Integrative Yoga Therapy

Asana is simply the physical postures or yoga poses.  This physical aspect of the practice benefits the body, mind, as well as the connection thereof, serving as a form of both physical and mental exercise. Physically, the postures help to develop strength and flexibility, muscle tone, and proper body alignment, while also helping to calm the nervous system and create more optimal blood flow. Additionally, because of the calming effect the postures have on the nervous system, especially when teens are able to maintain a slow and steady breathing pattern throughout, the brain is calmed as well. This creates a sense of clarity, spaciousness, and calm in the mind.

Sometimes teens might also learn Mudras, which are specific hand positions that hold symbolic meaning and are usually incorporated during meditation.  Physically, the gentle, intentional gestures help to create a softness and awareness in the body and metaphorically, the gestures help to emphasize and/or connect to a certain goal or intention.

Yoga Nidra (or yoga “sleep”) is a relaxed, meditative-like sleeping state, usually done at the end of an asana yoga practice.  Not quite sleep and not quite mindful meditation, the aim of Yoga Nidra is to let go and relax, allowing everything else to fall away in order to be fully present.

A Mantra is a sound, word, or phrase repeated as part of a sort of prayer or meditation.  You can think of a mantra as a positive message you send to yourself, in line with a certain goal or intention you have, and by the repetition of the phrase, it helps to focus your mind into this space and create power and belief in this direction.  Using mantras in the therapeutic context can be a wonderful tool to help teens to notice negative “mantras” they might be telling themselves unknowingly, while also leading teens to intentionally implement positive messages, in order to gain confidence, strength, and hope.

Meditation has many different meanings and applications, but can be as simple as focusing on the breath in order to eliminate or decrease the busyness of the mind.  When used in the therapeutic context, there are a number of different techniques therapists can teach teens that can help teens to focus, to feel less anxious, to slow down their minds and notice their feelings, to gain a sense of confidence and self-awareness, and to feel focused and present.  In following with the tradition of the ancient yoga practice, it’s especially useful to practice meditation following asana practice, as the poses were ultimately created to help prepare the body and mind for the most effective meditation.