Yoga Therapy

 Yoga bridges the gap between body & mind. B.K.S. Iyengar states "words cannot convey the value of yoga. It has to be experienced." Yoga Therapy is an experiential approach towards mind/body integration.

 In yoga therapy sessions we explore the body based on the four layers or koshas- the physical, emotional, thoughts/memories & the spiritual or instinctual level. It is a mind/body approach to healing, health & wellness. In traditional psychotherapy we speak of working through & gaining insight into our "issues." In Yoga therapy we work deeply into what we call "samskaras"-the areas in the body where our "issues" reside. We use the body as the tool for self-discovery, insight & change. Founder of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, Michael Lee, M.A. states "What is happening in the body is happening in your life. Your life is unfolding in your body but you usually don't get to listen to it." Yoga Therapy offers the opportunity to listen to the body for information about your life.

Studies in mental health & the medical professions have proven that long after an emotional trauma, the body still responds as if it was a current event even though memories may have faded. Traumatic events leave an "imprint" in our sensory & hormonal systems. Therefore, long after the event has occured there still may be bodily sensations, reactions & feelings that continue to occur & cause anything from worry, anxiety, fear, & panic attacks, to states of depression. We are now discovering that to have an effect on this "visceral" response we must work in integrating the body & the mind. In Yoga therapy sessions we work deeply into release while at the same time creating a sense of safety & therefore a "re-claiming" of the body as a safe place to be. Clients often report feeling very safe & comforted during the session.

Yoga Therapy sessions may be used in conjunction with traditional psychotherapy or may be used alone to gain access & insight. Clients are often referred to me by their current therapists as an adjunct treatment while others come for sessions to unwind & enjoy a relaxing & releasing experience leaving them feeling centered & grounded again.

I specialize in Yoga Therapy for Eating Disorders, Trauma/PTSD, Grief/Loss

I currently run a weekly Yoga Therapy group for the Eating Disorder patients at Four Winds Hospital. I am embarking on a research study involving this alternative approach with Albany Medical Center. If you are interested in being part of a free study please contact me.

 What Can I Expect In A Session?

A typical Yoga Therapy session begins with simple breath work & a meditative centering which helps the client to bring awareness to physical sensations, emotions & thoughts as well as setting an intention or focus for the work. The therapist's role is one of profound presence, allowing a client's unique process to unfold. We then move into assisted postures that are chosen by the practioner however guided by the client. The work is hands-on as well as the use of bolsters, blankets & other props as needed. The therapist uses a Rogerian dialogue which is a verbal technique developed by Carl Rogers, Ph.D. It is a verbal technique which repeats back what the client has said as a method of validation & understanding. The session wraps-up at the end with an integration & reflection of the work. Client's often leave with a "place of knowing" rather than a "place of thinking." 

For more information please check the following website: www.pryt.com