My personal definition of yoga therapy isn't exactly an elevator pitch
I'm often asked what I do, which inevitably leads to the yoga versus yoga therapy question. It's not a simple answer — there are countless schools of yoga therapy, each with their own flavor, and then there's my particular way of practicing that draws from more than my yoga therapy training. So I'm usually deciding in the moment: official definition or more nuanced and honest one?
Here’s an official one, defined by the International Association of Yoga Therapy (IAYT):
Yoga therapy is the professional application of the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and tailored practices for individuals or small groups. (I know, not fully satisfying!)
But when I respond from my personal yoga therapy practice, the answer sounds a bit more like a line from Rilke or Mary Oliver.
Last week I wrote about Rilke’s advice to a young poet to, “go inside yourself”. Since writing that, I’ve been sitting with that idea more and more. And that really does feel like what yoga therapy is - helping people quiet things down and learn how to listen to the voice within. Sometimes in a session, that voice is loud, dramatic, even cathartic — but more often, it’s a quiet voice, a whisper, that holds a clear truth and when you hear it, you know it’s yours.
But the hearing takes skill and practice. It’s not to say that we don’t have moments where we just know that something is true, but more often it takes a regulated nervous system, a heavy dose of self-compassion, a conversation between two parts of ourselves and a little imagery thrown into the mix. It takes focused attention and intention. And that’s where Mary Oliver comes in.
Last night I was watching a gorgeous Mary Oliver documentary, “Saved by the Beauty of the World.” And one of the many things she said that stayed with me is this:
"If you love something, you give it a lot of attention — and if you give something a lot of attention, you often learn to love it."
And while she was, in many ways, referring to the natural world, I love the implication that your attention grows your love and your love grows your attention — both feeding one another. What if we saw that in ourselves? What if paying attention to our inner life is a way to cultivate love for ourselves and that love gives us permission to go back inward?
It feels a lot like The Somatic Spiral to me — a framework that helps us attend to our inner life so that our outer life is more and more reflective of what our inner life is beckoning us towards.
Maybe my personal definition of the yoga therapy that I offer is an opportunity to go inside yourself, to pay attention, to grow your love for yourself and to shine forth in more and more authentic and compassionate ways as a result.
Not exactly an elevator pitch, but definitely satisfying!
Here are four ways to explore this with me:
1. Watch the video below and drop into a brief yoga therapy practice to you help you quiet things down and pay attention.
2. I offer this particular flavor of yoga therapy, both individually and in groups. If you’d like to work with me privately, sign up here or hit reply to chat about it.
3. This fall, I’ll be teaching the Somatic Spiral in two modules: a personal journey as well as a training for facilitators. You can join the waitlist below.
4. And finally, I’m heading back to Spain in the spring. Register now to save your space!
#1. Check out the latest video on my new Youtube Channel. Subscribe for a deep dive!
#3: This fall, I'll be offering another round of both the Somatic Immersion and the Somatic Immersion Facilitator Training for wellness professionals. In both experiences we'll use discussion, meditation, breathwork, asana, and reflection to explore the spiral together.
Put your name on the waitlist and you'll be the first to know when registration opens in September!
#4. Yoga + Nature + Culture, Retreat in Southern Spain, March 14-20, 2027. Register now to save your spot - space is limited.
Thanks for reading, watching and being a part of this community, << Test First Name >>. I hope our paths cross soon.
And as always, I'd love to hear from you. Did you try “quieting things down and paying attention”? Hit reply - I'd love to know how it went!
Sending so much love,
Rachel
Other ways to work with me...
Yoga Therapy Sessions, Courses and Trainings
Individual yoga therapy sessions.
Work with me one-on-one. In addition to yoga therapy, I offer yoga instruction and personal and professional mentoring. Reply to this email if you'd like to chat about whether this is the right time and fit for you.
The next Somatic Immersion Yoga Therapy Personal Journey and Facilitator Training starts in September. Join the waitlist and be the first to know when registration opens.
Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness Classes
If you like practicing online, join the Your Yoga community! We meet on zoom for yoga and meditation 4 times a week and you'll have access to 100's of recorded classes in the Your Yoga library. Register here to start your free 7-day trial.
And if you prefer self-study, choose from a variety of pre-recorded mindfulness workshops and courses and explore at your own pace.