Lori Anderson, a distinguished Thai Yoga Therapist and Yoga Mentor, stands as a beacon of serenity and transformation in a world that often seems to have lost touch with its own harmony. Lori’s unique blend of Thai Yoga Therapy and Yoga mentorship offers individuals an opportunity to explore a realm where physical, mental, and spiritual wellness harmoniously intertwine. Her path is not one merely trodden, but intentionally crafted with deep-rooted wisdom, and a profound understanding of the human body and spirit. This article embarks on a journey of discovery, taking us into the life and work of Lori Anderson. Mystic Mag explores how she combines the ancient wisdom of Thai Yoga Therapy with the nurturing guidance of a yoga mentor to lead individuals towards a state of equilibrium, rejuvenation, and spiritual enlightenment. Join us as we unveil the art, philosophy, and the captivating odyssey of a modern-day healer, mentor, and transformational guide, Lori Anderson, as she rekindles the balance between body and soul in today’s fast-paced world.
Can you share a personal experience where Thai Yoga Therapy had a profound impact on a client’s physical or emotional well-being?
There have been many experiences of both; physical and emotional impacts, as the two are closely intertwined. I have had clients come in with physical pain and during the session receive an emotional release which in turn helps alleviate their physical pain. I often have people come in with chronic pain which is greatly affecting their emotional well being. Once we work through the physical pain, the strain on their emotional health subsides. How did it change their life? I have had clients who have had to give up doing things they love because of physical pain and limitations. Things like surfing, kayaking, playing sports, endurance running, horseback riding, etc… After a series of sessions they start to feel better, their confidence comes back and they are able to enjoy those things they love again.
Thai Yoga Therapy combines yoga postures and massage techniques. How do you strike a balance between these elements to create a personalized healing experience for your clients?
In the Thai Yoga Therapy I practice, we typically start with the pressure points of the feet, which starts to open up the zen lines (similar to meridian lines) and it helps introduce my touch to the person receiving the work without being intrusive so they start to relax and feel more comfortable. I then move to accupressure with palms, thumbs and sometimes feet to work directly on the zen lines to start increasing the nerve flow and induce even greater relaxation. From there I dive into yoga like stretching. One of the many great things about this work is that it is done on the floor so you not only have more leverage but you can work on your receiver with them lying on their back, belly, side and even have them sit up. I typically suggest at least 90 minutes to get a whole body experience. I also believe intention is key. When you approach a session with the full intention of loving kindness (Meta) and the desire to help the person you are working on, it is very hard to go wrong.
As a Yoga Mentor, what strategies do you use to help your students deepen their practice and develop a more profound understanding of yoga’s philosophy beyond the physical postures?
I try to take the philosophical aspects of yoga and turn them into tangible methods of teaching and practice. The Koshas are a big road map for me in our teacher training. We look at each kosha (layer or sheath) as how to approach your practice. Say for instance the first kosha, Annamaya, we first become aware of what we need to nourish our bodies and from there go inward. So, I would liken it to teaching a beginning yoga class. Let’s help the student figure out where their body is in space, the foundation, from there we can help them access the next layer, Pranamaya kosha, the energy related to the breath and so on and so on.
What type of services do you offer?
We offer yoga classes, 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training, various workshops, sauna therapy, Thai Yoga Therapy, and international yoga retreats. We are headed to Costa Rica in May of 2024.
The relationship between a Yoga Mentor and their students is often deep and transformative. Could you describe a particularly memorable mentoring journey where you saw significant growth and transformation in a student’s life?
That’s tough to just pinpoint one. Let’s see, we have a student who started practicing yoga with us in her seventies. She had never practiced yoga prior. She was inspired to take our 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2021. She has since completed our 200 and 300 hour training and my Thai Yoga Therapy I certification. She now subs classes for us. On the other end of the spectrum, we did a private 200 hour yoga teacher training for a mother and son. The son, a competitive swimmer, was sixteen years old when he completed the training. He is now a senior in high school and has started a yoga club at school, volunteers to teach yoga weekly at the local Boys and Girls Club and has led classes for the faculty at his high school. Both are quite inspirational!
In the world of yoga and holistic healing, there are many different approaches and traditions. What sets your approach to Thai Yoga Therapy and mentoring apart from others, and why should clients and students choose your services?
We, (when I say we – my husband and I both run our studio and trainings) take a very non-dogmatic approach. Yoga and Thai Yoga Therapy are such a woven tapestry of tradition, experience, intuition and science. We love that modern medical science is catching up with technology such as electromagnetic field readings, to what the yogis figured out many, many years ago. Also, the studies that are coming forth, say for instance, about the vagus nerve or the fascial matrix system make so much sense when you look at how beneficial yoga and Thai yoga therapy can be for your overall well being. We offer both a philosophical and scientific approach to our teaching and trainings. I have to give a lot of credit to all our amazing teachers who encouraged and inspired us over the years to always question and study.
We never stop learning ourselves. We are constantly researching and putting our discoveries to practical application in the yoga room. I believe it’s a very exciting time to be teaching yoga and offering the benefits of Thai Yoga therapy. With everything we, as a collective, have been through over the past few years I think people are becoming more aware of and open to alternative healing modalities.
