Yoga Therapy: Basic Methods of Motivational Interviewing

Yoga therapy offers a holistic approach to healing that integrates the mind, body, and spirit. Combining this with the techniques of motivational interviewing can deepen the therapeutic relationship and enhance client outcomes.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered approach aimed at eliciting behavior change by helping individuals explore and resolve ambivalence. In the context of yoga therapy, these techniques can guide clients toward self-awareness and positive change.

In this blog, we'll talk about the key methods of motivational interviewing which are open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization.

Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions are essential in motivational interviewing because they encourage clients to express themselves more fully, providing insights into their thoughts and feelings.

In yoga therapy, open-ended questions help clients reflect on their emotional and physical states, deepening their connection with themselves.

Example:

Instead of asking a client, “Are you feeling better after practicing yoga?”, you might ask, “What sensations do you notice in your own body after today's session?” Such a question invites the individual to feel their experience further without being limited to answer yes or no.

Similarly, you can ask, “What inspired you to start practicing yoga?” or “How do you envision yoga supporting your personal healing journey?”

These questions open the door to self-discovery and empowerment, helping clients articulate their goals and challenges more clearly.

Affirmations

Affirmations are positive statements that recognize a client’s strengths, intentions, and efforts. In the context of yoga therapy, affirmations can be incredibly powerful because they reinforce the client’s sense of agency and self-worth.

Often, clients come to yoga therapy with feelings of self-doubt or uncertainty about their healing journey. Affirming their progress or qualities can shift their mindset.

Example:

After a client shares a challenge they're facing, an affirmation could be, “It’s great to see how committed you are to exploring new ways of healing,” or “I admire your resilience in coming to today’s session, even though things have been tough lately.”

These small, yet significant statements acknowledge the client’s inner resources and can motivate them to continue engaging with their practice. Affirmations are free and simple but often underused, even though they have the potential to create a lasting impact.

Reflective Listening

Reflective listening is a key element of MI and involves echoing back the client’s words, allowing them to feel heard and understood. It fosters a deeper connection between the therapist and client, which is particularly important in yoga therapy, where the mind-body connection is a focal point.

Reflective listening can help clients process their emotions, both positive and negative.

Example:

A client may say, “I know yoga is supposed to help me feel calmer, but I still feel overwhelmed.” As the therapist, you might reflect, “It sounds like you’re finding it difficult to manage the overwhelm, even though you’re trying.”

This approach validates the client’s experience and emotions, encouraging them to explore deeper insights and self-compassion. Reflective listening can soften resistance and help clients feel supported as they navigate their healing journey.

Summary

Summarizing is a specific type of reflective listening that helps the client understand the larger picture of what they’ve expressed. In yoga therapy, summaries can be used at the end of a session to recap key points, helping the client feel clear about their progress and next steps.

Summarizing reinforces important aspects of the conversation and highlights areas of ambivalence or motivation.

Example:

A well-structured summary might sound like this: “So today we discussed how yoga is helping you become more aware of your body’s signals, even though you still feel some anxiety at times. It sounds like continuing to explore breathing techniques might be a helpful next step for you. Does that feel right?”

By doing this, you encapsulate the key themes, acknowledge challenges, and invite the client to reflect on their next move.

Conclusion

Integrating motivational interviewing techniques into yoga therapy can enhance client engagement, self-awareness, and motivation. Using open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization helps create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their emotions and work toward their goals.

Are you a yoga teacher or healthcare practitioner looking to incorporate yoga and mindfulness into your practice? Are you interested in learning more about Yoga in Healthcare? Please check out our annual Yoga in Healthcare Training - as well as our comprehensive yoga therapy certification at Prema Yoga Institute.

Please be advised that the content of this blog is not to be used as a substitution for the opinions and services of your licensed healthcare professional.