Here’s the thing: pain is your body communicating with you. It’s saying “Something here isn’t working, so can you please change it?”

The really helpful part about pain is that it gives you feedback. If you do one thing, say rounding your lower back, and your back hurts, you know something about that isn’t working. If you do it differently, such as lifting your lower back in and up to create the natural curve, and your back feels fine, you now know that change DOES work, and that’s what your body has been asking you to do (or at least part of it).

It isn’t personal – it’s not like you’ve done something wrong because you never learned how your shoulders want to be held so your neck doesn’t hurt, or that flattening your lower back can lead to serious discomfort.

On the contrary, it’s surprising how few doctors and body workers actually understand the principles of optimal alignment. I frequently work with someone who has exercises from their physio that don’t feel good. When they understand and apply optimal alignment to the same exercises, all of a sudden they feel good.

It isn’t necessarily the action or exercise that brings pain or relief, but the alignment itself that makes all the difference.

How Yoga Therapy Works

I love teaching Yoga Therapy, because generally the person I’m helping gets instant feedback from their body, and they’re grinning from ear to ear in the first five minutes of the private because we’ve already found the cause of the pain and they’ve had a taste of how simple it is to be pain free.

When you learn to identify the patterns of misalignment that cause pain, you can then create different patterns that bring optimal circulation, optimal range of motion and freedom from pain; when you change whatever isn’t working, your body responds by not hurting.

And that’s a very good thing.

In a Yoga Therapy private or semi-private, you learn which elements of your posture give you a hard time and how to change them. I help you see what you’re doing well, and also identify what you can improve.

When you know your tendencies you can watch for them – be aware of what habits aren’t working. And if you understand how to realign, then you have the power to change those habits into new patterns that support health and feel good.

Yoga Therapy in Kamloops

I’ve recently started a series of semi-private Yoga Therapy classes to make this incredibly effective approach more available to people. These sessions are limited to 4 people, and you get individual attention so you know exactly what patterns to watch for in your body.

When you attend a Yoga Therapy class with others, you not only discover your own patterns of mis-alignment, but you learn from seeing similar things in others. This deepens your understanding, and actually makes it easier for you to get the new alignment because you see it from a different perspective.

You also learn by seeing how I work with the others in the class, because I often do hands-on adjustments so your body has a kinesthetic awareness of what it feels like to be in alignment.

Each Yoga Therapy session comes with a sheet of simple exercises for you to do at home in order to create these new patters of freedom and avoid falling back into the habits that cause pain. These ‘homework’ sheets also have a review of the most important alignment elements, so if you forget you have something to refer to.

The sessions are focused on one specific area of the body. For example, I’ll teach a whole class on the shoulders and neck, which influence the circulation and health of arms, wrists, and conditions like headaches.

If you have back pain, you might want to come to both the lower back class, and the shoulders and neck class, because they support each other and you’ll get the fullest understanding that way.

Feedback from Yoga Therapy Semi-Private participants:

“This is my second yoga therapy class. They are so fantastic! I love the way you gently push us to work. There is just enough detail to get it, but not overwhelm. I find these sessions very motivating, making me want to do the work. Thanks!”

“I like the one-on-one personal attention, and the various ways of explaining a pose so everyone can understand. I also appreciate you making sure the pose is correct.”

“I liked the exact attention to body alignment and your honest assessments of all my positions. Even though I had done this class previously there is always a new detail to integrate.”

“I’m feeling great!”

Please visit my Kamloops Yoga Therapy page to find out more about these sessions and how you can participate.

• Feel free to leave a comment if you have questions or experience with this approach to freedom.

“I have been helped enormously by you, and your approach to yoga, Katrina. The  private classes I took with you have had a truly remarkable effect, and I am constantly amazed at just how perceptive you were. I could see your extraordinary perceptiveness right away, but time has only deepened my appreciation of your insights. You are a truly wonderful teacher. Thank you so much for all the help and care you have given me – and continue to give me!” ~ Alexander Forbes

Though group classes are excellent, dynamic, and can be really fun, there is nothing like private yoga classes to really explore your individual practice. Both group and private classes are important, and each have their place.

First of all, private sessions can also be fun, dynamic, and extraordinary experiences. I mean, if you don’t enjoy it, why would you want to keep doing it?

What really makes private yoga such an intelligent investment in your personal development is the attention to your own individual needs, wants, and interests.

It gives you a chance to learn exactly what nourishes your body, mind, and spirit much more quickly and completely. And when you do what is best for you (even if it isn’t always easy) transformation and beautiful growth ensues.

Are you a beginner or an experienced yogi? Either way, private sessions can boost your practice to the next level.

Maybe you love yoga but don’t have enough time to travel to and from class, or there isn’t a class at the right time for you.

Perhaps you have a physical condition you’re working with, or are uncomfortable in a group setting. Maybe you just need someone to encourage and motivate you.

These are just a few reasons why you may want to consider private classes.

One thing you should know about my approach to yoga is that the most important thing is for you to feel better after the session than before you started it.

I always look for the beauty of your practice – even if you’re a brand new beginner there are things you’ll discover in your practice that are empowering and worth celebrating!

When I give suggestions for improvement or help you re-align, it’s always to help you enhance your experience. I’m not there to ‘fix’ you – you don’t need fixing! You’re perfect just as you are, AND you have unlimited potential to grow and change as you choose. I am happy to guide you in this, to the best of my ability.

What makes me qualified to offer such a significant service? Good question! It’s a very good idea to check out anyone you’re going to work with to see if they’re worthy of your trust.

I am a licensed Anusara-Inspired™ yoga teacher. That means Anusara® yoga, a school of hatha yoga that has created many of the highest qualified and respected teachers in the world, recognizes me for the extensive training and expertise I have gained with Anusara yoga teachers. John Friend, the founder of Anusara yoga and one of the most sought after yogis on the planet, is my primary teacher, and I have traveled all over North America to sit at his feet, learn from his enormous experience, laugh with him (fun is important), and develop my own devoted practice.

I have dedicated myself to the highest teachings – both the most effective physical approaches and those which lead into the heart of happiness and peace.

And I have helped hundreds of people with these skills.

“ I have to thank you for your teaching- and your commitment to the role of ‘teacher.’ I have had many incredible insights while participating in your classes- a direct result of your heart-oriented style. Namaste.” ~ Marcia

“I have totally enjoyed the classes with Katrina … also her DVD’s. Her calm energy, incredible knowledge, and mostly her sensitivity to each participant’s individual needs make her a very wise and dedicated teacher.” ~ Sandy Abraham

I currently offer private yoga in Metairie, LA, as well as the surrounding New Orleans area, and will be in Kamloops BC starting in May 2010.

I would love to help you discover the wonders of this yoga; to light up your world with the magic of a spacious perspective and enliven your body with the healing powers of increased circulation and optimal alignment.

When you choose to have a private class with me I am happy to give you a personal practice that suits your needs, so that you can continue to practice on your own. Though I do suggest ongoing sessions so I can help you avoid misalignment and continue to progress, even one session can make a huge difference and leave you feeling empowered and inspired.

Please contact me to inquire about private yoga sessions. I will be available in the Metairie and New Orleans area through April 2010, and then in BC, Canada starting May 2010.

*Though I have trained some of the most experienced and qualified yoga instructors in the world and am highly skilled, I am, obviously, not a doctor. If you have any concerns or questions about starting a yoga practice please check with your health practitioner first.

Also PLEASE tell me when you schedule a session if you have any health concerns, physical conditions, or if you are pregnant. This will help me serve you better by planning ahead the best approach for your practice.

I teach an uplifting, therapeutic, empowering yoga as an Anusara-Inspired™ yoga instructor. The combination of a fun loving, flowing, heart oriented philosophy with specific alignment principles is one that has revolutionized the world of yoga, and transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

I am available for private yoga sessions to help you in many ways, including the following:

• To address specific physical conditions, concerns, or pain, so you understand how to keep yourself optimally aligned on and off the mat
• To help you develop a safe and enjoyable personal practice you can do on your own at home
• To save you time so you don’t have to travel to class

When you request private yoga sessions with me, I come to your home so you don’t waste any time traveling to a class, and you’re also in a very comfortable environment.

Here are complete details about private yoga classes in Metairie with me.

Please email me if you want to inquire about private yoga classes in Metairie or in the New Orleans area.

Please visit my Classes, Trainings and Retreats page to check my current class schedule.

If you live in Metairie, consider private yoga classes to get the most benefit in the least amount of time.

In addition to the points I mentioned before, here are a few more reasons private classes are an excellent choice:

• To get you started as a beginner or to skyrocket your already established practice
• To invite family members to explore yoga when they aren’t comfortable going to a class
• To delve deeper into the philosophy or meditative techniques of yoga

I love helping people. Honestly, when clients tell me how good they feel after a class it is so rewarding for me. I am deeply grateful that I get to share what I love with so many people to such remarkable effect.

I am the third generation of my family to live in Metairie – I actually live in the house my grandfather and great uncle built! I feel such a connection to this area and the lively, fun and friendly people here, and I love being able to give back.

Yoga can be a practice that leads you deeper into the truth you already know in your heart, or if you’d just like to concentrate on the physical, mental and emotional balancing it provides, that’s fine too.

The benefits of yoga itself are innumerable and well documented. When you increase circulation, flexibility, and breath, your body thanks you. When you decrease stress levels and find peace of mind, your whole being thanks you.

If you’ve never tried yoga, I invite you to give it a shot. So many people who were very skeptical of it at first now wouldn’t give it up. If you feel uncomfortable going to a class, having private sessions are an excellent way to benefit from yoga. Whatever is best for you, I truly hope your yoga practice brings you the best of health and joy.