Yoga Therapy in Southwold Suffolk

Yoga Therapy provides a supportive safe space for you uniquely to enquire and explore a range of tools and practices that can be integrated into daily life to help to manage and support your own health needs and condition.

Yoga Therapy sessions integrate elements of counselling, psychotherapy and somatic techniques to address emotional, mental and physical health concerns .

This person centered, therapeutic approach is a return to how Yoga was traditionally shared with the added benefit of a modern day extended clinical overview.

Yoga Therapy draws on evidence based practices adapting them to suit individual health conditions. It blends the ancient wisdom and philosophy of Yoga with modern neuroscience and psychology,

“Even when our body cannot be fully healed we can still experience an inner sense of wholeness and health”

Marlysa sullivan

What is Yoga Therapy ?

Yoga Therapy is a compassionate intervention that is uniquely designed to your body, lifestyle and specific health needs. It is a person-centered, trauma-informed therapy and approach to health - integrating elements of counselling, psychotherapy and somatic techniques to address emotional, mental and physical health concerns .

Sessions incorporate not only physical but also mental & lifestyle practices working on the principles of a mind-body approach and the understanding that we are interconnected.

Yoga Therapy is -

A therapeutic, collaborative and creative approach to health, underpinned by Yoga philosophy, supported by modern science and most importantly an understanding that no one size fits all. Therefore each Yoga Therapy session is completely tailored to your needs. 

As we come together with a goal or aim in mind, our sessions explore a variety of practices with time for enquiry. Together we will regularly assess your goals, aims and needs working session by session at a pace set by you.

How Can Yoga Therapy Support You?

Yoga Therapy is helpful for anyone who needs a little more support when facing challenges or changes in life. Sessions incorporate not only physical but also mental & lifestyle practices working on the principles of a mind-body approach and the understanding that we are interconnected.

MENTAL HEALTH

Yoga Therapy can support those living with mental health conditions, anxiety,  depression, trauma , grief and loss. 

PHYSICAL CHALLENGES

Those experiencing physical challenges or conditions such as chronic fatigue , persistent pain, long covid, neurological conditions, elderly conditions, respiratory conditions, musculoskeletal conditions & hyper-mobility.

NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSREGULATION

Those who need help to slow down, and understand the language of the body, balance the nervous system and prioritise health and wellbeing to access a deeper connection to self.

Yoga Therapy is an empowering approach to your health.

Yoga therapy is a mind-body approach to your health putting some practical tools back in your hands. It can be a pathway to better understand your body and its language and respond in a regulated way to the challenges you face in your life. Building resilience and connection to yourself in this way results in balancing the nervous system and improvements in your own health and well being. 

I’m Mel, it’s my honour to guide you on this path

Yoga therapy is simply a return to how traditional yoga was shared, suiting the needs of the individual. It is supported by modern science and is collaborative, compassionate and person centered as apposed to symptom based.

It can be a wonderful intervention and source of support for the challenges we face in life, for when things feel out of balance or for when we need to try a different approach to support our health.

As a Yoga therapist we treat/work with the whole person, not just the symptoms. This approach to our health unlike western tradition is not a quick symptom fix, it is very much a process that we embark on together to understand the bigger picture behind the suffering. With support, space, patience, practice and compassion a clients own wisdom and resilience arises.

Yoga therapy It is not about rolling out the mat for 1 hour each day, daily life is the practice ground, so any Yoga therapy practices given are designed to fit and be incorporated into your day to day life.

I often say to clients - ‘ Yoga therapy is like opening a new door or window, a different view brings a new perspective on the challenges or changes you are facing in your life, be open and curious and see where this leads you’

Sessions can help to guide you towards cultivating a mindset that prioritises your health and wellbeing and take yoga into your life, to access a deeper connection to yourself.

As a yoga therapist I understand that what works for one may not for another therefore each session is tailored to suit your individual needs.

FAQ’s about Yoga Therapy

  • A session often starts with discussion and a review of how things are. We look at what has been working and what may need adjusting. 

    We will then go through a few initial practices in response to your needs and energy levels / circumstances on that day. 

    There will be time for enquiry and questions throughout. 

    A session may include a little education and discussion around a concept, philosophy or practice and I will always make sure you understand why I/ we have chosen or decided on a particular practice.

    Some practices will then be given for you to take away and bring into your own life.  

    The practices may be physical, breath based, mind based or lifestyle based . 

    I recommend -

    • Wearing comfy clothes that you can move around in easily. 

    • Bringing a notepad and pen in case you want to write anything down at the end of the session. (some notes will also be provided from the session)

    Please note - A first Initial intake session is often a bit longer to include a more in depth chat together to discuss intake forms, collate some goals or aims to work towards. A regular session will last 60-75 minutes.

  • It is certainly suitable for those who have never practiced any kind of yoga before.

    Those with limited mobility can be accommodated, all needs will be assessed when I receive the intake forms and we can work in a different location if needed or at your home depending on location and circumstances. 

  • Yes absolutely! All your needs can be assessed at the time of intake and in our first initial session.

  • I recommend at least 6 to begin with especially if you want to commit to making some lasting changes, however it always depends on the client and the reason for which you are attending.

    Ultimately it’s a partnership not a process and these things take time to learn, practice, integrate and understand.

Yoga Therapy can help to guide you towards cultivating a mindset that prioritises your health and wellbeing and take yoga into your life, to access a deeper connection to yourself.

How Sessions Work

We can work out what will be best for in terms of location. Currently I offer sessions at a variety of local spaces /studios.  From July, I will be offering Yoga Therapy at my home space.

Initial Session – £65

This 75–90 minute session gives us time to explore your needs in depth and begin to develop a tailored therapeutic approach.

Follow-up Sessions – £50 each

Ongoing one-off sessions are 60 minutes long and are available if you’d like to continue with occasional support or prefer a more flexible approach.

12-Week Yoga Therapy Package – £290

For those ready to commit to a more structured and supportive process, this package offers both consistency and savings.

The package includes:

  • 1 x Initial Consultation (90 minutes)

  • 5 x Follow-up Sessions (60 minutes each)

  • Personalised home practice notes and recommendations

  • Optional handouts available on request

Sessions are typically booked fortnightly, allowing us to work together over a 12-week period. However, this can be adapted to suit your needs.

If you feel you’d benefit from the depth and support that a 12-week therapeutic container can offer, I suggest we begin with an informal conversation to see if this approach feels right for you.

  • "My Yoga therapy sessions with Mel have been transformative. I arrived at my first session feeling lost, disconnected and anxious. Over the course of our sessions together, Mel helped me to establish a practice that has enabled me to come home to myself. She is extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and insightful and her unfailingly thoughtful and compassionate approach made me feel safe, and able to be vulnerable and open. I felt grounded and at the centre of all the work we did, which was so empowering! I would not hesitate to recommend Mel- she is a wonderful person and a true gem of a Yoga therapist. "

Contact me

I understand that it can be nerve-wracking to start something new like Yoga Therapy, I’d love to speak with you and discuss how we could help you.