Yoga And Wellness Blog | Nourish Yoga Therapy

How Therapeutic Art Can Help

Therapeutic art is a gentle yet transformative process. It’s about creating without focusing on the outcome, allowing the creative journey to unfold naturally. There’s no "right" or "wrong" way to make art. Everyone has an inner artist, and no prior experience is necessary. Here are some of the benefits I’ve personally seen and experienced:

Compassion is a powerful yet often overlooked tool in how we manage pain. By cultivating self-compassion, we can reduce the impact of both physical and emotional discomfort. It’s not just about relieving pain, but transforming our relationship with it to promote deeper healing and well-being.

Pain is complex, often causing frustration, self-blame, and isolation. Our natural response is to fight pain, leading to increased tension. However, self-compassion can help soothe the nervous system, providing both emotional and physical relief.

Two practical ways to practice self-compassion are:

1. Supportive Touch: Calming the body with a gentle hug or hand on the heart to reduce stress.
2. Positive Self-Talk: Speaking kindly to yourself, just as you would to a friend in pain.

By incorporating self-compassion into daily life, you can manage discomfort more effectively, allowing for greater healing. Compassion isn’t just emotional; it’s a powerful tool for achieving peace and wellness.

What is yoga therapy?

Yoga Therapy uses the yoga traditions of movement, breathing, and deep relaxation to promote all round health, as well as alleviate medical conditions. It is a personalised approach centred around your goals and individual needs. 

I use yoga as either primary or complementary therapy. For example, when I had a recent client who had whiplash, she went to a physiotherapist and an osteopath as her primary care. I used yoga therapy as a complementary therapy to help her manage the pain and recover from the accident, which left her in a heightened stress state.