Bring Your Body to Therapy: An Introduction to Yoga Therapy

by Lillie Hewitt, IAYT

Imagine, you’re in the car and a song comes on the radio. It’s a top 40’s track from your middle school days, and if you’re like me, you can imagine exactly where you were when you heard this song for the first time. You inherently begin to sing along, catching all the nuances of the artist’s vocals, bobbing your head in rhythm with the beat… almost like you’re at the middle school dance all over again.

Now that I’ve got you thinking about finding those CD’s from back in the day, let’s take that same scenario and apply it to other, more complex or traumatic, lived experiences – for example, disordered eating, heartbreak and loss, an injury or accident, physical, emotional or psychological assault and/or abuse, bullying, world crisis… to name a few.

In the same way that we can seamlessly fall back into the lyrics of an old, forgotten song, our bodies develop reactions and responses to experiences now, based on experiences we’ve already lived. In the case of song lyrics, it may be harmless and even entertaining to reconnect with those old memories, but what about those traumatic experiences?

In Yoga Therapy, we recognize that the body has wisdom and insight to contribute to therapeutic dialogue. All of your lived experiences are harbored on a cellular level in your body, and by exploring physical sensations, you are able to “feel” what is true for you in the dialogue of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It’s from this foundational approach to healing that we can use present-centered awareness to build new habits and cultivate a life that leads from what’s true for you.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Yoga Therapy can support your healing journey, contact the office to schedule your free 20 minute connection call!

Your body is talking, are you listening?