Therapeutic Yoga Method

Feel free in your body, calm in your mind, and clear in your heart.

Clarity of Heart Yoga is a Therapeutic Yoga studio in Sedona, Arizona. The Therapeutic Yoga Method is a floor-based practice consisting of passive and active movements that help to unwind tension, build strength, calm the mind and regulate the nervous system.

This method is designed with the intention of harmonizing and strengthening the body in a systematic and efficient way. Through consistent regular practice, natural levels of mobility and movement are restored and maintained, and the body is returned to its optimal structure and functionality.

This form of yoga is especially beneficial for those who are working through chronic pain and injuries, general aches and stiffness, and for the inflexible, the hyper-flexible and the aging body. This yoga works from the joints and helps to counteract the harmful effects of modern living such as sitting for long periods of time. The goal of the practice is to keep you healthy, mobile and pain free for as long as possible.

Freedom in the body and mind is everyone's birthright, so no matter what your age or current condition, the Therapeutic Yoga Method can help you return to your natural state of health and vitality.

The Therapeutic Yoga Method activates the body's natural healing intelligence through four key systems:

  • A common myth is that yoga simply stretches muscles. In reality, muscles don’t stretch in the traditional sense; they release. Current research shows that stretching doesn’t permanently elongate muscles but instead helps the nervous system adapt to handle greater muscle extension without triggering pain signals.

    The Therapeutic Yoga Method employs movements and props to apply targeted pressure to specific areas of the body. This pressure helps dissolve restrictions, enhance circulation, and facilitate muscle release, which supports a broader range of motion, improved health, and overall well-being.

  • Fascia is a network of connective tissue that surrounds muscles, bones, and organs, containing a rich supply of sensory nerves. These nerves transmit information about the body's position, movement, and internal state to the brain.

    When the body experiences restrictions, fascia can become dehydrated, inflexible, fragile, and sticky.

    In addition to staying hydrated and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, practicing Therapeutic Yoga helps remodel fascia, promoting the restoration of its natural fluidity.

  • Our joints and bones thrive under pressure and compression, which are essential for their health. Movement and pressure help distribute synovial fluid, nourishing cartilage and aiding in the removal of metabolic waste.

    Chondrocytes, the cells responsible for maintaining cartilage, benefit from the right balance of pressure. Gentle, controlled pressure applied through Therapeutic Yoga poses helps maintain cartilage health. This is especially important for joints like the knees and hips, where cartilage cushions and absorbs impact.

    The Therapeutic Yoga Method offers low-impact, mindful movements that evenly distribute pressure across joints and bones. This pressure encourages healthy circulation, supports joint lubrication, and helps maintain cartilage integrity, reducing the risk of deterioration.

    By regularly practicing Therapeutic Yoga, you not only build strength and flexibility but also take proactive steps to support joint and bone health, enhance mobility, and manage pain.

  • In modern life, most people are continuously distracted and overwhelmed by information overload. We are often overstimulated and overworked, spending long hours sitting in front of screens.

    A sedentary, high-stress lifestyle can push our nervous system into a state of heightened alertness, known as the sympathetic state, or "fight or flight" mode. When this state remains active for extended periods, the body stays in a chronic state of stress, even without immediate threats.

    This ongoing stress can negatively impact both physical and emotional well-being, leading to digestive problems, disrupted sleep, chronic pain, fatigue, and a weakened immune system.

    Therapeutic Yoga offers a valuable solution to counteract these harmful effects. It helps shift the nervous system from the overactive sympathetic state to the parasympathetic state, or "rest and digest" mode, allowing the body to recover and heal from the toll of chronic stress.

    With consistent, regular practice, Therapeutic Yoga calms the mind and promotes a more resilient, balanced nervous system.

FAQ

  • The Therapeutic Yoga Method has been designed to help you feel your absolute best!

    A large portion of members are between the ages of 50 and 80+, and many have a history of joint pain, major surgeries, or lack of mobility.

    Many members have seen positive results from a consistent, regular practice.

    If you can get up and down off the ground without assistance then you can most likely reap the benefits of Therapeutic Yoga.

    Please note, we are located on the 2nd floor. There are about 20 stairs to get up to the studio.

    Always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before implementing any new exercise program.

  • 1. There is a special emphasis on joints

    This practice incorporates a selection of poses that gently engage and stretch specific joints where tightness is most common. The Therapeutic Yoga Method uses movements and props to apply pressure to the joints, which increases synovial fluid production for joint lubrication and enhances circulation. By focusing on the intricate dynamics of joints and tissues, Therapeutic Yoga aims to alleviate stiffness, reduce inflammation, and promote overall joint health.

    2. This is a floor based practice

    While we do incorporate standing poses, the majority of the practice is done on the floor. We generally only make one or two transitions from seated to standing during each class, so you’re not constantly getting up and down off the ground. If you're a little slow to get up and down off the floor that is absolutely ok. As long as you can get up and down off the ground without assistance, you’ll be just fine.

    3. There is a big emphasis on relaxation

    In Therapeutic Yoga we do focus on active muscle engagement to strengthen the muscles, but this is not a sweaty practice that will have you breathing heavily. We move slowly and consciously and hold each pose for a significant amount of time. The goal is to give the body enough time to be able to adapt so that you can truly relax and reap the healing benefits.

    4. This practice is designed to regulate the nervous system and calm the mind

    Therapeutic Yoga has the amazing ability to modify the nervous system's patterns. Given the constant bombardment of stimuli and information in our fast paced society, we are all in need of an outlet that helps us to slow down and regulate our nervous system.

    One of the unique benefits of Therapeutic Yoga is that it deepens the mind body connection. It encourages a focused, relaxed concentration. We direct our focus to discover hidden tensions in the body and help them release. This practice promotes improved mental resilience, reduced anxiety, and an enhanced sense of well-being.

    5. Therapeutic Yoga is especially beneficial for those with joint pain, injuries, stiffness, or mobility restrictions.

    Many members of our local Sedona studio have limited mobility, injuries, or chronic pain. Many have also had hip replacements, knee replacements, or other major surgeries. Many have experienced positive results from consistent, regular practice. This yoga works to counteract the harmful effects of modern living such as sitting and standing for long periods of time, in order to keep you healthy, mobile and pain free for as long as possible.

    Freedom in the body and mind is everyone's birthright. The Therapeutic Yoga Method has been designed to help you return to your natural state of health and vitality.

  • Yin and restorative yoga are passive practices that do not emphasize active muscle engagement. Therapeutic Yoga not only stretches but also strengthens by targeting specific muscle groups and joints.

    Strengthening is just as important as flexibility because it helps create balance in the body and supports overall physical health and well-being.

    While flexibility allows for a greater range of motion and can reduce the risk of injury, strength provides stability and support to the joints and muscles, preventing overextension and promoting proper alignment.

    In Therapeutic Yoga, strengthening exercises help build muscle tone, improve posture, and enhance overall functional movement patterns. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with joint pain, muscle imbalances, or limited mobility, as strengthening exercises help to support and protect vulnerable areas of the body.

    Having a balanced combination of strength and flexibility leads to better body awareness, improved coordination, and increased resilience against injuries or strain. By incorporating both strength-building and flexibility-enhancing practices, Therapeutic Yoga aims to optimize physical function, promote structural integrity, and support long-term health and vitality.

  • Sound healing, when incorporated into Therapeutic Yoga, offers numerous benefits:

    Relaxation: Instruments like crystal bowls induce deep relaxation, complementing the calming nature of Therapeutic Yoga.

    Meditative Focus: Sounds provide a point of concentration, deepening meditation and relaxation during yoga.

    Emotional Release: Both Therapeutic Yoga and sound healing can help to release pent-up emotions.

    Energy Balancing: Sound healing can harmonize the body's energy centers further amplified by Therapeutic Yoga's balancing effects.

    Stress Reduction: The combination of sound healing and Therapeutic Yoga offers a potent remedy against stress.

    Parasympathetic Activation: Both Therapeutic Yoga and sound healing help to activate the "rest and digest" response, promoting the body's natural healing response.

  • Consistency is key! The benefits of Therapeutic Yoga don't just manifest after one class; they build over time. Every moment on the mat, is an investment in your well-being. By remaining engaged and showing up, even on days when it feels challenging, you're nurturing a relationship with yourself that's rooted in love, patience, care and understanding. For best results aim to practice at least 2-4x per week. But remember, practicing once a week is better than not at all, so if you can only get to the studio one time a week it's a victory.

Meet Ayla, owner and founder of Clarity of Heart Yoga

My mission is to share a method of yoga that’s not just another form of exercise, but rather, a system specifically designed to help people regain their natural ranges of mobility and movement, and to remain pain free for as long as possible.

For many years of my life, I dealt with chronic pain, broken bones, and traumas that left me depressed, disconnected and uncertain about how to heal. It wasn’t until I discovered yoga that I began to truly connect with myself and find a path to healing.

Through yoga, I learned to embrace my experiences with compassion and openness, transforming pain into a journey of self-awareness and inner purpose.

By sharing yoga as a healing modality, I hope to inspire others to see their challenges as pathways to self-discovery and transformation, guiding them towards a deeper understanding of their true nature and inner strength.

I believe that people should be able to practice yoga sustainably throughout the course of their entire life. The Therapeutic Yoga Method is devoted to creating and maintaining physical, mental and emotional well-being as we age.

My approach is an integration of my extensive learnings over the last 15 years from diverse mentors and schools of yoga. I design every sequence strategically to harmonize and balance the body and mind in a systematic and efficient way.

Opening a studio in Sedona is a dream come true. I am incredibly grateful for our amazing community of yoga practitioners who make Therapeutic Yoga so powerful. It’s not just about the poses; it’s about the deeper connection to yourself, your well-being, and the world around you. Every moment of your practice is an opportunity to cultivate that connection.

When you step into one of my classes, you can anticipate an atmosphere of tranquility and openness. Here, you're invited to immerse yourself fully, slow down your pace, calm down your mind, and experience the peace that arises from being in the present moment.

I’m honored to guide you in this practice, and I look forward to growing and evolving together on this path.

Visit Us

70 Bell Rock Plaza Suite D

(2nd floor above Hippiebird Life)