Ann Biese

Advanced Program Graduate, C-IAYT
Yoga Therapist, Mindfulness Teacher, Author
Website: www.northshoreyogatherapy.com
Yoga Therapy Case Study:

I work teaching meditation and yoga in the field of oncology/hematology for both adults and pediatric hospital settings in Boston. When I signed up as a student, I was excited to learn more and advance my offerings to my client base.

Since I began the Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy Program, I would say, everything about how I approach teaching all my yoga has changed! I am so much more mindful of how and what is needed for people individually.

Working on my personal practice, I used the templates for sequences based on conditions, which have been fantastic. I would have, say, challenges with low back pain and would do the Breathing Deeply sciatica sequence and then realize, “I do not have low back pain today”. The idea of knowing this yoga works for yourself is pretty darn powerful, then think ok… I am feeling anxious lately let me do my own sequence for anxiety and “wow I am much calmer lately.”

Even during the pandemic, Breathing Deeply did a fabulous job of going virtual and making the learning very valuable with guest instructors too. I was truly worried about timing and getting through the program at one point more quickly, but once I surrendered in the pandemic to decide to enjoy the summer weather be social, and then went back to the hospital in person, I realized it was a much healthier choice in these times to push through.

Using the entire Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy model approach of working through the doshas and koshas for individual people, I have noticed a much faster healing process in both mind and body. There have been so many valuable pieces of this program and learning to teach yoga nidra and the powerful effects it has on brain wave states to change pain for patients has been incredible! THANK YOU to Brandt for helping me help my patients even more! I am a believer.

To any potential yoga therapy student who is considering joining our school, really take the time to use the practices personally, notice, and make notes mentally. We can only help people through what we know works. I truly spent extra time using koshas and doshas, studying for my own purpose to discover how our model could be for children and teens and IT CAN! It works so much more effectively and I am a believer! 

As I graduate, I am currenty working as a Yoga Therapist who works in a hospital setting with pediatric cancer. I also see private adults and teen clients through our virtual platform of Northshore Yoga Therapy for various conditions, including teens with anxiety.

I have to say that I have seen the biggest shift in my work through teens with cancer and teens with anxiety by working with practices through doshas/koshas. I share one story of a teen at the hospital in Boston where I work, and she has such anxiety before her port is accessed which many of them do, but we increased her yoga nidra and she is doing it at home too. The last time I was in the room with her we did her breathwork and I said in your mind go to your yoga nidra we have done. After her port was accessed, she opened her eyes and said, “I didn’t cry, I did it!” Namaste to that! This program is outstanding.