Today's blog welcomes yoga therapist Laura Waldrop. A yogini, runner, Denver business owner, and all around good person.
Hello friends! My name is Laura, and I am a Yoga Therapist. Before we get into what the heck that is, I thought I'd share a little about how I got here. In truth, I took a non-linear path.
When I use the word non-linear, I picture a line on a graph that isn't straight. This image comes from my years studying and working as an engineer. As a kid, I loved math and problem solving. I was good at it too. My dad was an entrepreneur, and I felt the stress of never really knowing whether his business ventures would be financially successful. So I made a choice to get a really practical degree and work for a really big, stable company.
But then I discovered I had inherited my dad's entrepreneurial spirit. I found my career terribly unfulfilling. I wanted to, somehow, contribute to the world in a significant way.
When my older daughter was born, I took a year and half off from work. My plan was to use this time to (I guess) "find myself". Instead, I was blindsided by a severe case of PPE. That stands for postpartum everything - anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD.
What followed was a period of unravelling and rebirth. I did a lot of running, yoga and therapy during this season. I processed emotion through my physical body, because I couldn't really rely on my intellect. It was a surprising and curious revelation.
I also came to recognize how much a fear of failure and a desire for affirmation and validation had held me back in life. A mission began to take shape - to live life vulnerably and authentically, to help others feel less alone in their messy humanity.
And yet... I still went back to work as an engineer. What can I say? Change is hard.
When my younger daughter was born I left work with the same game plan. Fortunately, there was a lot less mental illness the second time around. Unfortunately, it was during this period that my mom, my safe place and support, was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
My husband and I made the abrupt decision to move back home to Colorado, and I decided, "If not now, when? What am I waiting for?"
The last six years have been a whirlwind of grief and love and dharma. I left engineering for good. I became a running coach and then a yoga teacher. My dad died and then my mom. I started my own business and then there was a pandemic. The ground keeps falling out from beneath my feet.
Yet, I feel more grounded than ever. I'm learning lots in this season of life about time and presence and healing. As Glennon Doyle says, it's brutal and beautiful, a brutiful life.
What is Yoga Therapy?
Yoga Therapy is a practice for healing physical pain and discomfort. I teach my clients to
become aware of how their physical body moves and feels, as well as to the connection
between their mind and body. Through this awareness, my clients discover how to
move and live in ways that lead to the reduction of pain. It’s a therapy, not a fitness
program.
Who is Yoga Therapy for?
Yoga Therapy is for anyone experiencing physical pain.
Group yoga classes are wonderful, but they aren’t appropriate for everyone. Yoga
therapy is a great alternative.
No yoga experience required
No fitness, flexibility or mobility requirements
All genders, adult ages, body shapes and sizes are welcome
Why practice Yoga Therapy?
Practice Yoga Therapy to get out of pain and get back to living the life you love.
Learn how to discern what movements work and don’t work for you.
Learn how to notice and manage sensations before they turn into pain.
How does Yoga Therapy work?
Yoga Therapy utilizes the tools of yoga – breath, movement and meditation. With new
clients, I typically start with simple, supported movements. Over time we increase
complexity, add load and, when appropriate, incorporate traditional yoga postures.
I pay close attention to my client and to any compensations in their movement. We all
have them! Arching the back when trying to move the arm bone in the shoulder joint,
clenching the jaw and holding the breath are examples of compensations.
I guide my client’s awareness toward their compensations through questions and non-
judgmental conversation. It’s a very interactive, collaborative and empowering process.
Once aware, I work with my client to quiet their compensations and teach them to move
within a range of ease. This process actually creates new neural pathways that enable
more efficient movement and the reduction of pain.
Learn more and book yoga therapy sessions here: https://waldroplaura.com/private-yoga-therapy/
Contact Laura here