Lucie Mayer - 362211^

Starling Yoga Therapy and Teaching

Offering 1 to 1 Yoga Therapy in Oxford

Yoga therapy is a highly individualised and person-centred mind-body therapy which fuses ancient yogic philosophy, breath and movement  practices, modern psychotherapeutic techniques and mindfulness. As an evidence based discipline, it is also strongly rooted physiology and neuroscience.

It is a truly holistic, multi layered, empowering approach, tailored to help individuals move towards greater health and well-being.

Practices may include movement, breath work, mindfulness, relaxation, rest, reflection, journaling, and self-enquiry. Individuals are supported to develop a practice that supports an optimum state of physical emotional, mental and soul health, enabling people to meet life’s challenges with more ease.

The yoga therapy I practice is based on  the Kosha model, which considers an individual in terms of 5 interacting layers (koshas) of the self. 

Your first session would include an assessment and exploration of your experience based on these 5 layers:

- physical layer

- breath/energy layer

- mental layer

- wisdom layer

- bliss layer

This exploration enables us identify areas for initial focus.  Our therapeutic work then seeks to restore balance to each layer through the application of yoga, enquiry and mindfulness practices. 

There is good evidence that a yoga therapy approach can be very helpful for people experiencing “dis-ease” caused by a wide range of short or longer term issues including:

anxiety, depression, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pain arthritis, diabetes, digestive issues, osteoporosis, menopause symptoms, insomnia, trauma, PTSD, addiction, auto immune disorders, bereavement, and addiction.

In some cases people find their symptoms resolve altogether, others find that they find ways to live with more ease alongside their existing conditions.

Yoga therapy can be helpful as a stand-alone therapy or alongside conventional medical treatment or psychological therapies. (if you are currently working with any other kind of therapist or medical specialist I will seek your consent to discuss the way we plan to work with them).

The Process

The process starts with a free 15-minute phone call to discuss your interest and how you hope to benefit from yoga therapy. It also provides an opportunity for you to ask any initial questions.

If we agree that it is appropriate for us to proceed, you next complete an intake form and we book an initial session.

The initial session is 90 minutes and here we discuss your intake form and your hopes and aims for our time together. We will work through the Kosha Assessment described above and begin explore some practices.

If after the first session we agree to take the work forward I ask you to commit to 6 further sessions. Yoga therapy is most effective engaged with consistently and committing to this initial series of 6 sessions offers the best chance for you to develop a regular practice. Further sessions are then booked in sets of three or six, with regular reviews of direction and efficacy.

The frequency of sessions depends on what is being worked on, weekly is usually recommend to begin with to build momentum, however this could be fortnightly or monthly depending on your requirements.

The total number of sessions will depend on the nature of the work we are doing together and/or your personal preference or circumstances. But a course of 6 sessions is usually a minimum.

Pricing

Initial phone call 15 minutes - Free

First session (90 minutes) £80

Ongoing sessions (60 minutes) £60