Our emotions can have an outsized effect on what happens in our body and our breath. Think about what happens when you are very stressed-- your shoulders may tense up, your jaw may clench, and your breath might get shorter and faster. Now, think about what happens when you are with a loved one, or watching a beautiful sunset, for example-- your body may feel at ease, your breath calm, and there might be a general sense of well being.

We may not always notice, or listen, but our breath tells us a lot about how we are feeling. We can also use our breath to change how we feel— physically, mentally and emotionally!

At its core, āsana is really just a special arrangement of the limbs and body that gives a particular experience, and aims to form new patterns within you. In yoga therapy we use āsana to alleviate patterns of discomfort and solidify patterns of ease and well-being.