Minded Institute 8-week Course for mental health
I am currently accepting registration for my next 8-week course, which will run for 8 weeks beginning in October 2023. Please contact me at amyehunt225@gmail.com for more information.
The Minded Institute, a yoga training and research center in London, has developed an-evidence-based course for those struggling from stress, anxiety, and depression. Those suffering from other mental health conditions may also be eligible to attend.
The course runs weekly for 8 weeks, and each two-hour session has a theme, with an accompanying yoga practice, a breathing practice, an activity, and a discussion. Over time the group forms a “sangha” or community, dedicated to participants becoming active agents in their own mental health and well being. The course is limited to 10 participants and will be held at SPARCmed in San Mateo. The cost is 400 dollars for 8 weekly 2-hour sessions.
The course manual and practice recordings are included in the price. For more information about the course, please see the Minded Institute website or drop me an email.
The course is open to anyone, but the curriculum and practices are specifically aimed toward those experiencing stress or burn out, anxiety, and/or depression. Those struggling with trauma, grief, life changes, menopause, chronic pain (including low back pain) and other mental and physical health conditions may also find the course appropriate and helpful. Practices are based on research done by yoga, mental health, and medical professionals and designed to help people manage these conditions.
Weekly Drop-In Therapeutic Yoga Classes
Update July, 2023: Since I’m running the 8-week course in the fall of 2023, drop in classes will return only in early 2024.
These classes will be familiar to those who have attended a studio or gym yoga class, but they differ from regular yoga classes in the following ways:
Classes are small, no more than 8 people (no more than 4 while CoVid restrictions are in place.)
I offer additional support for those suffering from anxiety, depression, burn out/stress, and other mental health conditions. Many people come to these classes because they either don’t feel comfortable attending a large studio yoga class or they just prefer a smaller space with a more personalized experience.
Classes are also appropriate for people with physical limitations, including those recovering from illness and those with temporary or chronic injury. Like regular yoga classes, we work on strength, flexibility, and mental focus, but in these drop in classes, the emphasis is on regulating the nervous system to stabilize mood and energy, and using your body and breath to create grounding and safety, what we think of as “coming home” to the body. People with stress will likely feel relief fairly quickly, as the combination of exercise and relaxation calms the nervous system.
Like regular yoga classes, you can attend when you choose, but generally with these small group classes a supportive group (a “sangha”) forms, with most people attending most weeks.
Through ongoing relationship, we will work together on your goals, which may include feeling less anxious, managing depression, reducing stress, improving concentration, recovering from an injury or illness, gaining strength and flexibility, feeling less “in your head,” and many others. Joining this sangha means being able to connect to the same teacher week after week and deepening your practice over time. The combination of consistent teacher/yoga therapist, regular practice, and commitment to your own well being is a potent recipe for change.
Classes follow a regular pattern of somatic and breath awareness exercises on the floor, seated and other low intensity yoga poses, higher intensity fluid movements and standing poses including balance work, back and core strengthening movements, gentle inversions, and guided relaxation. I support participants in finding the right variations of poses and level of intensity for them each week.
Classes are for people with all levels of experience with yoga, from experienced yogis and yoga teachers to people brand new to yoga.
In some cases, students work with me privately for a few sessions before joining the group class.
If you suffer from PTSD/trauma, disordered eating, or post-CoVid symptoms, please contact me so we can talk about how best to approach your particular condition within the context of group sessions.
Amy Hunt Yoga 