What to Expect During a Session
You can expect to have my full, heartfelt attention and that I will meet you with kindness and non-judgment. As a practitioner, I am deeply listening and observing as I guide you toward your own mindful self awareness, inner wisdom, and healing. Creating an atmosphere of safety and compassion is of utmost importance and key to fostering healing. We will find solutions together!
Our first session will last approximately 75 minutes and will include a review of your completed health information form and a variety of assessments. Depending on your health issue, assessments include physical range of motion/strength, posture, breath, mindset, and stress level.
You will also be introduced to a variety of self assessment tools to help you understanding the areas you are out of balance. One of the Optimal State™ assessment charts that may be used is depicted below. You may have physical pain and discover your breathing or movement patterns are out of balance. Or maybe you have sleep issues and discover you are off balance in the emotional realm. The colored zones are related to the Ayurvedic doshas and the Gunas (changing cycles) as described in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. You will discover the pathway to feeling balanced known as the Gold Zone and I’m here to guide you!
Working one to one, I will help facilitate your ability to tune in to internal messengers in the form of physical sensations, thoughts, beliefs, and habitual patterns. This somatic approach allows for a deep inquiry into one’s own body/mind for the purposes of self-healing through a variety of yogic practices. We will co-create a sequence as a home practice to meet your physical, mental and even spiritual goals. Your practice may also include a personalized iRest meditation recording.
You will practice the customized program at home for a specified period and will be reevaluated to assess progress and make modifications. Clients typically commit to six one-hour sessions as a starting point but needs will vary.
You will discover what brings your nervous system, body, breath, and mind back into balance and the tools to manage your symptoms. Once learned, these are tools and skills for life!
Emotions/Feelings Assessment Chart
How are you feeling in the emotional realm today? Are you more white zone, red zone, blue or gold zone today? This is one of many self assessment tools we use to support your healing and growth.
Using this mental/emotional chart, practices are designed based on where your emotions are today. For example, the white zone is associated with the Vata dosha and a personal practice would include calming and grounding tools. The red zone is associated with the Pitta dosha and would call for a different practice depending on other factors. Ultimately, you will find yourself experiencing the gold zone more often with the personalized yoga therapy practice we co-create!
Recall the 5-layer model is always considered (body, breath/energy, emotions, personality, spirit). The mental/emotional realm is only one aspect of you. Every layer of your being can be looked at through this holistic lens and Optimal State assessment including the type of pain you experience, sleep patterns, personality traits, and types of stress!
With your goals and desires in mind, I will happily guide you toward the stability and balance of the gold zone throughout all the layers of you.
This chart and assessment system is created by my teacher, Amy Wheeler, founder of Optimal State Yoga Therapy™. Shared with permission.