Yoga
“Yoga allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness in your life, where you do not feel like you are constantly trying to fit broken pieces together. ”
Much of talk therapy engages the mind. The limitation inherent to this work is when our own thoughts and intellect "protect" us from doing deeper work, which can feel scary. Utilizing body- and energy-focused techniques allow us to get underneath these obstacles of the mind and access healing from below them. This can look like incorporating yogic breathing techniques into a talk therapy session, practices to help us learn to turn our awareness to our bodies and their innate wisdom, or a full custom asana, pranayama, and meditation session designed to support your therapeutic work.
Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah
Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. - PantajaliCurrently, you can access yoga and meditation At Align Wellness three ways: integrated into your therapy sessions with Laura Joplin, integrated into coaching sessions with Brawner Raymond, or as standalone yoga and meditation classes and workshops with Megan Nare and Laura Joplin. We feel so strongly about the therapeutic benefits of yoga - we offer our virtual classes and in person workshops FREE to all Align Wellness clients. Reach out to your therapist for the discount code to register for virtual yoga at no cost to you.
Led by Megan Nare, ERYT-500, this class meets via Zoom on Mondays at 5:30 pm EST.
Take a pause at the beginning of your week and join us for a gentle online yoga practice to slow down, settle your nervous system, and reconnect with yourself.
Using pillows, blankets, and other simple props from home, we’ll settle into supported stretches, restorative postures, breathing practices, and a little mindfulness. Together, we’ll practice listening instead of fixing, making space for curiosity, self-compassion, and whatever arises.
This class welcomes all bodies, identities, and levels of experience. You’re invited to meet yourself exactly where you are each week, honoring your body’s needs without judgment or expectation. The class is gentle, accessible, and adaptable, making it especially supportive for people living with chronic pain, fatigue, burnout, sensory overwhelm, or anyone longing for a softer way to care for themselves.
Led by Laura Joplin, ERYT-200 and LMSW, this class meets via Zoom on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm EST.
A steady, patiently paced sequence of poses, breaths, and mind-body practices suitable for folks at any stage of practice. Come for clear and thorough cues, room to pause and connect in each shape, and a creative, welcoming approach to the hour. Cultivate a felt sense of steadfastness, increased awareness of your body’s signals, and an expanded capacity to feel and attend to the sensations it contains.
These sessions are open to the public - you do not have to be a client of Align Wellness to attend. If you are a client of Align Wellness, please contact your therapist to receive your discount code to register for FREE.
FAQs
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Yes! This class is specifically designed to be accessible to folks new to yoga and also beneficial for seasoned yoga practitioners.
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No. Yoga therapy is designed to specifically address and treat physical and mental health issues. This is a general group yoga class that is designed to have therapeutic benefits like supporting your nervous system to more easily and safely reach a state of rest where healing is more accessible. Even when our yoga classes are led by teachers who are also therapists, these classes are not therapy, they do not create a therapist-client relationship, and they are not intended to treat any physical or mental health conditions. While our yoga classes are designed to be very supportive of the work you do in therapy, they are not a substitute for therapy.
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Anyone with questions about their physical health and safety taking a yoga class should first consult with their medical wellness team to be sure yoga is a safe activity for them. All of our yoga classes are completely adaptable, and you are free and encouraged to make any necessary modifications.
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Yes! Our bodies sometimes (especially when we have experienced trauma or prolonged stress) have trouble feeling safe entering a restful state. It's very common to feel anxiety or an urge to get up and do something when we are laying still. The secret is: the more you practice, the easier it gets.
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A restorative or alignment-based yoga practice can improve our ability to connect with our bodies (and emotions) and the present moment, increase our confidence in our resilience and our ability to sit with discomfort, support us in feeling safe enough to rest - a state that is necessary for healing to happen, and more. Your therapist can chat with you more about how these classes can benefit you specifically.
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Probably to some extent - physical movement has been shown to improve mental health. However, some yoga is more focused on physical performance, and some yoga is more transcendent in nature and takes us out of the present moment instead of helping us be in it. Different yoga for different goals!
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To us, it means that we are thoughtful about the ways that trauma impacts our nervous system. We use gentle, invitational vs. directive language. We use cues that consider all body types, genders, and levels of ability. You are encouraged to be the boss of what feels safe and good for your body.
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Laura Joplin is an ERYT-200. This means that in addition to her training as a clinical social worker, she has received over 200 hours of yoga teacher training and over 2,000 hours of experience teaching. She is also a lead teacher of a local yoga teacher training program.
Megan Nare is an ERYT-500. This means that she has received over 500 hours of training as a yoga teacher, and over 2,000 hours of experience teaching. She has advanced training and experience in trauma-informed yoga and working with seniors and caregivers.