Sankalpa = heartfelt desire, to become one with, intention.
By Raquel Issenberg
Beyond the bustling heart of yoga studios and a broad range of styles, many seek solace and healing through customized practices that tend to their specific needs into long-lasting well-being. Yoga, a complete system that has evolved over thousands of years, has taken on various forms and applications in the modern world.
Kierstin Nicole Graham's story, the voice of the month, reflects the power of an individualized approach to yoga as a tool for effective physical and emotional recovery: Today she lives her teaching path by embracing the uniqueness of each person she serves with Yoga Therapy.
Kierstin Nicole:
“Honoring individuality and supporting community growth- this is what I hope to offer whether it be through Yoga Therapy or another tool.'“.
In accordance with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), teaching yoga and yoga therapy are not the same thing. Although most practitioners understand that yoga is inherently therapeutic, it does not mean that everybody must apply yoga as therapy.
Yoga therapists are trained to work with people dealing with a wide range of health issues, including chronic pain, stress, anxiety, depression, and various medical conditions.
Yoga as a whole and ancient tradition has its purpose in the ultimate realization of the human being through a series of spiritual practices that include movement, breath manipulation, and contemplation into the complete stillness of the mind. The vast body of knowledge in the realm of yoga applies to everyone willing to embody it.
Sprouts Of Self-Awareness
Trigger Warning (TW): Mentions of exercising as a punishment for food.
For Graham, a yoga therapist (C-IAYT), her first encounter with yoga was a seed planted and early nourished by her grandmother.
“My practice began at a young age due to my Nana being a yoga instructor. I spent pieces of my childhood balancing through yoga shapes, sending energy to flowers, and grounding with trees.”
However, pivotal moments led her to discover the therapeutic potential of yoga while experiencing a difficult relationship with her physical body.
“As I moved into middle school my personal discomfort with my body led me away from the practice. I wanted to focus on anything but my body. It wasn't until my early twenties I truly found healing in the practice again and decided I wanted to share this healing with others.
“It was not a linear process moving forward. I was still struggling with an eating disorder and at the same time throwing myself in the front of a class in spaces that were encouraging participants to ‘work off the holidays’”, Graham recounted.
For populations that struggle with eating and exercise disorders, or that are trying to overcome a negative body image, the instructor’s narrative is crucial. Most students who come to a yoga setting to calm their minds are looking for a safe space for practice. Moreover, teachers can experience the same stigma from a yoga studio’s atmosphere that reflects a preference for the aesthetics and the acrobatic side of the practice.
“However yoga is also the reason I was brave enough to reach out for help and go to treatment. I spent my mornings and early afternoons at an outpatient treatment facility making strides in my recovery just to spend my afternoons and evenings taking two steps back in my recovery as I walked into a studio to teach.
“During these years I experienced as much harm as I did healing through yoga. I chose to hold on to yoga though, knowing that the harm was not yoga’s fault but the twisted views and stereotypes that have become tangled into the practice.”, Graham remembered.
With time and self-knowledge, the profound impact of her personal experiences channeled her insights into helping others.
“‘Don't pass out’, ‘Don't pass out’, ‘Don’t pass out’. This was my ‘mantra’ before teaching a class: my food habits were not supporting how I moved my body, but movement was also the only way I could get out of my head.”, Graham shared.
Affected by the pressure any person can experience when dealing with disordered eating and body dysmorphia, Graham saw this as an “opportunity to realize that a studio was not necessary— yoga can be practiced each and every day on and off the mat. This is how the practice supported me during my recovery. It also supported me in becoming the Trauma Informed Yoga Therapist I am today.”
Graham found through her own discomfort a personalized and Trauma-Informed yoga process that brought a deeper form of self-knowledge and compassion to others.
“Feeling uncomfortable and excluded in yoga spaces offered me the gift of allowing the person in front of me to lead. I am able to remind others that though we all may be spending time together on our mats (chairs, towels, or blankets) in the same space, this time is for them; through not only my words but also my actions.
“I've taught at parks, in a petting zoo with goats, in studios, at underprivileged schools, in restaurants, community centers, chairs, daycares, on the beach. All this reflects back to me that it doesn't matter where the class is but the space that is held. I feel honored that I have taught and worked with a diverse group of individuals. That experience and my continuing education in trauma-informed practices has supported my growth as both a practitioner and guide!”, Graham remarked.
Why Yoga Therapy?
One of the fundamental principles of yoga therapy is recognizing that each individual is unique, with their own set of physical, emotional, and mental challenges. This recognition allows yoga therapists to tailor practices and interventions to the specific needs of their clients.
“Yoga Therapy is a new age, holistic method of healing based on an ancient tradition. A Yoga Therapist uses yoga techniques (asana, pranayama, mantra, meditation, philosophy, Ayurveda, and more), to support individuals in healing.”, Graham explained.
This healing, she continued, “can be physically, mentally, and/or emotionally depending on the client's condition/complaint. Yoga Therapy can be supportive for anything ranging from physical pain to mental conditions.”.
The Difference Between Yoga In Studios, Yoga Therapy, And Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
Three distinct approaches to yoga have gained prominence in contemporary practice: traditional yoga in studios, Yoga Therapy, and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY). Each of these techniques offers unique benefits and caters to different needs, making them valuable tools as Graham elaborated
“A yoga teacher is trained to guide students through classes and sequences in a general and typically creative way!
“Yoga Therapy is best for individuals who are looking to receive therapeutic benefits from yoga, whereas a yoga studio is a better fit for individuals looking for support through community, are looking to explore different lineages of yoga or experience yoga through a class setting. A yoga therapist is trained to work with yoga to treat specific conditions. Yoga Therapists use the yoga therapy framework to support the individual treatment they are creating.
“Trauma Sensitive Yoga focuses on expanding the window of tolerance and connecting individuals to interoception, which means most TSY practices are physically based— yoga therapy expands and offers support through multiple Koshas (the ‘five sheaths/layers of life’ in consonance with Sankhya, the ancient philosophy behind yoga practice).”, Graham expounded.
Gateway To Self-Healing
In yoga, there exists a profound and often life-altering realization—a recognition that extends far beyond the confines of the yoga mat. It is the understanding that yoga is not merely a physical practice; it is a gateway to deep healing, self-discovery, and transformation.
“Honoring individuality and supporting community growth- this is what I hope to offer whether it be through Yoga Therapy or another tool. As someone who has always felt like an outsider, I've always craved community. I hope that I can support communities in realizing how beautiful it is to connect with someone who has as many similarities as they do differences to you.
I believe this is how we grow—by allowing space for us to see, hear, and experience life through different lenses. We are all human, we all experience a range of emotions. Yoga Therapy offers me the space to honor each person's individuality while supporting the community as a whole.”, Graham concluded.
Along with her IAYT certification, Graham is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200), a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), a 500 Hour Trauma-Informed Registered Yoga Instructor (TIY RYT 500), a Community Resiliency Model Teacher Trainer, Reiki Master, and a Breath Coach. Furthermore, she is a trained Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) helper.
➠ Kierstin teaches Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY) in different spaces in the Savannah community and offers Yoga Therapy by consultation: Take a look at her website and Instagram, and her work at Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council. Additionally, she will be offering a virtual TSY series in October 2023 (and Yoga Therapy) through AP Counseling Yoga.
Links of interest:
• International Association of Yoga Therapists (certifications & directory)
• NEDA: National Eating Disorders Association (site & helpline)
• If you are a yoga teacher dealing with eating disorders and body dysmorphia, visit Eat Breath Thrive, where you can find courses for your own recovery and training to help others recover.
