why should I engage in any of these practices?

Is there an aspect of your life you wish to change? Change begins with a clear and honest understanding of your present condition. Somatic Education, Ayurveda, and Yoga are all practical means of gaining clarity in order to effect change. Whatever your goal--improved strength and flexibility, increased energy or stabilized mood, reduction of pain, a greater capacity to concentrate and pay attention, a desire to cultivate gratitude or to bring the sacred into everyday life--each of these disciplines can help you get there. 

What is Yoga?

The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which has several meanings. One is “to unite.” Another is “to converge the mind.” And a third, according to T.K.V. Desikachar, is “to reach a point we haven’t reached before.” Yoga is a system of practices (physical postures, breath work, chanting, meditation, ritual, and the study of classical texts) developed in India thousands of years ago that teaches us to move beyond suffering by shifting our perspective.

What is the Difference between Yoga and Yoga therapy?

In a yoga class, the teacher guides the student(s) through a practice and teaches them how to practice.  An effective teacher will offer modifications for students as needed, but the focus is less on individual needs, and more on offering general yoga methods and how to do them correctly.  In contrast, yoga therapy sessions are geared entirely to the individual. Clients usually seek a yoga therapist’s help for a particular condition, and the therapist’s role is to figure out which yoga tools and methods are most appropriate for that individual client and to develop a personal practice that addresses the client's specific needs.

Are Yoga and Ayurveda a religion?

No. Both have a spiritual dimension and often include ritual, but neither promotes belief in a particular god or faith. People of all or indeterminate faiths can work with the teachings of Yoga and Ayurveda, but both disciplines clearly suggest that faith in something larger than ourselves (call it what you will) is a critical aspect of contentment. 

I’m not flexible. Can I still practice yoga or do somatic exercises?

In Viniyoga, the goal, when doing the physical postures, is not picture-perfect execution. The real question is this: what is the functional benefit of the movement? You won’t be “adjusted” into an idealized version of a pose. Instead you’ll find an expression of it that’s right for your body--one that helps you understand and transform your physical structure while building awareness of your inner landscape. With somatic movement, the practice is likewise all about your internal experience and sensing your body’s cues, not about your ability to touch your toes.

I don’t have enough time to practice!

How strong is your desire to change? If you are ready, you’ll make the time to engage in practice. Remember that consistency is key and even VERY short practices can be highly effective.   

WHEN WIll i see results?

The classic philosophical text of yoga, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, tells us that the benefits of yoga are achieved through diligent practice done with an open heart and good attention over a long period of time. As with so much in life, we reap what we sow. Depending on your intention, some effects of practice may be immediate, others may take a longer time to come to fruition. You hold the potential to transform in your own hands if you can find a way to practice consistently. In the words of T.K.V. Desikachar: “Yoga [for healing] is a gradual process of recovery, maintenance and improvement. It requires patience and discipline and no small amount of faith. That is the way it works.” The same can be said for Ayurveda and Somatic Education.