Want a Formula for Living Well?
Prema Yoga Institute’s Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy Course Simplifies It
By Elspeth Lodge, RYT500 and course graduate
What is the recipe for a life of thriving?
How should we rest, eat, work, and socialize in a way that truly nourishes both body and mind?
Searching for the “right” lifestyle formula can feel overwhelming. But what if the answer isn’t about finding a universal blueprint — it’s about understanding your own nature?
My introduction to Ayurveda through the Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy Course at Prema Yoga Institute showed me that living well doesn’t have to be complicated. It begins with awareness.
By understanding our mental and physical tendencies — and learning how to gently balance them — we empower ourselves to show up in our most effective state. And effective doesn’t mean perfect. It means being our best selves within the context of our lives.
Study Yourself First
Ayurveda encourages us to view everything in context — including ourselves.
The first step is discovering our current state of being, or vikriti. This reflects how our energies are expressing themselves right now.
According to Ayurvedic philosophy, three primary energies — the doshas — govern our physical and mental tendencies:
Kapha (earth + water)
Pitta (fire + water)
Vata (air + ether)
Each dosha corresponds to specific characteristics. Most people lean toward one or two, while an even balance of all three is rare.
A foundational principle you learn in the course is simple but powerful:
Like increases like.
Opposites create balance.
For example, someone with a dominant Kapha nature may feel lethargic, heavy, or cold when out of balance. Naturally, they may gravitate toward grounding, restorative yoga — something calm and cooling.
But because Kapha already contains grounding, cooling energy, what they may truly need is heat, movement, and circulation — activities that stimulate fire (Pitta) and air (Vata) to restore balance.
This shift in perspective changes everything. We begin to see our tendencies not as flaws, but as information.
Establish Routines That Support Balance
From this awareness comes dinacharya — a daily routine designed to balance our dominant dosha(s).
Each person’s “prescription,” or chikitsa, is unique. It considers:
Lifestyle and schedule
Socioeconomic factors
Family dynamics
Physical and mental health
Climate and environment
Time of day
Balance is always achieved through opposites.
If a Vata-dominant person eats cold, dry fruit in the winter, they may benefit from replacing it with something warm and moist, like oatmeal. If sleep is disrupted, we might introduce calming rituals or reduce screen time. If we aren’t taking enough time for self-care because of a busy schedule, how can we easily work that in? It could be something as simple as making subtle adjustments — even leaving our body oil where we can see it after a shower — so the habit becomes natural rather than neglected.
Ayurveda doesn’t demand perfection. It encourages consistency.
Small adjustments — repeated daily — can create profound change.
Don’t Strive for Perfection
One of the most powerful lessons I learned was that balance is not something we perfect — it’s something we tend.
Our routines shouldn’t confine us. They should support us as life shifts and changes.
For me, this became clear through Abhyanga, the practice of self-oil massage. The ritual slowed me down, nourishing both body and mind through intentional care.
During Abhyanga, I began speaking to myself the way I would speak to a friend. Any sharp internal criticism softened.
That kindness rippled outward. When I nurtured myself, I showed up more vibrant and steady for others.
Balance Is Something We Tend
During the course, a metaphor surfaced that has stayed with me: we are like sourdough starters.
A starter — the living culture that makes bread rise — visibly responds to its environment. Temperature, feeding schedule, timing — all of it matters. Neglect it, and it grows sluggish. Care for it consistently, and it becomes active and resilient.
Our internal energies behave the same way. When we abandon the small routines of our dinacharya, we may feel slightly off at first — and more unbalanced over time. But when we reintroduce care, even in small ways, balance returns.
If the weather changes, you adjust how you feed a starter.
If your environment changes, you adjust your routines.
Balance isn’t fixed — it’s tended.
My own starter once belonged to a friend who passed away in a car accident. Being entrusted with it felt significant. I fed it carefully. I paid attention to what it needed to be in balance.
What surprised me was realizing I hadn’t always treated myself with that same care.
Ayurveda shifted that perspective.
Now, no matter how full my day is, I pause and ask:
Am I in the right environment to thrive?
If not, what small adjustment can I make?
The Big Takeaways
The Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy Course at Prema Yoga Institute provides concrete tools to see ourselves — and others — through a new lens.
It teaches us:
To understand ourselves in context
To identify our energetic tendencies
To balance through small, sustainable changes
To show up more vibrantly in our own lives
Having experienced this firsthand, I can say with confidence: living well doesn’t require perfection. Sometimes the smallest daily adjustments create the greatest transformation.
And when we care for ourselves consistently, the positivity ripples outward — into our families, our communities, and the world around us.
Care to learn more about Ayurveda? Our Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy Training is offered every year as part of our Yoga Therapy Certification and 300 hour Yoga Alliance Certification. Check it out here!
Please note that blogs do not constitute or replace medical advice.
Yoga Therapy and Motivational Interviewing: Common Traps and How to Avoid Them
In yoga therapy, the bond between the therapist and the client is crucial. Effective communication is key to helping clients understand their healing potential and navigate through the healing process. But it's easy to fall into common communication traps that hinder progress.
This blog will highlight each of these traps and discuss strategies to avoid them, ensuring a more supportive and effective therapeutic environment.
#1 - The Question-Answer Trap
This trap happens when therapists ask too many closed-ended or leading questions, turning the client into a passive participant in their own healing. This situation can make clients feel like they’re being evaluated rather than supported, which can lead to disengagement.
Solution: Shift to Open-Ended Questions
Instead of relying on closed-ended questions, yoga therapists should ask open-ended questions that invite reflection. Therapists can use a questionnaire at the start of the session to gather essential information.
But, during sessions, they should focus on reflective listening, allowing clients to elaborate on their feelings and experiences. This approach fosters a sense of partnership, helping clients feel heard and valued.
#2 - The Confrontation-Denial Trap
When therapists confront clients right away with the realities of their issues, such as physical pain or emotional blocks, they may unconsciously create a Confrontation-Denial Trap. Clients may downplay their issues or resist suggested changes, making progress difficult.
Solution: Empathy and Self-Motivation
Instead of pushing a specific course of action, therapists should reflect empathetically and encourage self-motivating statements from clients. Allow clients to explore their uncertainties and issues with yoga naturally. This empowers them to make their own decisions, which can help promote a "win" mentality and minimizes resistance.
#3 - The Labeling Trap
Labels can carry stigmas and create power imbalances. Labeling can make clients feel trapped or judged, especially in a holistic setting like yoga therapy.
Solution: De-emphasize Labels
If a client brings up a label themselves, therapists can reframe it in a way that lessens its negative connotation. For instance, rather than focusing on a diagnosis like "chronic pain," shift the conversation to how yoga can help manage and alleviate discomfort.
#4 - The Premature Focus Trap
This trap happens when therapists focus too quickly on a single issue they think is the client’s problem. This can ignore the client’s immediate concerns, resulting in a disconnect.
Solution: Explore the Client’s Priorities
Before narrowing the therapeutic focus, yoga therapists should listen closely to their clients’ immediate concerns. This will help align the therapy with what the client feels is most pressing. By doing so, therapists can build trust and eventually guide them to other areas that may need attention.
#5 - The Blaming Trap
Clients can be highly sensitive to feeling blamed for their current state, especially when talking about deeply personal issues. Even subtle language or tone can trigger their feelings of guilt or defensiveness.
Solution: Practice Non-Blaming Communication
Therapists should avoid assigning blame and use non-judgmental language, instead. Reflecting back what clients share without judgment helps create a safe space for honest conversation. The goal is to help clients take responsibility for their healing in a positive, constructive way.
Conclusion
By understanding these common traps, yoga therapists can promote an environment of mutual respect, understanding, and empowerment. It is important to remember that effective communication is at the heart of yoga therapy. When clients feel heard and understood, they are far more likely to engage in the therapeutic process and achieve lasting transformation.
Are you a yoga teacher or healthcare practitioner looking to incorporate yoga and mindfulness into your practice? Are you interested in learning more about Yoga in Healthcare? Please check out our annual Yoga in Healthcare Training - as well as our comprehensive yoga therapy certification at Prema Yoga Institute.
Please be advised that the content of this blog is not to be used as a substitution for the opinions and services of your licensed healthcare professional.
Basic Methods of Motivational Interviewing in Yoga Therapy
Yoga therapy offers a holistic approach to healing that integrates the mind, body, and spirit. Combining this with the techniques of motivational interviewing can deepen the therapeutic relationship and enhance client outcomes.
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered approach aimed at eliciting behavior change by helping individuals explore and resolve ambivalence. In the context of yoga therapy, these techniques can guide clients toward self-awareness and positive change.
In this blog, we'll talk about the key methods of motivational interviewing which are open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization.
Yoga therapy offers a holistic approach to healing that integrates the mind, body, and spirit. Combining this with the techniques of motivational interviewing can deepen the therapeutic relationship and enhance client outcomes.
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered approach aimed at eliciting behavior change by helping individuals explore and resolve ambivalence. In the context of yoga therapy, these techniques can guide clients toward self-awareness and positive change.
In this blog, we'll talk about the key methods of motivational interviewing which are open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization.
Open-Ended Questions
Open-ended questions are essential in motivational interviewing because they encourage clients to express themselves more fully, providing insights into their thoughts and feelings.
In yoga therapy, open-ended questions help clients reflect on their emotional and physical states, deepening their connection with themselves.
Example:
Instead of asking a client, “Are you feeling better after practicing yoga?”, you might ask, “What sensations do you notice in your own body after today's session?” Such a question invites the individual to feel their experience further without being limited to answer yes or no.
Similarly, you can ask, “What inspired you to start practicing yoga?” or “How do you envision yoga supporting your personal healing journey?”
These questions open the door to self-discovery and empowerment, helping clients articulate their goals and challenges more clearly.
Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements that recognize a client’s strengths, intentions, and efforts. In the context of yoga therapy, affirmations can be incredibly powerful because they reinforce the client’s sense of agency and self-worth.
Often, clients come to yoga therapy with feelings of self-doubt or uncertainty about their healing journey. Affirming their progress or qualities can shift their mindset.
Example:
After a client shares a challenge they're facing, an affirmation could be, “It’s great to see how committed you are to exploring new ways of healing,” or “I admire your resilience in coming to today’s session, even though things have been tough lately.”
These small, yet significant statements acknowledge the client’s inner resources and can motivate them to continue engaging with their practice. Affirmations are free and simple but often underused, even though they have the potential to create a lasting impact.
Reflective Listening
Reflective listening is a key element of MI and involves echoing back the client’s words, allowing them to feel heard and understood. It fosters a deeper connection between the therapist and client, which is particularly important in yoga therapy, where the mind-body connection is a focal point.
Reflective listening can help clients process their emotions, both positive and negative.
Example:
A client may say, “I know yoga is supposed to help me feel calmer, but I still feel overwhelmed.” As the therapist, you might reflect, “It sounds like you’re finding it difficult to manage the overwhelm, even though you’re trying.”
This approach validates the client’s experience and emotions, encouraging them to explore deeper insights and self-compassion. Reflective listening can soften resistance and help clients feel supported as they navigate their healing journey.
Summary
Summarizing is a specific type of reflective listening that helps the client understand the larger picture of what they’ve expressed. In yoga therapy, summaries can be used at the end of a session to recap key points, helping the client feel clear about their progress and next steps.
Summarizing reinforces important aspects of the conversation and highlights areas of ambivalence or motivation.
Example:
A well-structured summary might sound like this: “So today we discussed how yoga is helping you become more aware of your body’s signals, even though you still feel some anxiety at times. It sounds like continuing to explore breathing techniques might be a helpful next step for you. Does that feel right?”
By doing this, you encapsulate the key themes, acknowledge challenges, and invite the client to reflect on their next move.
Conclusion
Integrating motivational interviewing techniques into yoga therapy can enhance client engagement, self-awareness, and motivation. Using open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization helps create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their emotions and work toward their goals.
Are you a yoga teacher or healthcare practitioner looking to incorporate yoga and mindfulness into your practice? Are you interested in learning more about Yoga in Healthcare? Please check out our annual Yoga in Healthcare Training - as well as our comprehensive yoga therapy certification at Prema Yoga Institute.
Please be advised that the content of this blog is not to be used as a substitution for the opinions and services of your licensed healthcare professional.