“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease."

- the world health organization

 

As it relates to chronic illness and autoimmunity: Years of chronic symptoms that deprive us from living our best life can teach us to detach from our bodies, dismiss pain or any symptom because we have to continue with life regardless of quality. Yoga brings us back into our bodies and allows us to be present with everything that is happening. A saying I’ve heard many times, ‘You have to feel it to heal it.’ Or, as Rumi puts it, ‘The cure for the pain is in the pain,’ and yoga allows the space for this.

 
 

  • Yoga, a form of mindfulness, induces the relaxation response, or the parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as the “rest and digest” network responsible for relaxation.  This helps to balance hormones in the body and keeps the gut in good working order.

  • Dr. Herbert Benson of Massachusetts General states that the relaxation response is “a physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress.”

  • Peer reviewed research shows yoga benefits everything from chronic pain to irritable bowel syndrome to PTSD.  

  • Yoga grows your brain. A study measuring regions of the brain responsible for learning, memory, cognition and emotional regulation showed growth after only 8 weeks of meditation, while the areas of the brain responsible for fear, anxiety and stress shrank.

  • Your body detoxes itself in 4 ways:  pee, poop, sweat, breath

  • 10 minutes of deep diaphragmatic breathing a day will circulate and rush lymph through the lymphatic vessels.  Lymph is a clear fluid filled with immune cells.  It delivers nutrients and collects cellular waste, processes toxins and helps to destroy pathogens.

  • Yoga invokes Self – reflection; Self – compassion; Self – awareness.  All things needed in the healing process.

  • There are many branches and styles of yoga from which to choose. 

  • Yoga is a practice.  The simplicity is that you begin wherever you are in your body, mind or emotions and grow from there.

 

How I work

  • 1 | Assess

    I perform a complete evaluation of the physical and mental body. This is done visually, verbally and through a paper intake process. The dialogue we have looks at you both subjectively and objectively in order to get to the root of the issue. We determine weaknesses, strengths, dysfunction, what helps or hurts and move from there.

  • 2 | Recommend

    Working with your physical evaluation, together we assemble a set of postures and breathwork sequences that support your specific issue. Depending on our time together, we will practice 1:1 or you can use your recommendation as homework to do on your own time. I provide a detailed plan after each session highlighting where your focus areas are until our next session.

  • 3 | Track

    At the beginning of each session, we check in with life and settle in to the practice. Using objective measures, your issue is assessed after each new week of practice. We build from the initial plan, removing or adding postures where needed in order for continued education, growth and resolution.

 

The body has the capacity to heal and repair itself. All you have to do is provide it with the right tools. That is where I come in.

This approach is about gaining a familiarity with your innate self. Building a foundation of knowledge and empowering yourself through the process. Any issue, physical or physiological, has the ability to teach you self-care and true health through the understanding of your own body. We will work together with your body’s innate healing ability and personal timeline.

 
 

“Part of the practice of yoga is to find that part of ourselves that is always steady.”

– Donna farhi

“Because of Lauren, I became optimistic about an increased quality of life I achieved!”

“Lauren has effected dramatic change helping to relieve the SI Joint pain that I have suffered for years. Through Lauren’s immense awareness and knowledge of the human body, she carefully curated a personalized treatment plan of postures, poses and breathing techniques.  She did this after carefully listening to my concerns and goals for improved quality of life. She meticulously guided me so that I could perfect each pose, and provided an extensive written treatment plan as well, so that I could continue my treatment daily. Her calming voice mesmerized as she motivated with intention. Because of Lauren, I became optimistic about an increased quality of life which was achieved! I am so appreciative of this exceptional Yoga Therapist. I will be forever grateful for the positive impact Lauren has made in my health and in my life!”

— Roxanne K.