Pre-Requisite: Students must be enrolled in SCHYS Yoga Therapy Training Program, a graduate of SCHYS Yoga Therapy Training Program, or by permission from JJ Gormley.

This course meets weekly for eight-weeks. Please see Current Classes for details.

Choose either the Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday class. They each meet from 1:00 - 2:00 pm Eastern time. Let JJ know which course day you are interested in.

This course presents a case-study based approach to understand the individualized approach to yoga therapy to each individual care-seeker. This approach to yoga therapy offers insights into how the various tools of yoga may be applied and how the various models of yoga (chakra, pancha maya, dosha, etc.) are used to understand the holistic, multi-dimensional nature of the client.

Each week, experience how a Yoga Therapist perceives one of their case, applies the models of Yoga Therapy, assesses their client, determines appropriate upayam (tools), and sets a short- and long-term plan. Students enrolled in SCHYS Yoga Therapy Training Program or faculty present cases while participants give feedback on possible ideas for the yoga therapist to consider when working with the client in the future.

Pre-Requisite: None, although having taken the Fall 2023 Deep Tissue Release is highly recommended for a deeper understanding of what we’ll be doing in this experiential class. You may purchase the Fall 2023 class below.

Techniques for Deep Tissue Release

Taught by Sandra Loeffler, with JJ Gormley

This class will guide students to experientially dive into the deep tissue that surrounds bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels (the fascia) and its relationship to mental well-being.   In this class you will learn and develop self-myofascial release techniques that use a gentle somatic approach, such as experiencing how moving the feet can release the neck.  You will also gain knowledge about different tools such as gentle balls or towels that can aid in the release of our fascia system.  This training will follow SCHYS asana teaching and class planning guidelines. 

This class is designed to be gentle and using an online platform and step-by-step instructions to lead you into positions that may move from standing, to a chair, in a chair, and seated on the floor. The intention is to move you to a calmer physical and mental wellbeing.  When the body is out of pain, the mind can then calm and think clearly.

Materials: Please have a yoga mat, a blanket or regular-sized bath towel, a hand towel, two soft child’s tennis balls, and one regular tennis ball.  Please no hard balls such as golf balls, or lacrosse balls. Please have your mat and all props handy at all classes, though we may not use them each week.

Yoga Therapy for Deep Tissue Release class will be led by Sandra Loeffler who is an alumni, mentor, and faculty of SCHYS.  Sandra is a C-IAYT, a Certified Mental Health Coach, a TRE (Trauma Release) Provider, and an Integrative Therapist, and an E-RYT-500.

Pre-Requisite: Students must be in or a graduate of SCHYS 300-Hour Program

Yoga Therapy for Long Covid - 4 Weeks

This class will cover long covid and how yoga therapy can help. We will look at common issues that come up with clients with long covid.

Students in the class are welcome to present a client case study (please email JJ ahead of time).

Class begins May 24th for 4 weeks and will meet via gotomeeting, weekly at 2:15-3:15 p.m. eastern time.

Pre-Requisite: Students must be in or a graduate of SCHYS 300-Hour Program

Yoga Therapy for Lower Back Pain - 4 Weeks

This class will cover lower back pain (LBP) and how yoga therapy can help. We will look at common issues that are diagnosed for clients with LBP and use case studies as the main learning tool.

Students in the class are welcome to present a client case study (please email JJ ahead of time).

Class begins April 26th for 4 weeks and will meet via gotomeeting, weekly at 2:15-3:15 p.m. eastern time.

Pre-Requisite: Enrolled in Step 1/300-hour with SCHYS or beyond

This class will cover common health concerns of a chronic nature. Topics include

• Long-term covid

• chronic pain (hip, lower back, shoulder, or other body area),

• Chronic pain that lead to substance issues (benzo and opiods)

• Autoimmune issues (Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Rheumatoid arthritis,, Lupus, POTS, etc.)

• Residual pain from scar tissue post surgery

• Arthritic Pain from Osteoarthritis

• Neuralgia

• Diaphragm issues

• Quality of Life

After a brief introduction of the topic, we’ll discuss cases of clients who may have had the issue and what tools of yoga therapy were used to help. The vagus nerve is often involved in chronic issues, therefore it would be helpful if students have had the vagus nerve classes prior to this class, although it is not a pre-requisite.