is a holistic approach, beyond physical challenges that are likely bring a client in (low back pain, tense muscles, digestion), issues within Kendall's scope of practice include relationships and intimacy issues, self-esteem, anxiety, depression and other mental/emotional health problems, grief& loss, diet & nutrition, motivation, and seasonal affective disorders. Learn more about her background.
Yoga Therapy is a healing process grounded in self-discovery. Clients will have the opportunity to explore their experience on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. Many people go to yoga classes to improve or maintain their physical health but return because of a distinct feeling of deep relaxation and balanced energy that results from the practice. Yoga therapy expands the opportunity for sustained benefits and long-term shifts in health.
What Yoga Therapy Is:
· Client-centered
· Cost-effective
· Holistic
· Non-judgmental
· Preventative Healthcare As Well As Intervention & Rehabilitation
What Yoga Therapy Is Not:
· A Quick Fix
· Religious or Dogmatic
· Exclusive (only for people who are physically fit, flexible, young, etc.)
What to Expect?
Prior to your first session you will complete two forms. Your first 60 minute session is an opportunity for you to review all of your information with Kendall and to create therapeutic goals. Please wear comfortable clothes to all sessions. Your physical practice will involve simple breathing exercises and movement. If you are interested in primarily traditional talk therapy, Kendall is trained to provide more talk-based interventions as well.
Reported Benefits:
· Muscles are stretched slowly (increases anti-inflammatory prostaglandin hormones) and massaged (relaxes them)
· Increased awareness of thought patterns
· Greater sense of connectedness to self & others
· Increased lymph flow, systematically, to the various parts of the body
· Improved sleep patterns
· Lowered blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate
· Re-balancing of sympathetic (alarm) and parasympathetic (relaxation) nervous systems
· Improvement in ability to self-regulate
· Restoration of a sense of purpose & hopefulness
· Decreased stress hormones – epinephrine (adrenaline/alarm) and cortisol
· Increased balancing of right and left brain activity
· Circulation is improved, systematically, to the various parts of the body
Reasons Why Yoga Therapy Might Not Be For You At Time:
· If you are actively suicidal
· If you are in in severe, acute pain from a recent injury
· If you do not want anything to be different about your life
(and are at peace with the fact that change is the only constant so everything is different all the time)