What does Pride mean to me?

As a little boy growing up, my family would always encourage me to be my most authentic self as long as I wasn’t being hurtful to others. Looking back on my upbringing, I see it meant that I was able to be friendly, curious, unafraid, loving, expressive, creative, open and adventurous.  It meant that I was able to self define, it meant that I was able to show the world who I was.

Later on, outside of my home and my family, other people and forces tried to define me. To this moment outside forces are still trying to define me. However, because my foundation was so strong, I know fundamentally that the most important defining voice in my life will always be my own.  

Pride means being able to show who you are, without fear, to be able to stand in the light of your truth (Satya), and to know that being your most authentic self, without hurting others, is one of the greatest gifts you can share with the world. Working in the world of therapeutic yoga, I would like to inspire pride in my clients and colleagues because this kind of pride, this freedom, honesty, and self-love practice, can only make you stronger, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  Practice Pride! Happy Pride!

Dorian Shorts
E-RYT 500
YACEP
Yoga Therapist Candidate 
DorianShorts.com

Understanding Resistance to Change in Yoga Therapy: The RULE of Motivational Interviewing

Change can be a complex journey, especially when it comes to our physical and mental well-being. In yoga therapy, practitioners often encounter various forms of resistance that can slow down or completely block progress. Whether it’s emotional, mental, or physical, these resistances are natural but must be addressed to ensure a successful therapeutic outcome.

In this blog, we’ll talk about the common types of resistance to change and how yoga therapy can integrate the principles of motivational interviewing to help clients overcome these challenges.

What Prevents People from Change?

Resistance to change is often rooted in fear, uncertainty, and deeply ingrained habits. Whether someone is dealing with chronic pain, stress, or mental health concerns, the discomfort of change can outweigh the perceived benefits of healing.

As a result, they may unconsciously—or consciously—resist the therapeutic process.

In yoga therapy, this resistance is often seen as a form of self-protection, where the client shields themselves from potential discomfort or vulnerability.

Types of Resistance in Yoga Therapy

Here are some specific types of resistance to change that practitioners commonly encounter:

Arguing

Arguing is a form of resistance where clients may resist the accuracy or expertise of the yoga therapist. They might challenge the validity of the practices, questioning whether the techniques can truly address their issues.

This type of resistance reflects the client’s inner conflict and may stem from past experiences where their expectations for healing were not met.

Interrupting

Interrupting occurs when clients frequently break into the conversation, often in a defensive or combative manner. This resistance signals discomfort with the therapeutic process, and the client may feel threatened by the suggestions being made.

In yoga therapy, this can manifest when the practitioner is trying to guide the client into deeper practices of mindfulness or body awareness, and the client becomes defensive.

Denying

Denying is when clients refuse to acknowledge their challenges, whether they be physical, emotional, or mental. This can include an unwillingness to take responsibility for their health or reject the need for any lifestyle changes.

In yoga therapy, denial might look like a client refusing to modify their diet or adopt mindfulness practices, even though these steps could aid their healing.

Ignoring

Ignoring occurs when the client completely disregards the information provided by the therapist. In this case, the client is not paying attention or is intentionally avoiding the therapeutic suggestions being made.

This type of resistance can be especially difficult to navigate in yoga therapy, as it signals a deep unwillingness to engage with the healing process.

How Motivational Interviewing Can Help in Yoga Therapy

Motivational interviewing is a technique developed by Miller and Rollnick (2013) to help healthcare practitioners work with clients who are resistant to change. By incorporating this therapeutic style into yoga therapy, practitioners can help clients explore their resistance and make gradual, positive changes.

The RULE of motivational interviewing is particularly useful in overcoming resistance:

R = Resist telling them what to do: Rather than directing clients toward a specific path, yoga therapists should allow clients to explore their own motivations for change. This creates a space for self-discovery, which is a crucial part of the healing journey.

U = Understand their motivation: Every client has unique reasons for their resistance. A yoga therapist can take time to explore these motivations and barriers, helping clients feel heard and understood.

L = Listen with empathy: Listening deeply and empathetically allows the client to feel supported, which can soften resistance over time.

E = Empower them: Setting small, achievable goals with the client and celebrating their successes can empower them to continue progressing.

Conclusion

Yoga therapy resistance is a common hurdle in the healing process, but it can be overcome with the right tools and approaches. By understanding the types of resistance and integrating motivational interviewing techniques, yoga therapists can create a compassionate and supportive environment where clients feel empowered to embrace change at their own pace.

Are you a yoga teacher or healthcare practitioner looking to incorporate yoga and mindfulness into your practice? Are you interested in learning more about Yoga in Healthcare? Please check out our annual Yoga in Healthcare Training - as well as our comprehensive yoga therapy certification at Prema Yoga Institute.

Please be advised that the content of this blog is not to be used as a substitution for the opinions and services of your licensed healthcare professional.

Top Tips for Teaching Kids’ Yoga: A Guide for Instructors

Yoga can be a very fun activity for children. A session can be a space for them to move their bodies while also interacting with other kids. Yoga is more than just movement, after all.

But how do you create an environment where kids can safely learn yoga and enjoy it? This is where a certified kids' yoga instructor can truly shine. Through effective sessions and playful activities, you can help these little ones get the most out of yoga.

In this blog, we’ll share helpful hints that any children’s yoga teacher can use:

Creating Classroom Agreements

Set up a classroom agreement with all of the participants. These can include being present, respectful, and responsible. If you are handling elementary school and above groups, it will be best to come up with the agreement together. Use the yamas and niyamas - the ethical rules of yoga in the Yoga Sutras - as your guide.

Be sure to also clearly identify the specific situations that warrant the removal of the participant from the session.

Being Relatable

To make the yoga sessions fun and interesting, it's important to get to know the participants. Talk to them about their likes and dislikes and incorporate them into your sessions.

Eliminating Distractions

Distractions are fairly easy to get the attention of young ones away from you and what you're teaching. Be sure to eliminate distractions, including unnecessary background noises.

Incorporating Expressive Arts and STEAM

Depending on the age group of participants you are teaching in a yoga session, you have to make sure that you're using age-appropriate materials into your movements. These include science, music, and art. Doing so will help you reach children with varying types of intelligence.

Incorporating Sensory Experiences

As much as possible, make sure to incorporate sensory experiences during your sessions. These include visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular, interoception, and proprioception. While incorporating everything in the entire session may not be logically possible, incorporate them where the participants are amenable.

Modeling

When breathwork exercises and movement, be sure to use modeling. The modeling method is where you perform the movement or activity and then explain the rationale of each step. Doing so helps the kids understand what the activity is for and why they are doing it.

Using Repetition

While children may be eager to learn, it's also important to help them retain the movements and postures that you are teaching them. Repetition will be the best course of action so there's time for integration.

Have a Backup Plan

Since you will be dealing with youngsters with different personalities, there can be instances when your planned session doesn't work out. That's okay. Just be sure to have a tried-and-tested backup plan that you can use.

Using Repetition

While children may be eager to learn, it's also important to help them retain the movements and postures that you are teaching them. Repetition will be the best course of action so there's time for integration.

Using Repetition

While children may be eager to learn, it's also important to help them retain the movements and postures that you are teaching them. Repetition will be the best course of action so there's time for integration.

Conclusion

Teaching a kids’ yoga session can be successful with the help of these tips as well as going through certified kids’ yoga instructor training.

Interested in training to become a Yoga Alliance Certified Kids Yoga Teacher?  Our Yoga Alliance-approved Kids’ Inclusive Yoga Teacher Training course is online, and focuses on sharing yoga with all kids!  Please check out all the information HERE.