What to expect from a one-on -one Yoga therapy session

If you have read the page on 'What is Yoga Therapy?' from the dropdown above, you'll know that Yoga therapy is different for everyone- no two sessions are the same, as each person's needs, experiences, and goals are unique.  Even those with similar symptoms or conditions may require different therapeutic approaches. 

Therefore, it is difficult to break it down into exactly how your personal 1-1 yoga therapy sessions might look, but I’ll try to outline here, the basic structure and what you can expect when working with me. 

Free 30 minute initial consultation

Our first contact will be a free 30-minute consultation, either over the phone or in person. This provides an opportunity for us to meet, discuss your health concerns, and explore how a yoga therapy programme could support you.

If you decide to go ahead with the programme, I'll ask you to complete an intake form that gives me deeper insight into your story and lifestyle.

This helps me design a programme tailored to your specific situation and needs. The form covers areas such as sleep, nutrition, relationships, stress levels, medical history, current treatments, injuries, medications, aspirations, and goals.

I take time to consider the full picture—physical, emotional, mental, and relational aspects of your life—to help uncover what might be contributing to your current state of health. 

This whole-person approach allows us to work not just on symptoms, but toward identifying and addressing root causes, supporting long-term healing from the inside out.

Second Appointment – Assessment
(Or your first in-person session if the initial consultation was by phone.) 

We shall:

• Discuss your intake form in depth
• Conduct a postural and movement assessment – where we would observe your physical condition, posture, and range of motion. I would assess how you breathe and note any areas of tension or discomfort. This includes an exploration of compensatory movement patterns, fascial restrictions, and muscular imbalances using yoga postures, breath, and relaxation techniques. 
• Perform an Ayurveda-based health check
• Collabarotively set you some clear, realistic goals! These differ for everyone but may range from effectively managing pain, improving physical flexibility, stabilizing emotional wellbeing, or enhancing mental clarity. You'll be encouraged to ask yourself, "What exactly do I want to achieve, and by when?" — and that's what we strive for.

Customized Practices

 Based on everything gathered, I'll integrate modern, evidence-based research with ancient yogic tools to suggest a program I believe will be most effective for you. Then together, with your input and desires, we’ll co-create a personalized plan that aligns with your goals and aspirations.

Your plan shall include a variation of:

• Gentle physical postures (asanas)
• Breathing techniques (pranayama)
• Meditation, visualisation and relaxation practices
• Somatic movement
• Joint-freeing sequences and fascial release techniques
• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Nervous sytem downregulation
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
• Ayurveda-informed lifestyle and dietary recommendations
• Home based practices- material created specifically for you

 If you’re open to it, I may intuitively weave gentle elements of other healing modalities I’m trained and certified in into your Yoga Therapy sessions, if they feel appropriate and supportive to your journey. You’re always welcome to choose which modalities you’d like to explore.

These may include: 

• Sound Healing Therapy
• Reiki
• EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Tapping Technique)
• Yin Yoga
• Bliss Yoga
• Therapeutic massage

Accessibility and support

Yoga is for everyone. Don't worry if you have never done yoga or any of these techniques before.

It is my job to meet you exactly where you are—physically, emotionally, and energetically. There is no expectation, judgment, or limitation based on the severity of a condition.

I invite you to tune into your own body and move in a way that feels good for you-  rather than striving for any final shape —trusting that true progress comes from honoring your inner experience  and that the final shape comes naturally as your body learns to soften, open, and trust.

During each session, I’ll guide you carefully through the practices, providing detailed instructions and I shall offer adjustments or modifications based on your comfort level and physical condition.

With an extra 20 hours of specialized training in Chair-specific Yoga, I can adapt all practices for chairs or wheelchairs, should you prefer to be seated.

Follow-On Sessions and Progress 

Ongoing sessions are designed to build on each other, ensuring your practice evolves naturally with you. 

In subsequent sessions, we will: 

• Review and monitor your progress  
• Refine and adjust your program as needed  
• Address any new challenges or shifting needs  
• Celebrate milestones and successes  
• We’ll also continue discussing how to integrate your new awareness and practices into your daily life. 
• Rather than relying solely on weekly sessions, I will often recommend practices for you to continue at home, encouraging sustainable shifts in behavior, routine, and promoting lasting changes in your daily life.
• I’ll share video recordings of movement, breathing practices and/or voice recordings of meditations, that i create specifically for you- tools that you can keep for life
• External resources will be shared with you to support your journey

It is recommended to have atleast 4 sessions spaced 1-2 weeks apart for optimal results.

Pricing

• Free initial 30-minute consultation
• 1 session $80
•  4 sessions package:  $300  NZD
  Includes all customized materials, in-person sessions, tailored home practices, and ongoing program refinement.
• Payment plans are available.
• If this package isn’t accessible for you, feel free to reach out about group therapy options, where costs can be shared with others with similar health concerns (see Group Yoga Therapy from dropdown above).

Final Thoughts

Yoga therapy is about gradual, sustainable transformation. 

It is a journey of personal empowerment, healing, and self-discovery. 

This process meets you exactly where you are—whether you're managing a health condition, seeking greater balance, or simply wanting to reconnect with yourself. 

Through individually tailored sessions, supportive home practices, and compassionate guidance, we’ll work together to uncover what truly supports your well-being. 

My aim is to provide you with sustainable tools that empower you to carry the benefits of our work into every area of your life—equipping you for a lifetime of self-managed health.