Yoga in therapy.
By bringing yoga practices into the counseling room we are helping integrate both the mind and body. At Womens Integrative Counseling we do this through utilizing mindfulness exercises and encouraging the client’s awareness of their emotions and thoughts in connection to physical sensations and movements.
Who might benefit from incorporating yoga into a therapy session?
Clients who report dissociation or feel disconnected from themselves
Clients who feel anxious or restlessness
Clients who report exposure to trauma
Clients who feel guarded or find it difficult to verbally express themselves
Clients who struggle with insecurities
Why does bringing yoga into therapy work?
Encourages client to notice bodily cues and physical sensations
Creates space for client to experience autonomy and choice
Encourages client to be in the present moment
Allows for expression and movement of emotions or experiences “trapped” within the body
If you are wondering what bringing yoga into therapy actually looks like or maybe feeling intimidated by the idea of yoga, rest assured what we do in counseling sessions is small movements with an emphasis on mindfulness. I may ask you to simply place your hand on your chest, connect with your body, and notice what you are feeling. Maybe you notice tension in your neck so we add some gentle movements to help release the pressure and help you connect what you feel physically with what you feel emotionally.
This type of practice works so well with nervous system regulation and is a good place to start as we work towards increasing awareness of your body. Often after experiencing trauma, we tend to disconnect from our bodies as a way of coping. So by bringing yoga into therapy we are creating a safe space to gently and slowly reconnect which not only brings about healing but nervous system regulation as well.
I may also recommend some mindfulness practices and breathing exercises to try at home that we also practice together in session. One of my favorite restorative poses I encourage clients to do outside of session is called “legs up the wall.”
Legs up the wall is a simple yet effective yoga pose that does not get the attention it deserves. To enter into the position, sit down sideways to the wall and then swing your legs up as you lower your head and back to the floor. You may want to scoot your sacrum closer to the wall if flexibility allows. And then just settle into the pose.
Benefits of legs up the wall pose:
Inversions (head down, feet up) encourage your body to breathe slower which signals safety to your vagus nerve and helps bring you back into a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state.
Helps to reverse and rebalance fluids, blood flow, and energy in the body
Supports lymphatic system and gives immune system a boost
Be kind and curious,
Hollis
*Please check with medical professional before trying yoga. If this pose is not accessible to you right now, try a supported savasana pose to signal relaxation to the body and vagus nerve.