Therapeutic Yoga
By Beth Mellema, LMSW, Certified EMDR Therapist, Certified Therapeutic Yoga Educator

What is Therapeutic Yoga?

Yoga movements done under the close guidance of a therapeutic yoga educator. This is done for the purpose of connecting more deeply with physical and emotional sensations in the body.  Therapeutic yoga is not a workout. Therapeutic Yoga is a practice involving breath work, mindfulness, and physical movements.  It is an opportunity to learn how and where our physical body stores emotional information.

What are the Benefits?

• Increased connection and ownership with your physical body
• Increased sense of safety within your body. This increases the likelihood of being able to speak about difficult memories.
• Increased awareness of moment to moment shifts in physical and emotional sensations which increases emotional regulation
• Increased grounding and connection to the present moment
• Increased ability to be curious about physical sensation and stimulation.  “I feel shaky. OK.  How will I use this information?”

Who Could Benefit?

• People who can’t identify what is going on in their bodies emotionally (they don’t notice twitching, tension, etc.) or physically (they can’t tell when they are hungry, satiated, etc.)
• People with single episode or complex trauma to which they feel too little or too much emotional connection or physical arousal
• People whose anxiety prevents them from being able to focus or make decisions or who are overwhelmed/shut down easily

For more information or if you have questions please contact Beth Mellema, LMSW at bmellema@cpcounsel.net

Beth is a bilingual (Spanish) Licensed Master Social Worker, Certified EMDR therapist and a Trauma Sensitive Yoga Educator. She enjoys working with diverse people groups with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Beth specializes in childhood trauma, families in crisis, parenting issues, issues related to deportation or family separation, single parenting, singleness issues, domestic violence, grief, school issues, adult and childhood anxiety and depression. Beth has special experience working with families involved in the juvenile justice system. She is passionate about giving people the opportunity to have a voice and feel heard. Beth offers Christian support to those who are looking to make a change in any part of their life. Learn more.