center for integrative yoga therapeutics

History

In 2006, Bo Forbes, Psy.d., E-RYT500, Director and Clinical Supervisor, founded the Center for Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM to offer clients yoga therapeutics from an integrative, mind-body perspective. Currently the only such program of its kind in the country, the Center for Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM is designed similarly to a group psychotherapy practice: clients are interviewed in a telephone or in-person intake session, and then matched with an integrative yoga therapist with expertise in working with their specific needs.

Bo holds bi-monthly clinical case supervision meetings in which Center yoga therapists present cases, discuss clinical and therapeutic issues, and receive additional supervision and peer support. All integrative yoga therapists are apprentices in the Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM Specialty Track, which offers a structured, yet cutting-edge method of specializing in this innovative new field.

By integrating a thorough understanding of the mental, emotional, and energetic elements of yoga and of wellness, and by incorporating the most effective structures of traditional medical models, we aim to help bring yoga therapeutics to the forefront of Mind-Body Medicine.

Mission

The mission of the Center for Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM is to offer yoga therapeutics from an integrative, mind-body perspective. We aim to help clients understand and access their mind-body connection as a powerful vehicle to growth and healing.

Through Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM, which encompasses the most innovative and effective tools of yoga, we help clients learn about, participate in, and ultimately intervene in the interplay between the physical, mental, emotional, and energetic manifestations of illness and disease.

Our approach is integrative, taking into account the physical, mental, emotional, neural, and spiritual elements of our clients' lives. We aim to provide the highest caliber of Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM to assist clients in reducing stress, shifting neuro-emotional patterns, awakening internal awareness, and cultivating health and vitality.

Philosophy

We believe that internal awareness, once ignited, can be self-sustaining and self-renewing. We see ourselves as interpreters for clients as they develop the language and dialogue for this internal awareness. Our goal is to create a collaborative space with our clients, setting the stage for them to harvest the power of their minds, nervous systems, and emotional bodies to awaken their own healing abilities. As guides on the journey toward self-discovery, our goal is to use innovative and creative means to empower clients to be equally creative in approaching their own growth and healing.

The Center for Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM currently receives referrals from a wide variety of resources, including holistic as well as traditional medical and mental health organizations, corporations, yoga studios, and other healthcare practitioners. At the Center, we consider ourselves to be powerful adjuncts to psychotherapy or medical treatment; because we are committed to integrative medicine, Center therapists are available and willing to communicate with other treatment providers when the client wishes it. We see ourselves as working in a spirit of mutual partnership and collaboration with yoga teachers, medical and health professionals, and healers in our immediate and greater communities.

Treatment

The Center for Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM matches the specific backgrounds, strengths, and talents of teachers trained and certified by Bo with clients presenting issues. This program offers private, in-home therapeutic yoga instruction to clients of all ages.

The Center specializes in the therapeutic applications of yoga for a variety of purposes including alignment and injury prevention, injuries and asymmetries, and the emotional body. We address a wide spectrum of issues, including but not limited to:

  • Alignment and the physical practice
  • Injury prevention and rehabilitation
  • Stress management and wellness
  • Spinal anomalies such as scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, sacroiliac joint pain, sciatica, herniated disks, spinal fusion surgeries, and other spinal issues
  • Arthritis of one or multiple joints
  • Hypermobility and joint laxity
  • Asymmetries
  • Pregnancy, including modification training
  • Fertility enhancement
  • Immune disorders such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis
  • Pain (and immune) disorders, including Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD
  • Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Eating disorders and body image issues
  • performance enhancement for athletes (learn more)
  • injury prevention and rehabilitation (learn more)
  • alignment and the physical practice (learn more)
  • stress management and general wellness (learn more)
  • anxiety, insomnia, and the emotional body (learn more)
  • heart disease (learn more)
  • arthritis, hypermobility, joint laxity, and other physical issues
  • immune disorders such as cancer (learn more)
  • pain disorders such as fibromyalgia (learn more)
  • women's health and fertility (learn more)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is "integrative yoga therapeuticsTM?"

    Integrative yoga therapeuticsTM is a unique approach to mind-body health. A yoga therapist is assigned to the client based on the client's needs and the therapist's specialty areas. The yoga therapist then assists the client in addressing those physical and emotional needs through a specifically tailored yoga practice that is able to shift and grow as the client's needs change.

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  • What kind of issues does the Center address?

    The Center deals with many physical and emotional issues. Most mind-body issues can be addressed. Our integrative yoga therapists specialize in physical issues such as general alignment in the physical practice of yoga, physical asymmetries, chronic pain syndromes (e.g. Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Epstein-Barr Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis), hypermobility, joint laxity, scoliosis and other spinal anomalies, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. Emotional/mind issues include anxiety, depression, body image issues, eating disorders, hypertension, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and more. Our integrative yoga therapists safely guide individuals through a practice that is molded to any physical or emotional issue.

    Please note: The Center does not represent that its integrative yoga therapy will cure physical or emotional issues.

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  • What kind of training and qualifications do the Center yoga therapists have?

    Every yoga therapist working with the Center is a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour Level with Yoga Alliance, and is enrolled in both the 500-hour Mind-Body Teacher Training, and in the Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM Track. Each integrative yoga therapist has met requirements in their specialty and has ongoing, extensive training with Bo Forbes. The Center also follows a clinical model, with Center therapists receiving bi-monthly clinical case supervision from Bo Forbes, as well as other methods of clinical and peer supervision.

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  • How is integrative yoga therapeutics different from a regular private yoga lesson?

    In Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM, your yoga therapist is a trained specialist. He or she will work with you to assess your individual needs on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and more. Our approach is unique, in that Center yoga therapists also receive clinical case supervision, benefit from a network of yoga therapist colleagues, and are well-versed in making appropriate referrals to a variety of resources to meet the needs of the client. This is a unique program, and is currently the only program of this sort in the country. For more information on our mission and philosophy of treatment, see above.

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  • Will my yoga therapist communicate with any of my healthcare providers, if I wish it?

    Yes, as long as an appropriate Release of Information Form is used.

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  • Does this replace psychotherapy or medical care?

    No, this does not replace the care of a psychotherapist or medical practitioner. Our approach is to seamlessly blend Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM with other modalities of health care you have chosen.

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  • If I am coming to the Center for emotional body work (such as anxiety, insomnia, or depression), should I also have a therapist?

    At the Center for Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM, we recommend that you utilize Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM as an adjunct to your current treatment (i.e. psychotherapy). If you are not in psychotherapy, and your current emotional issues are interfering significantly with a healthy level of functioning, we strongly advise that you enter psychotherapy in order to have a psychotherapist monitor your progress.

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  • Do I need to get permission from my doctor before starting?

    Like any other physical training, it is always good to consult with your physician.

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  • If I am injured or prone to injury, is this is a safe practice?

    Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM is safe. We work within your body's abilities. Few physical adjustments are given, and these are gentle. Our yoga therapists have had more than 75 hours of hands-on practice (under supervision from Bo Forbes) in the art of offering subtle, yet effective verbal and physical adjustments to access poses effectively, and promote opening of the body. If you would rather not receive physical adjustments, simply let your yoga therapist know. Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM can also be helpful in the rehabilitation of injuries.

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  • How will I choose an Integrative Yoga Therapist?

    All of our integrative yoga therapists have been extensively trained in Integrative Yoga Therapeutics, sharing the same fundamental training, mission, values, and schools of thought. Teaching styles will vary slightly, however, and each yoga therapist specializes in different issues. We use your intake form to mindfully select a yoga therapist who is optimally matched to your needs and schedule. Requests are also honored, and biographies are posted online.

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  • How much do you need to know about me to be helpful?

    Our online contact form is the best way to reach us. This form is designed to gather general information about your health, goals, schedule, and concerns. Once you have submitted a form, one of our yoga therapists will contact you to answer any questions you may have about Elemental Yoga and Integrative Yoga Therapeutics. At that time, should you decide to pursue private sessions, we will schedule a detailed intake/consultation to review your health, goals, schedule, and concerns. This intake will give us a more accurate assessment, and ensure that you will be matched with the yoga therapist most suited to guide you toward creating the shift you desire in a safe, healthy manner. Please note that there will be a charge for the session.

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  • Can I ask to be referred to another therapist?

    Yes. We will continually verify that your yoga therapist is the most appropriate match for meeting your physical, emotional, and scheduling needs. Should those needs shift, we are happy to refer you to a different yoga therapist.

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  • Do I need to have prior yoga experience?

    No yoga experience is required in order to benefit from Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM. We work with absolute beginners to seasoned practitioners and teachers. Our yoga therapists are highly-trained guides who will tailor and adapt your session to provide a safe practice that meets the unique and fluctuating needs of your mind and body.

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  • Will I need to bring my own mat, block, blanket, strap, and bolster?

    If you do not have any item needed, we can supply it. Please be sure to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.

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  • How can I best prepare for my Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM session?

    The most important preparation is thinking about what you would like to achieve with Integrative Yoga TherapeuticsTM. If any medical conditions are present, we also suggest checking in with your physician prior to beginning therapeutic yoga.

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  • Where will we meet for the session?

    Either in your own home or a convenient location to be determined by you and your yoga therapist.

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  • Why do you offer in-home sessions?

    Some clients prefer the familiarity and privacy of their own home. In addition, we encourage clients to practice what they have learned in between appointments; since part of our role is to help clients establish a home practice, it is beneficial to work with clients in the home setting, where most practice will take place.

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  • How long are sessions?

    The initial session is 90 minutes; each following session is 60 minutes.

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  • What will take place in my first session?

    Your first session will be a 90-minute consultation to discuss your physical health and specific needs and goals, and to address any questions you may have prior to embarking on your therapeutic yoga practice. From there, we will work together to develop a practice that address your needs and goals.

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  • What will other sessions be like?

    Your yoga therapist is a guide for developing and deepening your yoga practice. He or she will continue to provide you with tools for safety and for growth. Just as physical and emotional bodies are different every day, each practice will be different, deeply connected to your current needs.

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  • How often, and for how many times, should I meet with my yoga therapist?

    Some clients request several sessions for a very specific purpose, or to enhance their group or self-practice. Others have ongoing private sessions on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. There is no minimum or maximum requirement for session commitment, although establishing consistency- whether in the context of private sessions or your personal practice- is beneficial.

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  • Is there a cancellation policy?

    Yes. The Center has a 48-hour cancellation policy. If you cancel within 48 hours (or, if you session occurs on Monday and you cancel over the weekend), you will be charged the full fee for your session. This policy is similar to policies in most clinical practices; your timely cancellation enables the yoga therapist to utilize your time slot for another client.

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Request Session

If you would like an Integrative Yoga Therapeutics session, email intakes@elementalyoga.com.

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