I’ve taken more naps this week than I usually do. As someone living with chronic migraine, it can slow me down and make engaging in daily life difficult. Often, I feel like I have to “push through” or risk missing out on life. But last Sunday, I decided not to push through—and honestly, it felt amazing.
I took two naps, moved at a slower pace, and allowed myself more rest. My “spoons” for the day were limited, and I simply didn’t have the energy or capacity to do as much as I normally would. So I gave myself permission to do less, which—if you know me—is not always easy!
It’s been a tough migraine week with daily headaches, but I’m getting through with medication, essential oils, naps, ice, and my Cefaly machine. Yesterday I felt brain fog around lunch and decided in between clients to take a nap. The 25 minutes it took for this cleared my brain fog and felt more energized to continue on my day. Living with a chronic illness can make it challenging to fully show up as a therapist while also honoring and caring for my own needs.
It’s always a delicate balance.
Despite the challenges this week, I still made time for yoga. On days when a forward fold felt like too much, I gave myself grace and practiced closer to the floor instead. Sometimes less practice is more if its giving us what we need. Rest can sometimes be the yoga practice for the day.This week was a good reminder me how essential it is to truly listen to our bodies.
It also got me thinking about how important flexibility is when offering yoga-informed practices, both for ourselves and for our clients. One of the things I love most about yoga is how adaptable it can be. There are so many ways to make it accessible for every body. To me, there is a yoga practice for everyone.
Our clients come to us with histories of trauma, chronic illness, physical limitations, disabilities, different-sized bodies, and varying levels of experience with movement and yoga. All of these factors can impact how yoga-informed practices are received—or whether they feel accessible at all.
Here are five ways to offer more flexibility and choice when bringing yoga-informed practices into sessions:
- Offer a menu of options.
“Would you feel more comfortable with breath work, grounding, or some gentle movement today?” - Match the intervention to the presenting issue.
For example: “One option we could try is a breath work practice. This may help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and bring a greater sense of relaxation to the body. Is that something you’d like to try? If not, we can explore something else.” - If something doesn’t land, stay curious.
“What would feel more helpful for you today?”
(And if they aren’t sure, you can always return to offering a few simple choices.) - Remind clients that they are in charge of their journey.
Clients can guide the course of treatment and decide when, how, or if yoga-informed practices become part of their therapy experience. These practices are always invitations—not requirements—and clients can opt out at any time. - Normalize starting small.
Remind clients they do not have to jump into a full movement or yoga practice for it to be beneficial. Sometimes a single breath, grounding through the feet, or a brief moment of noticing sensations in the body is enough. Sometimes sitting in silence noticing the breath is enough to help them ground and connect to themselves and the present moment.
As therapists, it’s easy to forget that the same compassion and flexibility we offer our clients also deserve to be extended to ourselves. Sometimes healing looks like movement, grounding, or breath work. And sometimes healing looks like rest, slowing down, and honoring our limits without guilt.
This week reminded me that listening to our bodies is not weakness—it’s wisdom.
