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. ”
— B. K. S. Iyengar

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.  - Pantajali

Currently, 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. We feel so strongly about the therapeutic benefits of yoga - we offer free virtual classes and in person workshops to all Align Wellness clients. Reach out to your therapist for the discount code to register for virtual yoga for free.

Class meets via Zoom on Mondays at 5:30 pm EST. Weekly virtual yoga classes will alternate between:

Embodied Awareness and Active Self-Discovery - a beginner-friendly, more active yoga practice with a goal of developing more presence through movement. This is a great class for folks looking to improve their connection to and relationship with their bodies, develop skills in awareness and non-judgement of physical and emotional sensations, and build confidence.

Restorative Yoga for Deep Nervous System Reset - a beginner-friendly, restful yoga practice with a goal of helping our bodies gradually experience safe stillness and a more nourished and resourced nervous system. This is a great class for folks who struggle to relax but would like to learn, who need a break from fight/flight, but may have challenges in shifting to a more restful state. You can expect guided breathwork, body scans, and supportive postures as we begin to disrupt the connection between productivity and self-worth. It is our hope that you will experience rest as a powerful tool for healing.

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

  • Yes! This class is specifically designed to be accessible to folks new to yoga and also beneficial for seasoned yoga practitioners.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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.