Movement & Yoga
At The Therapy Collective Psychotherapy and Wellness we currently offer one-to-one psychotherapy sessions that integrate yoga, movement and meditation.
Mieka & Michelle are Registered Psychotherapists & Certified Yoga Instructors who offer Yoga & Somatic Based Care.
What is Somatic-Based Psychotherapy? A therapeutic approach that integrates the connection between mind & body, focusing on bodily sensations and physical experiences to help process emotions, trauma, and stress.
What we offer
A growing body of evidence demonstrates the benefits of yoga and mindfulness for managing stress, and possible symptom reduction for mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, burnout and trauma. At the Therapy Collective Psychotherapy and Wellness we acknowledge that body movement is an integral part of supporting mental health as well as overall well being. Collaboratively with your therapist, you will decide if integrating yoga, movement or meditation into your treatment plan is the right approach for you.
Your tailored yoga practice will integrate yoga postures ”asanas” , embodied movement, and meditation practices, with contemporary research in the fields of:
- Psychology
- Kinesiology
- Neuroscience
- Interpersonal neurobiology
- Positive psychology
- Attachment theory
- Somatic & body-based therapeutic interventions
All of our yoga practices are trauma informed
Restorative
Restorative yoga is known to help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system also known as the “rest and digest” part of the nervous system. In this style of yoga props are used to help support the body and poses are held for a longer period of time helping to promote relaxation and healing. This practice is safe for all levels of practitioners.
VINYASA
Vinyasa Yoga is often used synonymously with “power yoga” and they are not the same. As a breath focused practice Vinyasa yoga, blends movements that build strength and help promote flexibility. Vinyasa practice typically links one posture to the next through the use of breath with movements that can be fast or slow paced. This practice tends to be a more movement based approach, finishing with complete relaxation. Vinyasa yoga is safe for most levels of practitioners.
Yin
Yin Yoga is a slow paced style of yoga where poses are held for longer periods of time promoting a deeper stretch in the body’s connective tissues. Yin is beneficial for releasing muscle tension and strain that can be helpful with overall stress management. This practice is safe for most levels of practitioners.
As we are white Canadian women, we acknowledge that modern Westernized Yoga practices are diluted forms (and in some cases complete bypasses) of the ancient spiritual practice of Yoga which originated in India. We are also deeply mindful and sensitive that the use of Westernized Yoga can be considered cultural appropriation— and more specifically we are aware and asking the hard questions around how themes of racism and European Colonization are woven into Westernized Yoga, and how we practice Yoga here at The Therapy Collective. For these reasons, we will use the words embodied or mindful movement to describe most of our practices here at The Therapy Collective. Want to learn more for yourself?
Beyond Talk Therapy.
At The Therapy Collective we recognize the massive benefits that yoga and movement can offer for an individual’s trauma healing treatment plan. Resounding amounts of evidence-based research demonstrates the impact of yoga and movement as both a valuable tool and approach for supporting and coping with many mental health issues. Some of these issues include, trauma, PTSD, C-PTSD, anxiety and depression.
Yoga & Somatic-Based Care
One of The Therapy Collectives foundational values when we started this practice was to offer another therapeutic approach to support healing outside of talk therapy and we always knew that would be yoga and movement. Therefore, we are currently working to create a safe space where we can offer small group trauma-informed yoga programs running in 4-8 week sessions with our therapists who are also certified yoga instructors.
