The Approach: Core Principles
Accessibility
Everyone can do yoga, and everyone deserves a practice that works for them. No experience necessary. Arrive as you are and explore as you wish.
Trauma-Informed Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a powerful tool for managing cravings, triggers, and mental illness symptoms, but for many of us with trauma, the way it has traditionally been taught is not accessible. A trauma-informed approach focuses on building a sense of safety by regulating the nervous system so that the present moment becomes a more comfortable place to be.
Presence, Not Perfection
Our focus here is being with our own experience with compassion and curiosity. When we focus on presence rather than perfection, the process is both more enjoyable and more therapeutic.
Integration of East and West
Western science has found yoga and meditation to be extraordinarily beneficial for addiction and mental health. I offer practices that complement whatever treatment you might be working on with your doctors. I continue to study and explore the practices that both Eastern and Western experts have deemed most effective for promoting serenity.
The Natural High
As addicts, we need to discover healthy ways to experience pleasure and relief. Yoga increases the production of endorphins and can raise GABA levels, elevating mood and decreasing anxiety. We further encourage these good feelings by incorporating a “bhakti yoga” approach, consciously cultivating wholesome qualities such as humility, love, and gratitude as we move.
Sometimes we want to relax into a warm bath; sometimes we want a shot of espresso. Yoga can offer us a wide variety of healing experiences, and with regular practice, we grow in self-awareness and build a yoga tool kit that works based on what we need in the moment. This approach also promotes self-awareness and empowerment that translates to increased resilience off the mat.