When I sat down with my mentor via zoom, I told him how off kilter I was. He looked at me calmly, and knowing me well from our relationship over time, reflected back to me that I was feeling a lack of control because of current events, and this feeling stemmed from past wounds I hold from the chaotic, traumatic, and also the overly structured experiences of my youth. As soon as he said it, it became as obvious to me as seeing my face in the mirror and finding a big smudge of dirt on my face.

When I work with people one on one, I frequently hear them say that they would like to learn to use their voice, that they would like to be able to express themselves, to be heard. Chanting is an incredible tool for learning how to use your voice.

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.