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Yoga therapy for anxiety & depression (8-week course)
Private Yoga Therapy in London at Schoen Clinic Chelsea
Yoga Therapy has a growing evidence base for use in mental health populations as a stand-alone or complementary therapy. It incorporates mindfulness, movement and breathwork from the yogic tradition and neurophysiology to form a body-mind intervention.
How does Yoga Therapy support individuals with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression?
Yoga Therapy helps individuals in developing awareness, it teaches regulation techniques and widens the emotional and physical window of tolerance for individuals building confidence, self-efficacy and resilience for day-to-day life.
This model of therapy overlaps the biopsychosocial approach of current practice by addressing the body, mind and spiritual health and functioning in the world. This 8-week course will be delivered by Dr Divina Pillay, a Consultant Psychiatrist & trained Yoga Therapist. This allows a safe therapeutic space where participants feel supported and contained. No prior knowledge of yoga is needed.
The course is inspired and modelled on the group Dr Pillay trained in at The Minded Institute, and aims to alleviate stress and restore harmony between mind and body.
Get in touch with our caring mental health team in London for more information, or if you'd like to join this 8-week yoga therapy course
If you're interested in finding out more about this 8-week Yoga Therapy course, please don't hesitate to reach out to our caring team today.
To access private treatment as swiftly as possible, simply fill out our online pre-screening questionnaire at any time to suit you.
How much does the yoga therapy course cost?
The 8-week Yoga Therapy course led by Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Divina Pillay, costs £2,080 (this works out to £260 per session).
What are the aims of the 8-week Yoga Therapy course for anxiety and depression at our mental health clinic in London?
The 8-week Yoga Therapy course for anxiety and depression at our mental health clinic in London aims to provide a holistic approach to managing mental health challenges. Through a combination of psychoeducation, mindfulness practices, and peer support, participants will develop tools to improve their wellbeing and enhance their sense of agency over their health.
Aims:
Provide psychoeducation about anxiety, depression and stress and how this affects the body and mind as well as an understanding of how strategies and tools used can improve health and functioning.
Build awareness of mental state, breath and physical symptoms
Teach strategies to improve health and manage symptoms
Harness the benefits of peer support to create a supportive environment for healing.
Empower participants with a sense of agency, strength, and improved mood, while reducing anxiety.
Objectives:
Improve symptoms of anxiety and depression through the practice of yoga therapy techniques.
Enhance participants' understanding of how stress affects the body and mind, enabling them to better manage stressors.
Cultivate a sense of agency over one's health, empowering participants to take proactive steps towards well-being.
Risk Assessment and Management:
The course facilitator will conduct a screening process to assess the suitability of each participant for the course. It's important to note that individuals with certain mental health conditions may not be suitable candidates. Specifically, individuals with unstable Bipolar Illness, PTSD, psychosis, active suicidal ideation, escalating self-harm, or personality disorders will not be included in the course.
Additionally, each week, participants will have the opportunity to convey concerns or changes in health to the facilitator in private, ensuring that any emerging risks or challenges can be promptly addressed and managed.
Breakdown of Yoga Therapy group details
Facilitator: Dr Divina Pillay
Duration: 8 week course- once weekly sessions, 2 hours each
Location: Schoen Clinic Chelsea - mental health clinic in London
Group Type: Closed, Homework each week.
Summary of Yoga Therapy course content at Schoen Clinic Chelsea in London
Week One: Breath Awareness
In our inaugural session, we delve into the intricate relationship between breath and our autonomic nervous system. Through engaging psychoeducation, participants explore how the nuances of breath, including its location and the elongation of exhales, profoundly influence our body-mind connection.
Guided movement sequences and the introduction of Ujjayi/Ocean Breath and Hummingbee Breath practices deepen this understanding. An interactive activity encourages sharing and valuable feedback among participants, setting the stage for a supportive and enriching journey ahead.
Week Two: Bringing the Breath Down
Building upon our foundation from the previous week, we continue our exploration of breath, focusing on the profound benefits of diaphragmatic breathing. Through continued psychoeducation and mindful movement practices, participants learn to anchor their awareness and bring their breath into deeper, more grounding spaces.
Ocean Breath and Breath of Fire techniques further enhance this process, while chanting and sharing experiences deepen our collective journey.
Week Three: Finding Space
Facilitator, Dr Divina Pillay
Dr Pillay is a highly experienced Consultant Psychiatrist in London who supports adults with anxiety and depression disorders, as well as eating disorders and addiction.
She trained as a Yoga Therapist at the Minded Institute in Camden and now delivers this specialised 8-week course, inspired by her training to individuals wanting additional therapeutic support for anxiety and depression.
