What is a therapeutic yoga class?
Someone asked me recently what makes a yoga class a therapeutic yoga class and if all gentle yoga classes are therapeutic. I can’t speak for everyone and for all classes, of course, but I can tell you what makes MY yoga classes therapeutic.
Small Group Size
For me, one of the important factors for an in person therapeutic yoga class is to have a smaller class size. That could be anywhere from 5-15 people. It needs to be a small enough group that I can look around and see everyone’s bodies and faces, noticing if they are breathing and if something seems uncomfortable or painful. You might be surprised how often I remind someone to breathe and they didn’t realize they were holding their breath, or their face is clearly showing stress but they haven’t realized that they are in pain yet. A small group size is also important for forming a sense of community. In my in person therapeutic yoga classes, the check-ins at the beginning and connections we make with one another are as important as the shapes and stretches we do with our bodies. And, finally, the small group size enables me to know what challenges or struggles each student has with their own body so that I can better suggest shapes and props that will work well in their particular body.
Series Class
My in person therapeutic yoga classes are only taught in a series, not by drop in. To get the most out of a therapeutic yoga class, a person needs to attend/practice on a regular basis. In a series class there is a level of accountability that most folks find helpful and supportive for committing to a regular practice. (Read more about series vs drop in classes here.)
Focus on Befriending the Body, not Fixing the Body
Many people end up in yoga class in order to fix something…tight hamstrings, a loss of flexibility, a sore, stiff low back…and yoga absolutely helps will all of those things. But in a therapeutic yoga class with me, we aren’t trying to fix and cure things, we are learning to listen to our bodies so that we can give the body what it needs. There is no “mind over matter” in therapeutic yoga. Our bodies are not something to be fixed or tamed, they are full of sensory organs trying to communicate with you…if you’d just slow down and be quiet for a moment and listen.
Focus on Nervous System Regulation
You won’t see sun salutations or challenging yoga poses in my therapeutic yoga classes. Those moves and shapes can absolutely have therapeutic benefits, even on the nervous system, but what I focus on is re-learning how to engage the relaxation response. When we move and stretch from a place of calmness, we are less likely to over-do it and injure ourselves and less likely to have a pain or PEM flare-up. When you feel safe in your nervous system, your anxiety and pain levels decrease, the very benefits that many people are hoping for when they step into a yoga class.
If you live in the Portland metro area and are interested in practicing in person with me, check the shop for the latest class series and sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear about new sessions.