YOUR YOGA MOJO BLOG
The Difference Between a Yoga Class and Holistic Yoga Therapy

Moriah Diederich, Yoga Mojo
Holistic Yoga Therapist™, RYT500, Accessible Yoga Ambassador
When I can find the time, I absolutely love going to a group yoga class.
A warm, light-filled space full of people with the same goals as you: to breathe, move and and ignore everything else going on in the outside world for just a little while. To move in unison and hear everyone’s breath – there is something magical about group yoga classes.
As with anything though, group yoga classes aren’t for everyone. It can be difficult to find yourself in the middle of a room in yoga pants surrounded by a lot of eyes and not wanting to be seen. Especially if you’re not familiar with yoga, or comfortable moving in front of people.

Everyone has a unique body type, physical abilities and emotional state that changes daily. Not to mention a busy schedule with limited availability. Holistic Yoga Therapy sessions are customized to what you need, when you want it.
In a Holistic Yoga Therapy session, it’s just you and me. I will welcome you as you are, even if you didn’t wash your hair that day or feel a little self-conscious in your outfit. And if you have never done yoga before, I am honored to help guide you on your path and lend my expertise to help you achieve your goals. Whatever they may be.
Group yoga classes offer a sense of union with others, no matter if there are six people or sixty practicing in the same room. It is as if you are part of a community, all there doing the exact same thing at the same time, breathing as one. In order to achieve this unison, group classes are generalized so hopefully “most” people can do the poses. Modifications can be suggested but it is up to individual to know and understand their own body to determine what is best.
Everyone has a unique body type, physical abilities and emotional state that changes daily. During your first Holistic Yoga Therapy session, we will discuss your medical history, current physical status and what your goals are. In each subsequent session, I will ask how you are feeling so I can customize our time together towards your needs that day.
Whether you want to learn more about aligning your body better, self-care techniques, move in a flow to get in a workout or de-stress with gentle, restorative yoga – it’s your time to get a little TLC depending on what you need that day.
Yoga studios typically offer a variety of classes and teachers to choose from. Classes are held at set days and times with a specific teacher and are designed around a certain style such as a fast flow/vinyasa, gentle/restorative, hot yoga, etc. They say that “variety is the spice of life,” but you also have to have the time available to take advantage of classes when they’re held. Or, be in the mood for the type of class being offered Tuesday morning, which might be the only time you have available to practice that week.
With Holistic Yoga Therapy, you get to set the day and time you want to meet and practice. It’s your session, customized to what you need, when you want it.
If you’re interested in learning more about the difference between a yoga class and a yoga therapy session, check out this excellent article by Gary Kraftsaw, renowned yoga therapist posted on YogaInternational.com:
FEEL BETTER IN YOUR BODY!
I am passionate about helping my clients learn how to realign themselves in order to breathe, move and live better. Please contact me if you would like to learn how to incorporate more movement to decrease your daily aches and pains. I’d love to help you feel better in your body!
ABOUT:
Moriah Diederich is a certified Holistic Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500 and Accessible Yoga Ambassador, and has been featured on KGW8 Portland Today. She owns Yoga Mojo & Movement Therapy in Vancouver, WA, where she offers holistic yoga therapy and private yoga classes customized for each client and their specific needs. Moriah is passionate about helping people move more comfortably on a daily basis with the energy to enjoy family, community and the world around us. She believes that every individual can benefit from yoga because the practice is accessible to everyone and teaches us how to sustain healthy movement for life. Moriah lives in Camas, Washington with her best friend and husband Bret Canfield and their two furry kids: a couch potato Pitbull named Rookie, and a sweet and sassy green-eyed cat named Evie.
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Moriah Diederich
Yoga Mojo & Movement Therapy
108 SE 124th Ave, Suite 18
Vancouver, WA 98684
Mon – Thurs 10a – 4p
By appointment only
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Yoga Mojo & Movement Therapy is conveniently located off I-205 and Mill Plain and serves all of the Clark County, Washington area including Vancouver, Washougal, Camas, Felida, Salmon Creek, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, Hockinson and La Center.The second exit after the NB I-205 bridge, Yoga Mojo is also quick and easy to get to from Portland, Oregon.