Welcome. I am an experienced yoga therapist, yoga teacher, meditation, mindfulness, iRest & breathwork teacher. I am also a yoga teacher mentor.
How I can I support you? Simon
Yoga & Meditation for everybody
"Whether you're a beginner or experienced, I tailor practices to your specific needs. I can support you in building resiliency, strength, flexibility and help you to reduce stress, anxiety, improve sleep and (re)connect to your inner calm."
What is yoga therapy?
"Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of Yoga" International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)
“Yoga therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalised and evolving Yoga practice, that not only addresses issues in a multi-dimensional manner, but also aims to alleviate her/his/their suffering in a progressive, non-invasive and complementary manner. Depending upon the nature of the issue, yoga therapy can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve a means to manage the illness, or facilitate healing in the person at all levels.” TKV and Kausthub Desikachar (Contemporary definitions of yoga therapy, 2022)
8-Week Yoga Therapy Course for Mental Health; Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Sunday January 12th - March 9th (no class on Feb 16th) 4.30pm - 6.30pm
Please email me to register your interest and I will contact you to ensure that I can look after and support you during these 8 weeks. simon@yoga360.co.uk
8 week Yoga Therapy Course for Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Yoga Therapist : Simon Hoten
Duration: 8 week course- once weekly sessions, 2 hours each
Location: West Hampstead Community Centre
This course is limited to 8 students / attendees.
Price; £250pp for this 8 week course which is 2 hours per week, limited concessions at £200 and one place available for those who cannot afford concessions at £100.
Dates: Sundays 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Starting on January 12th and then on Jan 19th, 26th, February 2nd, 9th, 23rd and March 2nd & 9th ( not Feb 16th as it is half term)
Includes homework / home practise recommendations each week,
This 8-week yoga therapy course developed by ‘The Minded Institute’ is a comprehensive and evidence-based program for anyone looking to better manage stress, anxiety and/or mild depression, on a day-to-day basis. Both mindfulness and therapeutic yoga are well known for their mental health benefits, reducing anxiety, depression and negative affect, this course will help you access these profound healing properties. Combining specific yoga therapy techniques, with research from the fields of psychotherapy and neuroscience, it will provide you with a tool box of self-regulation techniques that you can use on a daily basis to better manage and help to improve your mental health both on a short-term and lifelong basis.
The course is organised in such a way to allow students to deeply understand how yoga and mindfulness can work for them with the asana sequence (yoga posture sequence) specifically designed to rebalance the nervous system and to teach students how to regulate their mood and emotions. Throughout, students are invited to explore mental patterns, perceptions, and habits that keep them stuck in unfulfilling experiences of life. During the course they’ll learn how to use their mind to heal their body and their body to heal their mind. This is a powerful and holistic strategy for healing depression and anxiety and managing stress.
New scientific research continues to affirm that depression, anxiety, and stress are best treated with a method that addresses both the physiological and psychological dimensions. Yoga naturally works with these various elements. Yoga Therapy for the Mind extracts these elements in a scientific and therapeutic way for the maximum benefit to the mind and body through both mindfulness and yoga.
We meet for two hours once a week. Each week has a specific theme which is explained at the beginning of each session and explored through practice.
This includes a 1-1hr 15 min physical yoga/asana practice, 15 minute breathing practise known as pranayama, mindfulness, meditation, relaxation self-inquiry and group discussion. During the first two weeks of the course, we focus on regulating breath as a way to alter the functioning of your nervous system so that you can manage stress with greater ease.
From weeks 3 – 5 we concentrate on the relationship between body and mood and in weeks 6 – 8 we focus specifically on the mind.
You are encouraged to practice in between the sessions at home to help you get the best results. Each week you will be given a home practice which you will be supported and encouraged to do, encouraging the positive change that you wish to see.
To support your practice the course also provides:
* A comprehensive course manual with detailed explanations of mind body connection, research and practice descriptions
* Audio recordings of practices taught
* Email support throughout the 8 weeks concerning any course related questions or queries
Is this course for me?
This Yoga Therapy for the Mind 8 week course is open for anyone who would like to weave into daily life a practise that enables us to:
-
Better manage stress, anxiety and/or depression
• Enhance concentration and focus
• Expand psychological tolerance of uncomfortable feelings
• Improve wellbeing
• Develop resilience
You will come away from the course with a deeper understanding of the physiological and psychological dimensions of stress, anxiety and depression, and a toolkit to help you manage wellbeing better in both the short and long term.
All sessions are taught in a compassionate and safe setting.
No previous experience of yoga is necessary, just a commitment to show up and do the home practice.
Please email me to register your interest and I will contact you to ensure that I can look after and support you during these 8 weeks simon@yoga360.co.uk
This course is limited to 8 places only.
Private 1-2-1 Yoga Therapy
I draw on a combination of evidence based practices drawn from movement techniques including yoga , breathing practices, mindfulness techniques, the latest neuroscience and psychology and other tools to empower you towards improved health, alleviate symptoms, improve mental and physical health and wellbeing and cope with life's challenges.
It can help you to develop skills that improve nervous system resiliency, build a greater sense of agency and safety within, increase emotional regulation skills and create a more positive relationship with yourself. Anybody can benefit from yoga therapy and you do not need any prior experience in yoga or mindfulness to benefit.
My areas of specialisation for individual yoga therapy are adults with anxiety, depression, stress, lower back pain, chronic pain, migraine/headaches, COPD, osteoporosis, Parkinsons & supporting prostate health.
Each session may include:
Joint freeing movements
Breath led movements / yoga postures
Breathing practices
Mindfulness
Meditations
Guided relaxation practices
Lifestyle suggestions / suggestions around self care.
Yoga therapy can be beneficial for a wide range of issues, including the following:
Mental health conditions
Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Eating disorders, Post - natal depression, ADHD, PTSD
Physical conditions
Joint pain, Back pain, Neck pain, Muscularskeletal issues, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Scoliosis,
Sciatica, Asthma, Diabetes, Parkinsons, COPD, IBS, Insomnia, MS, ME, High blood pressure, HIV, Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's, Cardiovascular issues, Stroke, Cancer, Digestive issues, Respiratory issues, Menopause, Crohn’s disease, Chronic fatigue, Auto-immune diseases
For further details or to book a session please contact me Simon Hoten at 07984613826
or email me at: simon@yoga360.co.uk
FAQ
What can I expect the sessions to be like?
- On the phone prior to the first session we’ll discuss your unique needs and what brought you to yoga therapy.
In the first session I will likely complete some breath and body assessments and we will do some breath, movement, mindfulness and relaxation practices, and set therapeutic goals. We will also come up with a preliminary plan of a daily home practise, based on your goals, as well as your available time and energy. In subsequent sessions we’ll review your response to the week’s practice, do movement, breath & mindfulness practices, then set a new practice related to your goals.
Yoga therapy sessions are always tailored to your individual needs.
What will I need?
- You’ll need comfortable clothes that you can move in. In most cases you’ll do the session in bare feet, but socks with grips are OK. I have any recommended equipment i.e. mats and props, so you won’t need to bring them.
How long are sessions?
- One-to-one sessions usually last 60 minutes, though the first session is often 75-90 minutes. depending on what we discuss.
How many sessions would I have?
- You may wish to have just one and then reflect on your needs.
I usually recommend a minimum of 3. Sometimes people with stress see me for 3 sessions in a row and then ask for a session every now and then when they are feeling overwhelmed, have a flare up, or lose motivation to practice. Three sessions also works well for people who are experiencing temporary grief or loss. Most people find 6 sessions to be about right. Those with mild anxiety and depression, as well those who are managing heart disease, can find some relief in that time and learn the tools they need to manage their condition. If you are recovering from trauma, an eating disorder, or PTSD, or if you are managing a condition like cancer, HIV, lasting effects of Covid, cardiac event recovery, or autoimmune disease, then it’s likely that you will book sessions for longer.
How often would I have a session?
- Most people find that once a week works well. After each session you’ll have a new technique to practice at home, so it’s best to have at least a week between sessions.
Do I have to practise yoga to benefit?
- No, not at all. All the practices are tailored to your body and your needs and many clients have not practised before.
Is yoga therapy only for those who are suffering or unwell?
- No, not at all. Some people don’t have a mental or physical health condition but just want to feel more embodied, experience more joy, or connect with themselves on a deeper level. Doing 3 to 5 sessions can be a great way to recharge, to feel more motivated, find a new direction, or to come home to oneself.
Does yoga therapy replace medical treatment?
- No, not at all. In fact, many of the people yoga therapists work with have often been referred by a physiotherapist, a psychotherapist, or a physician. Some clients are on medication for their condition and/or following a course of treatment by another provider. Yoga therapy is a holistic therapy that works on physiological and neural pathways that not only won’t interfere with your other treatment but will likely improve your ability to heal from or manage your condition and increase your quality of life. It’s an ideal complementary therapy. That being said, yoga therapy has the potential in many cases to reduce the amount of time and money spent on acute medical care by improving overall health and encouraging preventative practices.
If you’re in doubt, contact your doctor / medical provider about the benefits and risks of yoga therapy for your condition. I’d be happy to provide more information to you and your doctor about the specific breath and movement practices we are likely to do.
Where are private yoga therapy sessions held?
- Usually at my home practise in West Hampstead or online. We can discuss holding sessions at your home or at another venue in certain circumstances.
