By Ainka J. Fulani
I was initially drawn to movement for fun and to cope with my own sports injuries, then later to manage stress and heighten self-awareness. As I’ve studied and practiced, I naturally wanted to help others find wellness. I have training in multiple modalities and find yoga therapy particularly effective in serving clients with layered needs that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was already a small business owner when I started my yoga therapy training. Adding yoga therapy to my work has enhanced how I am able to support clients. Even if someone comes to me for pilates or “talk” coaching, I am often able to share yoga therapy practices to help address their needs.
Broad support
Once people learn about what yoga therapy is, it often makes perfect sense to them to work with the body, mind, and spirit in this holistic way. However, lots of education is needed so that not just individuals but also our healthcare systems can recognize how yoga therapy may be useful as a primary support modality.
When I realized that so many lifestyle illnesses could be minimized by yoga therapy practices, I decided to focus my offerings around this idea. For instance, heart disease disproportionately affects Black women in the United States, regardless of education, geography, or class. And diabetes and related complications are rampant in poor and working-class communities. Research has consistently shown that yoga positively affects both of these serious illnesses.
Given the needs of our communities and as a result of wars and a pandemic, grief support has also been a large part of my practice. I often donate my services at community events, as I want to reach populations who normally might not have access to the self-empowerment of yoga therapy support, such as poor and working-class communities and communities of color.
A better life
I have seen how mindful movement can support a better quality of life. When clients with chronic back pain report that their episodes of acute aggravation have decreased or been eliminated and that they are feeling stronger and more positive, I feel we have created a good partnership. Working with a client to reduce their blood pressure, maybe even allowing them to consult with their doctor to stop taking a medication, is so satisfying for both of us. And I always get a thrill out of delivering workshops where I share information about yoga while people are experiencing it firsthand—they are often pleasantly surprised by just how accessible the practices are!
Ainka J. Fulani, MBA, LPCC, NASM, CPT, C-IAYT, leads a holistic coaching practice based in Oakland, Calif., where she offers public classes, sees private clients, and works with organizations. She also teaches movement at Northeastern University’s Mills College campus.
Watch for Ainka’s story in the Summer 2024 Yoga Therapy Today, available to IAYT members in mid-August!
