8-week online course
Yoga Therapy for the Mind
- Eight weeks
- Two hours a week
- Small groups
- Online via Zoom
8
weekly sessions, each building on the last
2 hrs
together each week: practice, psychoeducation and discussion
10
people at most, so every voice is heard
About the course
Work with the body to influence the mind.
The Yoga Therapy for the Mind (YTFTM) 8-Week Course is an evidence-based course for the treatment of anxiety and mild depression created by Heather Mason (The Minded Institute). Rooted in neuroscience, medicine, yoga and mindfulness, it is designed to equip us with practical skills to provide relief in the short term and to foster deep transformation in the long term.
Throughout this course, we will work with the body to influence the mind and invite new ways of experiencing our whole self. We begin by developing regulatory tools, drawing on the breath and the ground, before moving into awareness of the body and the mind.
Working online from the comfort of your home is a brilliant way to access yoga therapy, and Zael does everything she can to create a safe and nurturing space to learn together. We settle at the start of each session with herbal tea, an overview of the week’s theme and a short discussion, before moving into the practice.
This course is for you if you’re experiencing:
- anxiety, depression and/or low mood
- stress, burnout, or emotional overwhelm
- difficulties with self-regulation or sleep
- social isolation alongside mental health challenges
What's included
Eight weeks, carefully built.
- 01
Small group
Groups are kept small (max 10 people) to support your unique needs, foster connection and create a community of others with similar experiences.
- 02
Eight weekly sessions
Each week builds on the previous, holding a safe space to practise regulation and mindfulness practices shown to support anxiety and depression.
- 03
Two hours each week
Longer than a usual class because it encompasses different strands of yoga, psychoeducation, and ends with a group discussion.
- 04
A manual
An overview of each week, reflections on the themes, reflective questions, and further reading for self-study.
- 05
A home practice
A weekly home practice, a list of the postures and their benefits, and downloadable links to practices.
- 06
Psychoeducation
Each class I explain why we are doing what we are doing. There is real magic in moving and breathing then resting, and it's backed by research.
- 07
A weekly theme
Eight themes chosen and repeated to aid self-reflection, self-awareness and regulation.
- 08
Asana and pranayama
Postures that influence us on a physical, energetic and mental level, and a new breath practice each week.
- 09
Activity and discussion
An activity that solidifies the theme, such as chanting or meditation, and time at the end to share.
What participants say
From past groups
Zael is an empathetic, kind, gentle teacher. She shares knowledge, focuses on her clients' needs and is wholly committed to supporting us! I found the breath work fantastic, the asanas very supportive and the literature sent over really helpful.
This course was a joyful and supportive experience. Thank you so much.
Each session offered a space to explore my body and state calmly and comfortably, giving me practical tools and techniques to better understand how I was responding to life's ups and downs. I cannot recommend this course enough.
I have previously found breath practice difficult to be comfortable with. Zael was amazing at understanding this and reintroducing breath work in a way that worked for me.
Being online is actually helpful as I often struggle to get to classes in the evenings.
Zael is an extraordinary teacher with a natural gift of guiding yogis of all levels and abilities. I really appreciated her ability to listen to how I was doing at the start and end of each session and reshape practices to fit me.
Questions
Before you join
Register your interest through the contact page and I'll get in touch to find a good time to talk. Together we can see if this is the course for you, talk through the next steps and answer any questions. Places are then booked and paid for online.
My previous roles teaching young people and coaching teachers, and now working with people of all ages and backgrounds as a yoga therapist, have made it so important to me to hold a space where people feel safe and seen. In my sessions I always use invitational language, offer options and modifications, and create a space to slow down and tune inwards: always trauma-informed and rooted in ahimsa (non-harm).
Sliding fee options are available, and if you need to pay in instalments we can absolutely work something out. Please get in touch to talk about concessions.
We use Zoom. You'll need to download it (for free) in advance. I send a link and more information the day before the first session, and we use the same link each week.
Let me know in advance and I'll record the session for you to watch when you can, ideally before the next one.
Yourself and a quiet space. A blanket and two bed pillows are brilliant, plus any cushions or props that help you sit comfortably. If you need to practise from a chair, let me know and I'll tailor the practice. You don't need a mat; a carpet is better than a bare floor.
Ready to join the next course?
Dates and places are on the booking page. If you're unsure, register your interest and we'll talk it through.