INTEGRATIVE YOGA
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
-Mary Oliver
I am an author, longtime yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, and Certified Peer Wellness Specialist. I have lived experience in recovery from addiction and mental illness, and I work with clients from the deep understanding that only comes from having been there myself.
I specialize in helping people make significant life transitions, particularly people in recovery and those contemplating beginning the recovery journey.
We will work together at the intersection of yoga, positive psychology, and modern science. I will be your ally and guide as you not only heal, but thrive and find joy, connection, and purpose living your healthiest, fullest life.
Are you contemplating the leap into sobriety or are you new to recovery?
If so, this one of the biggest and most powerful decisions of your life.
You may be feeling confused, ambivalent, stricken, depressed, excited, anxious or all of the above.
Addictions and compulsive behaviors often feel like old friends, and you may have tried to say good-by more than once. All of the substances and behaviors that cause addiction served a purpose in your life at one time. But, for all of us, the behaviors stick around, causing harm, even when the need for them has long passed.
There is no one path of recovery. We will work together to discover yours. Along the way, we'll be sure you're equipped with the tools to help you feel better now: a supportive community, a practice to welcome you home to your body, and a holistic plan to improve and recover your health.
Are you more established in recovery, either from addiction or mental illness, but feeling stuck?
Maybe there's been a big change in your life you didn't ask for, or you know you desperately need a change, but you aren't sure which direction to go. You may have received a new mental or physical health diagnosis that needs to be integrated into your life, along with new routines that support your health. You may have experienced set-backs in recovery, like a return to old behaviors or realizing that you have picked up a new addiction.
We will look at your current life circumstances and identify the areas of recovery that are well established resources to draw on and the domains that need support and new tools.
Most of us are suffering from the effects of chronic stress: fatigue, anxiety, poor digestion, lethargy, sleep difficulties.
We will design practices that build on the work you have already done and identify positive, incremental changes that fit your life and address the areas where you need growth or healing.
Learning to stay in your body, with all its sensations, both joyful and difficult, is the key to lasting recovery, not just from addiction but from chronic, lifelong patterns of unhealthy stress.
The beauty and magic of this work is that what ails us is fertile ground for transformation that leads to more well-being and joy in life.
Whether or not you're in recovery, if are experiencing:
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Excessive worry or rumination
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Grief, listlessness, tearfulness
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Procrastination, distractibility, indecision
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Brain fog or memory lapses
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Feeling overwhelmed
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Not engaging with friends and family
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Insomnia, or sleeping too much
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Overeating or loss of appetite
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Ongoing fatigue
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Poor digestion, headaches, or joint pain
You may be experiencing the manifestations of chronic stress. Change is possible. Using yoga, self-inquiry, and simple, pleasant adjustments to your routines, we will work together to find new ways to tend to your health, navigate change, and set the course to live fully.
Yoga was positive psychology before that term existed. It is a broad, multifaceted discipline that includes a lot more that strengthening or stretching the body. I might ask you to work at the edge of your comfort zone. But no change endures unless it is treasured and joyful. Expect to have your nervous system tended to, your heart opened, and your stories heard with empathy.
The body of scientific research supporting yoga as a healing modality is growing rapidly.
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How are recovery mentoring different than coaching or other types of therapy?While I do have the the qualifications for wellness coaching, my philosophical allegiance is with peer support and the long history of yoga teachers working with students 1-on-1. I start from there and integrate other modalities when they are helpful. I am not a therapist, nor do I have the qualifications to offer therapy. My goal is to guide you to discover new ways of experiencing and interacting with the world that lead to greater health in all the domains of your life. The primary vehicle we will use is yoga, broadly defined as a system of practices that lead to a quieter mind and a life filled with purpose. This is not physical therapy either. Physical therapy uses a targeted approach for a specific area of the body. Yoga works with the body as a whole, seeing physical health as inseparable from mental health. Our goal when working with the physical body will be to address root causes of suffering such as chronic stress or unhelpful movement patterns. They often go together. Integrative yoga sessions complement and support the work of other healing modalities, including western medicine.
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I take prescriptions or use other healing modalities. What are your feelings about that?I take a solutions-oriented, person-first approach to well-being. I strongly believe that everyone gets to decide what bests supports their recovery and that everyone's journey is unique. Neither yoga nor recovery is one-size-fits-all. My work with you will always support your choices regarding other modalities, including western medicine. Part of what we do together is integrate all of the avenues of healing that you find useful.
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What is the difference between the breathwork we do in yoga and breathwork experiences?Pranayama is the traditional yogic term for breathing practices. Most breath instruction given in yoga classes is meant to encourage a state of "rest and digest." It is generally gentle and relaxing. The style of breathwork done in experience sessions is a specific breathing technique that intentionally stimulates your nervous system for a limited period of time. It is hard work, and the effects are often dramatic and life-changing. If what you want to learn are breath practices that improve focus, relaxation, and awareness, or if you want to work on improving your default breathing patterns, then integrative yoga sessions are a better fit. If you are looking for a more intense experience to rapidly shift your perspective, clear blocks, or release stored emotions, then this style of breathwork will be a great place to start. Most of us benefit from both.
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How intense is the altered state of consciousness that occurs during breathwork?The intensity of this altered state will be perceived differently by each person and at each session. The important thing to know is that you are always in control! You have not ingested a chemical or plant substance. If you feel overwhelmed at any point, you can stop the technique and return to normal breathing, which will quickly bring you back to homeostasis.
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Is breathwork safe?Breathwork is a healing modality that is safe and effective for most people. Having said that, please read the list of contraindications listed below. The beauty of breathwork is that are always in control of your experience. Unlike when taking a chemical or plant substance, the effects of breathwork quickly pass simply by breathing normally. If you become overwhelmed for any reason, you can simply discontinue the technique and breathe slowly through your nose. The only two responses I have seen which may feel uncomfortable are an intense emotional release and a physical symptom called tetany. Tetany is muscular cramping, typically in the hands. It is not harmful, and it passes when the breath returns to normal. Intense emotional experiences will likely feel cathartic and necessary, but they may also feel overwhelming. Remember that you are 100% in charge. You simply return to your normal breath and your body will quickly return to homeostasis.
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Are there contraindications for breathwork?Yes. Here are some commonly discussed contraindications for this type of breathwork. Please be aware that this list is not meant to be exhaustive. Please check with your doctor before participating if you have questions or concerns. Pregnancy Cardiovascular disease High blood pressure History of aneurisms (including family) Epilepsy or history of seizures History of psychosis Osteoporosis Recent surgery Glaucoma An active addiction Untreated mental illness
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Are there contraindications for yoga?No! There are contraindications for particular poses, but not for the practice itself. We will address potential contraindications together based on your health history. Having particular health concerns that may affect your practice is a great reason to take private yoga classes. With guidance, yoga is a very safe practice that can be tailored to every body.
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What is the difference between the breathwork we do in yoga and conscious, connected breathwork?Pranayama is the traditional yogic term for breathing practices. Most breath instruction given in yoga classes is meant to encourage a state of "rest and digest." It is generally gentle and relaxing. Conscious, connected breathwork is a specific breathing technique that intentionally stimulates your nervous system for a limited period of time. It is hard work, and the effects are often dramatic and life-changing. If what you want to learn are breath practices that improve focus, relaxation, and awareness, or if you want to work on improving your default breathing patterns, then integrative yoga sessions are a better fit. If you are looking for a more intense experience to rapidly shift your perspective, clear blocks, or release stored emotions, then conscious, connected breathwork will be a great place to start. Most of us benefit from both.
-
How intense is the altered state of consciousness that occurs during breathwork?The intensity of this altered state will be perceived differently by each person and at each session. The important thing to know is that you are always in control! You have not ingested a chemical or plant substance. If you feel overwhelmed at any point, you can stop the technique and return to normal breathing, which will quickly bring you back to homeostasis.
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Is breathwork safe?Breathwork is a healing modality that is safe and effective for most people. It can be intense, but it's your breath and you always get to decide how to breathe! Having said that, please read the list of contraindications listed below. The beauty of breathwork is that are always in control of your experience. Unlike when taking a chemical or plant substance, the effects of breathwork quickly pass simply by breathing normally. If you become overwhelmed for any reason, you can simply discontinue the technique and breathe slowly through your nose. The only two responses I have seen which may feel uncomfortable are an intense emotional release and a physical symptom called tetany. Tetany is muscular cramping, typically in the hands. It is not harmful, and it passes when the breath returns to normal. Intense emotional experiences will likely feel cathartic and necessary, but they may also feel overwhelming. Remember that you are 100% in charge. You simply return to your normal breath and your body will quickly return to homeostasis.
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Are there contraindications for breathwork?Yes. Here are some commonly discussed contraindications for this type of breathwork. Please be aware that this list is not meant to be exhaustive. Please check with your doctor before participating if you have questions or concerns. Pregnancy Cardiovascular disease High blood pressure History of aneurisms (including family) Epilepsy or history of seizures History of psychosis Osteoporosis Recent surgery Glaucoma An active addiction Untreated mental illness