Yoga Therapy
I offer a FREE initial video call lasting approx 15 minutes so we can discuss your interest in yoga therapy. No ‘discovery call’, no sales pitch, no obligation to book. Simply an opportunity to see if I am the right therapist for you.
What is yoga therapy?
Yoga therapy is increasingly being recognised as a valuable complementary practice within healthcare for both mental & physical health conditions. Unlike a group yoga class which will primarily be made up of asana (the postures) and designed by the teacher to have a focus or a theme, yoga therapists provide a personal approach to meet an individuals specific needs and goals using a range of practices.
There are many different approaches depending on the therapist & their personal interest or area of expertise. My professional background is mental health, I have an MA in social work, a postgraduate diploma in Applied Mental Health and worked in the NHS for 10 years on a Community Mental Health Team. I have always been very interested in the human condition & the understanding of our thoughts, feelings & actions.
As such my primary interest is in helping people to recognise what are potentially unhelpful patterns & create change. Or perhaps coming to a place of acceptance around a situation or life event. I use the yoga sutras of Patanjali which are a classic philosophy of yoga, as a framework & the tools of Ayurverda & yoga for simple practices you can complete at home.
Is it the same as counselling?
No. I am not a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist/psychologist. Psychotherapy or counselling may help you to understand the “why” perhaps by exploring the past, I personally believe there can be great power in this and have sought this type of therapy many times in my life. Yoga therapy differs in that it focusses on the here and now and what it is that you would like to change going forwards, whether that be physical or emotional. Unless you want to tell me about your childhood or past experiences we do not have to discuss it at all. The sessions are entirely “person centered”, meaning you set the tone and share only what you are comfortable with. I do like to set expectation that the sessions will not be movement based like a group yoga class. We often think yoga means doing the postures, when they are just one tiny little part of what yoga is. Yoga therapy draws on all the tools of yoga to help bring about change and our sessions will predominantly be spent talking.
But isn’t all yoga therapeutic?
A common misconception! But no. On a physical level some postures can cause risk of injury or exacerbate existing illness or injury. On an emotional level being instructed to close your eyes, words or phrases a the teacher uses during the class or songs they play may be triggering or perhaps increase anxiety. Breath or pranayama practices are not always suitable for everyone on a mental or physical level. As a yoga teacher, even as a yoga teacher who is a qualified yoga therapist it is not possible to manage the emotional needs or health conditions of everyone in a general group class. You may have a favourite teacher whose classes and approach you find therapeutic which is always amazing! However unless a qualified yoga therapist is running a class for a specific condition, the class or the teacher are not using yoga therapeutically. Myself included.
Is Yoga Therapy regulated?
Yes yoga therapists in the UK are regulated by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) read about them, their code of conduct & ethics & complaints procedure here . The CNHCs register of practitioners have been approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care.
Where do appointments take place?
You can either come to my home studio in Chorlton south Manchester, if that is convenient. However, as my approach to yoga therapy is predominantly talking as opposed to physical movement it works really well over video call so we can work together wherever you are in the UK or further afield.
I can visit you in your own home for an additional cost.
How much does it cost?
Individual adhoc sessions - £65 p/h
5 sessions paid in advance - £315 - (valid for 6 months)
10 sessions paid in advance - £600 (valid for 8 months)
Cancellation Policy…
There is a 24hr cancellation policy. There is a link in your booking confirmation that allows you to do this. You can also contact me to request a date or time change provided you are giving me at least 24hrs notice.
Any cancellations or date/time requests made within 24hrs of the appointment start time will not be eligble for a refund