What is Therapeutic Yoga + How It Transformed Me

She had no idea of my past eating disorder trauma, although I’m sure she sensed it. In that moment, tears streamed down my face and years of self-hatred and fear began to dissolve.

Therapeutic Yoga is compassionate and mindful movement (Asana) anchored by breathing exercises (Pranayama) and Meditation. Therapeutic Yoga addresses specific health concerns and overall wellness. It is a holistic approach to healing and sustaining a healthy body, mind and spirit.

I took my first Therapeutic Yoga class in 1998 with the gifted Jasmine Lieb. I was a dancer and at the time, I loved challenging vinyasa classes. Jasmine had been highly recommended to me and I was excited to see what the fuss was all about. She started class by asking us, in her sharp English accent, “How are you doing? And, is there anything going on in your body that I need to know about?”

One by one, students in the Santa Monica Main Street Yoga Works raised their hands and talked about their aches and pains. She followed up each question with more questions to better understand their situation.

She then told us to lie down on our backs and in the entire 90 minutes, we never got up. I was first amazed by her attention to detail and the slow methodical progression of a yoga pose unfolding.

Then, I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin because things were SO SLOW. I soon realized I was confronting some deep feelings that I hadn’t felt in a while – or maybe ever.

When I finally stood up to leave, I felt like I had journeyed through years.

I honestly didn’t know what day it was. What I did know is that I had just been given a key to a practice that would unlock a lifetime of learning and discovery into the heart of yoga.

After I completed my Yoga Works Teacher Training, Jasmine became my mentor teacher for my 500 Hour Training. I was blessed to study with her for over 10 years. I soaked up every morsel of knowledge that she shared. I treasured the afternoons when I would sit with her outside in her Venice Beach garden. She shared homemade scones and tea and would explain, using her medical skeleton, how the human body and yoga worked.

The depth of a Therapeutic Practice is limited only by the willingness of the student. First and foremost, a safe space is created and held for the student. This allows the student to dive as deep as they would like.

The use of breath work and awareness of energetic movement and their channels is imperative to support the shifts that the physical and emotional body can make.

I will never forget the time Jasmine came over to me during class when we were going through her extended Bridge Pose.

She held the back of my pelvis with one hand and my stomach with the other. I had never experienced this type of touch from a teacher before. I actually didn’t let people touch my stomach.

But, I trusted her completely. Breath by breath, I listened to her words. She explained to me how to release the tremendous tension and tightness in my stomach. Her hands seemed to have a healing power. I felt a warmth beginning to radiate from my navel center through my whole body.

She had no idea of my past eating disorder trauma, although I’m sure she sensed it. In that moment, tears streamed down my face and years of self-hatred and fear began to dissolve.

I was not the same person after that. I did her extended Bridge Pose daily and breath by breath, learned to love myself more and more.

In Therapeutic Yoga, individual needs are addressed and the yoga meets you where you are. The teacher and student co-create a yoga prescription for health and freedom. In each class, I strive to create a loving environment. There we transcend the physical, integrating a mind-body connection to promote overall healing and well-being.

Jasmine passed on in 2021. She helped countless people heal and left behind a legacy. I am infinitely grateful for what she shared and passed on to me and her other students.

Before each class that I teach, I silently give thanks to her and my other teachers. I ask to be a clear channel for their wisdom, and for the boundless love of the practice, to flow through me.

Therapeutic Yoga is for all levels and can be a profound way to deepen your practice.
My new Therapeutic Class will be on Tuesdays 5:30pm at The Yoga Barn in Severna Park.