Welcome to the next vlog on the Four Pillars of Seed Yoga Therapy, where we will explore the third pillar: Attuning to the Body and Breath.

The first pillar is honoring the nervous system where we learn how our unique nervous system is wired, understand the inherent wisdom in it and how to work directly with the nervous system.

The second pillar is cultivating discipline, which can stabilize the nervous system with predictability and routine. This supports a regulated nervous system as well as promoting a balanced physiology that aligns with the natural rhythms of the body. 

To understand how to attune to the body and breath first we have to know that everything happens in the body: thoughts, emotions, sensations, energy, and breath. Nothing is removed from the body making it imperative to work directly with the body when looking to shift patterns related to trauma, depression, anxiety or addictions. All of these “mental health” challenges also happen within the body. Even when we are dissociated or not “in our bodies” that too happens in the body. Numbing is a bodily experience just as much as the heart racing or heat arising from a panic attack or the heaviness or sensation of walking through concrete that can come from grief. 

As a mental health therapist my clinical training focused on using talking, analysis, and cognitive understanding to impact change in mental health challenges. This can be helpful because in that relationship we can be seen, heard and witnessed in our struggles, and this is never to be underestimated. Yet talking can also keep us in the intellect and analysis of the challenge rather than working directly with how the body, nervous system and energy is impacted. Working more upstream from the mind can be a more direct way to work these the challenges. My teacher, Saundaryāmbikā, explains how these things happen in the body first through chemicals, hormones and neurohormonal pathways and later the mind puts labels on them such as, scared or angry angry. A key ingredient in yoga therapy is to get under the labels to the direct experience of the body. 

Just as there are infinite ways to work with the nervous system and create a discipline or routine there are also countless ways to work with the body and breath. Each person’s body and energy needs to be addressed in their unique ways. For some people working with the body is building tolerance to begin to feel. For others it is soothing the body so the sensations aren’t overwhelming. For some a breath practice is simply noticing when they are holding their breath. For others it may be a practice of breathing with sensations as they arise. 

Since my work as a yoga therapist is inherently in the body I work with each person individually to co-create the embodiment practices that will support them. I don’t come from a prescriptive approach where certain asanas (poses) are good for anxiety or breathing techniques are good for trauma because each person’s anxiety or trauma will be unique to them. 

A useful first step to working with the body and breath is simple awareness. As my teacher says, awareness is everything. Doing a body scan or a breath awareness practice can support beginning to understand the relationship between the body, energy, mind, emotions and nervous system. If a moving practice feels more supportive a walking meditation can also be a way to start to connect with the body and breath. 

If you try one of the practices I’d love to hear what you notice and let me know if you have any questions or anything you hope I cover in talks on my YouTube channel.