Offerings
Spanda Yoga Movement Therapy
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Himalayan Institute Yoga
Elements of Classic Yoga
Classic yoga is a complete system that addresses the needs of body, mind and spirit. Yoga is not a religion, but can be used along-side one to enhance spiritual growth.
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Yamas/Niyamas: provide guidance for wise living through behavioral restraints and observances.
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Postures/Asana: build muscle strength, improve flexibility, retrain the neuromuscular system which increases awareness and releases tension.
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Breathing Exercises: Fundamental breathing practices help calm and balance the nervous system, improve vagal tone, and decrease the stress response, all of which support the body’s innate healing ability.
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Relaxation Practices: deepen the state of relaxation by systematically calming the body, breath, mind and emotions. Over time, these practices build resilience to stress.
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Meditation: quiets and directs the mind inward, reduces mental tension, and enhances a sense of inner connection to self, community and the Divine. Meditation is the crown jewel of yoga practice. True, lasting happiness arises from going inward, not from any outer success, acquisition or relationship.
Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old medical system that uses natural and holistic approaches focused on cultivating balance in the body, mind, and spirit to promote health and prevent disease. It emphasizes the use of natural treatments, including herbal remedies, diet, and lifestyle changes.
Doreen infuses classes with both scientific details and play. Students say her approach is nourishing, and her classes feel like being taken on a journey gradually deeper and deeper toward stillness.
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Current Classes
YMCA Honesdale, PA Thursdays 10:30 am
Himalayan Institute calendar
www.himalayaninstitute.org or call Services at (570) 253-5551
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What is Yoga Therapy (YRx)?
Yoga therapy is a holistic approach to healthcare that addresses physical, emotional, mental and spiritual challenges to facilitate wellbeing on all levels. It utilizes ancient principles and practices of yoga and its sister science Ayurveda to teach clients to support the body’s natural mechanisms of healing. IAYT-certified yoga therapists are yoga teachers with advanced education, certification and in-depth training to help them assess and keep clients safe, and to interact effectively with other healthcare professionals. Collaborating with clients who are encouraged to take self-responsibility and initiative, they tailor yoga practices and lifestyle refinements to match the client’s capacity and realistic goals. They offer resources and support for lifestyle changes, provide written and/or recorded options for home practice, and with permission, may offer light, safe touch techniques to bring awareness and healing to the body.What conditions can it help?
Studies show that yoga therapy supports healing
in the following areas:
​Structural and Movement
Pain, tightness or weakness​ in the physical body, limited range of motion, healing from an injury, learning gentle, specialized ways to regulate the nervous system and foster body awareness and more.
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Chronic Health Problems
Poor sleep, digestion or elimination challenges, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, cancer recovery and more.
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Mental & Emotional Imbalances
Unmanaged stress, lack of focus, mental fatigue, general anxiety, depression, after-effects of trauma, body image, grieving and more.
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Spiritual
Strengthen a connection to your inner guidance; rediscover creativity and play; cultivate a greater sense of wholeness and more.
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How does Yoga Therapy differ from a yoga class?
Group yoga classes tend to be more generalized and focused mainly on yoga postures, breath awareness and perhaps a brief relaxation. Private sessions can be tailored to a client’s individual goals and concerns. Focus shifts to relief from some symptoms or troubling health conditions or support making changes to accomplish goals. Sometimes sessions are offered to a small group with a similar focus like back care basics, arthritis, stress management, building resilience or managing anxiety.
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How many sessions are typical?
New habits take practice and addressing health concerns takes time. The first session generally combines fact-gathering and a short practice with take-home suggestions. Ongoing sessions deepen yogic skills, progressively explore other tools, and develop healthy lifestyle habits.
To schedule call PureRejuv Wellness at Himalayan Institute. 570-647-1500 or deckert@purerejuv.org
Workshop Topics
Vibrant, Resilient Aging
Create a Healthy Restful Sleep Routine
Back Care Basics
Restorative Yoga
​Learn to Quiet the Busy Mind
How Weight and Stress are Linked
Christ-centered Yoga
Yoga Psychology and the Ten Commandments
Touch is critical for good health.
Safe touch soothes the nervous system and supports the immune system.
It also cultivates a sense of well-being.
Reiki Energy Medicine
Reiki is a Japanese word meaning “Universal Life Force Energy” It is an original form of healing given to Dr. Mikao Usui in the 1800’s during a spiritual retreat. Hawayo Takata brought it to the USA in the 1980’s.
Reiki balances the electromagnetic field of the body and induces deep relaxation thus allowing the immune system to function optimally. Sort of like charging a battery, receiving Reiki is like drawing even more than normal amounts of subtle energy from the universe, transmitted safely through the practitioner. It assists the body in cleansing itself of toxins and hastens healing. It also attunes the client towards the healer within. Reiki accelerates the body’s natural healing abilities on all levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
During a 50-60 minute session, clients remain fully clothed while comfortably lying on a table or sitting in a chair. Reiki is done hands-on and off the body. Doreen combines it with breath awareness, joint mobilization, and other techniques depending on need.
​Currently not being offered
Colleague Erin Sirona explains Energy Healing
"You have an electromagnetic field in and around your body. An energy healer has fine-tuned their senses to work with it. Operating from a right brained place which is quite different from the intellectual place we often navigate from, the practitioner facilitates the already-present healing capacity of the body. ​
Similar to how a dog can hear frequencies we cannot or a bee keeper can tell you the region, date, and makeup of a particular honey just from the taste/color/smell, my training allows me to perceive this energy (which anyone can learn to do), I can alter it using sound, movement and above all-clear, focused intention. "
Writings​ & Resources
For writings and wonderings about the intersection of
Christian Theology and Yoga Philosophy go to www.christianspracticingyoga.com weblog.
Doreen is Managing Editor and contributor. You can read more about herstory there.
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Resources coming soon