Yoga Therapy for Mental Health

Recovery from mental health challenges that only addresses the mind can sometimes leave important work undone. Stress, trauma, and emotional dysregulation also affect the nervous system and create physical tension that may impact your overall health and well-being.[1] 

AMFM (A Mission For Michael) Mental Health Treatment proudly offers all of our clients a holistic approach to healing, with yoga therapy acting as a core component of our whole-person wellness philosophy. This is a unique approach that addresses the mind, body, spirit, and breath together. 

Clients learn to move with more intention in their lives, anchor themselves in physical sensations, and use breathwork as a new tool for self-regulation. For many, this may open a new path in the recovery process. It can feel different from and even more beneficial than the other treatment approaches (such as individual and group therapy) offered throughout the program. 

If you think a holistic approach to mental health treatment could benefit you, read on to learn more about AMFM Mental Health Treatment’s yoga therapy for mental health.

Our Approach to Yoga Therapy

Yoga can be thought of as a mindful movement practice, a framework that posits physical activity as a direct route to increasing your present-moment awareness.[2]

Trauma-informed yoga therapy invites you to turn your attention to your body. It involves noticing physical sensations as they arise and staying present with discomfort rather than trying to automatically push through or ignore it. 

These holistic sessions are facilitated with an emphasis on breathwork and autonomous movement, empowering you to make your own choices around how to engage physically – nothing is ever forced. The practice unites your mind and body, which builds emotional capacity session to session. 

Yoga for emotional regulation and other concerns at AMFM Mental Health Treatment works because the focused breathing and thoughtful movement patterns activate your parasympathetic nervous system.

This is your body’s natural, inherent counterbalance to the stress response. It helps to slow your heart rate and even out shallow breathing, providing a way to release stored physical tension. 

woman doing yoga therapy at beach in the dunes during yoga mental health retreat with amfm

What to Expect From Yoga Therapy at AMFM Mental Health Treatment

You can expect a curious, intentional approach to yoga-based therapy at AMFM Mental Health Treatment, interwoven into your other clinical programming. The process typically looks like: 

Treatment Planning and Integration

Yoga therapy begins as part of your broader therapy offerings, including individual therapy, group sessions, psychiatric care, and evidence-based approaches. Your treatment plan evolves as your needs change, adapting to what you require at a certain point in time. 

Practicing the Foundations of Mindful Movements

Early sessions will focus primarily on building the basic skills of yoga, including: 

  • Breathwork. 
  • Body awareness. 
  • Mindfulness. 
  • The ability to stay present during physical movements. 

Facilitators guide you through the process, helping you draw more attention to your body’s sensations and their effects on your perception. 

Developing Somatic Awareness

As your practice deepens, you’ll begin to better recognize how emotions and past trauma manifest in the body, such as how tensions show up in certain muscle groups.

The mind-body therapy aspect of yoga helps you to read and respond to what your body is communicating, as well as express yourself physically in a beneficial way. 

Building New Resilience

Yoga therapy involves gently leaning into discomfort instead of avoiding it. It teaches you challenging postures to build your physical and emotional endurance, which can directly translate to how you handle difficulties in everyday life. 

Carrying New Practices Forward

The skills developed in yoga therapy – breathwork, present-moment awareness, and somatic regulation – are extremely portable to life post-treatment. They can even help inform how you approach ongoing recovery in the coming months and years.

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Program Structure and Weekly Schedule

Yoga therapy practices at AMFM Mental Health Treatment are offered at all locations, with yoga, meditation, and fitness sessions often run daily. These sessions are led by a trained, certified instructor to give you consistent opportunities to practice movement-based regulation throughout your treatment.

For clients in our outpatient-based partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs, yoga is also woven into the weekly schedule with three dedicated group formats:

  1. Sunrise Yoga and Meditation sessions open your day with a space for intentional movement.
  2. Trauma-Informed Yoga provides a safe space for clients experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex trauma to engage.
  3. Yoga Nidra, a restorative relaxation practice, offers a unique entry point for those in search of quiet moments to focus and reflect. It focuses on releasing stress and tension held within the body, often benefiting those who are seeking to be more present or who have trouble sleeping.[3]

Integrative mental health yoga therapy often requires ongoing practice, and our program structure reflects that with multiple touchpoints throughout your schedule to integrate the healing movements into your day-to-day schedule.

Treatment Modalities We Use

Mind-body yoga therapy works directly on your nervous system and physical movement patterns, and AMFM Mental Health Treatment integrates these opportunities into our other offerings to maximize every aspect of your recovery.

What you learn on the yoga mat can impact and improve what you discuss in the therapy room, and vice versa. For instance, the steadier breathing and present-moment awareness developed in yoga can make deep-diving conversations in therapy more fruitful.

In addition to yoga-based therapy, we also offer:

Why Choose Us?

The recovery process from mental health concerns deserves to be supported holistically and meaningfully, which is why AMFM Mental Health Treatment integrates whole-person wellness into our collaborative treatment plans.

We’re here to help you and your loved ones heal, and our experienced staff has the experience and the know-how to assist you in finding the best possible path forward. We are committed to providing you with the highest quality treatment at every stage of the process.

Opportunities for mind-body work are an integral part of the recovery process. Our yoga practices can give you the opportunity to:

  • Explore new skills.
  • Engage with intentional movement.
  • Heal on an emotional and physical level.

Our clinical programming also includes many evidence-based treatment modalities, several kinds of holistic therapy, and opportunities to practice new skills that speak to your needs.

Each of our residential locations are designed to provide you with a calming environment ideal for recovery.

Find Mental Health Treatment Programs

A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.

California Locations

See our residences in Southern California’s Orange County & San Diego County.

Fallbrook - Peony
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with library, large backyard, and pool with beautiful views.
Carlsbad - Goldenbush
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, & covered seating in backyard.
Carlsbad - Hoover
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms for our clients with beautiful ocean views, large rooms and relaxng atmosphere.
Dana Point - Blue Lantern
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features calming large rooms, updated interior, and outdoor pool.
Dana Point - Crystal Lantern
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Includes large rooms, updated interior, and private treatment rooms.
Fallbrook - North Ridge
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Featured amenties include tennis court, pool, and game area.
Laguna Hills - Waterwheel
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, and large backyard.
Laguna Niguel - Campeon
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, and covered seating in backyard.
Lake Forest - Grayston
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, relaxing spaces, & covered seating in backyard.
Lake Forest - Sunnybrook
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Newly remodeled interior with large rooms and backyard with garden.
San Juan Capistrano - Banderas
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features updated, modern interior with relaxing outdoor space to unwind.
San Juan Capistrano - Valencia
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, & covered seating in backyard.
Mission Viejo - Michelle's House
Residential treatment center just for women who’ve experienced trauma, domestic violence, or overwhelming life challenges
Minnesota Locations

Take a look at our homes on the east side of the Metro area in Washington County.

Stillwater - Arcola
Male residential house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard many dedicated spaces for therapy.
Stillwater - Dellwood
Female mental health residential house with double and single occupancy rooms. Beautifully appointed, relaxing atmosphere for healing.
Virginia Locations

View our facilities in Fairfax County, VA within the DC metro area.

Annandale - Rebel Rose
Female identifying house with single and double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with movie theater, on a large property.
Fairfax Station - Derbyshire
Male only house with double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large rooms, gorgeous interior, and music/game room.
Great Falls - Kellie Jean
Gender inclusive house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with movie theater, game room, and large property.
Vienna - Browns Mill
Gender inclusive property with double and single occupancy rooms providing compassionate care in a peaceful setting for adults.
Vienna - Corsica
Gender inclusive house with double & single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard, movie theater, & dedicated therapy spaces.
Vienna - Lawyers
Male identifying house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard many dedicated spaces for therapy.
McLean - Lewinsville
Female house with double occupancy rooms. Featuring modern living spaces, comfortable meeting rooms, & well-appointed bedrooms.

Start Your Healing Journey Today

We understand how difficult it can be to reach out for help but you don’t have to struggle with mental health challenges alone. Our compassionate team is available day and night to answer your questions, share resources, and guide you through finding the right treatment program.

AMFM Mental Health Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major insurance providers. Call 866-478-4383 to have us help you verify your insurance benefits. All calls are free and confidential. 

If you’re ready to get started, then contact us today to find out how we can partner together for a better tomorrow. 

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References

  1. American Psychological Association. (2024, October 21). Stress effects on the body. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
  2. Voss, S., et. al. (2022). Yoga impacts cognitive health: neurophysiological changes and stress-regulation mechanisms. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, Publish Ahead of Print(2). https://doi.org/10.1249/jes.0000000000000311
  3. Pandi-Perumal, S. R., et. al. (2022). The origin and clinical relevance of yoga nidra. Sleep and Vigilance, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41782-022-00202-7

At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.

Our reviewers are credentialed medical providers specializing and practicing behavioral healthcare. We follow strict guidelines when fact-checking information and only use credible sources when citing statistics and medical information. Look for the medically reviewed badge on our articles for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate or out of date, please let us know at info@amfmhealthcare.com