Written by Amanda Dzengeleski

Our next Osteoporosis and Yoga Workshop is on Saturday, August 23rd. Whether you’re living with osteoporosis or want to learn how to protect an aging spine, this experiential workshop will offer valuable insights for both students and teachers alike. We’ll explore safe and empowering ways to practice and teach yoga for osteoporosis, focusing on strength, resilience, and mindful movement. In-person space is limited, sign up now to reserve your spot! Or join us online via Zoom.

Have you taken advantage of our on demand video library? Take your practice with you with our GREEN Subscription offering unlimited access to a variety of on demand videos. You can take as many as you like, anytime, and as often as you like. OR you can save $13/month with our GOLD Subscription, giving you unlimited access to live (in person and online) and on demand classes!

When we think about our senses, we usually think of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. But there’s another sense that often goes unnoticed, yet deeply shapes our experience of being alive: interoception.

Interoception is our ability to perceive the internal state of our body. It’s how we know when we’re hungry or thirsty, how we sense a racing heart before a big presentation, or how we recognize the butterflies of excitement in our belly. It’s also how we become aware of subtler cues like when we’re holding unnecessary tension in our shoulders or clenching our jaw without realizing it.

In many ways, interoception is the bridge between our body and our mind. It allows us to notice sensations that signal our emotional states, physiological needs, and overall wellbeing. When our interoceptive awareness is well-developed, we’re more attuned to what our body is telling us, which can guide us toward healthier choices, emotional regulation, and even pain reduction.

Yoga is often thought of as a way to increase flexibility or build strength, and while it certainly does those things, it also hones our interoceptive awareness.

In a yoga practice, we’re invited to slow down and turn our attention inward. Each moment becomes an opportunity to sense how we feel on the inside:

Where do we notice tightness or ease?
How does our breath move in our body?
What subtle shifts happen as we move or hold a shape?
What emotions or thoughts arise alongside these physical sensations?

By repeatedly directing our awareness to our internal sensations, we strengthen our ability to listen to our body’s signals. Over time, this builds a kind of inner literacy allowing us to read the cues of fatigue, stress, or nourishment before they become louder cries for attention.

A well-tuned interoceptive sense can help us respond more wisely to our body’s needs. It can alert us when we’re approaching burnout, help us recognize the early signals of stress so we can pause, and even support us in managing chronic pain by teaching us to differentiate between discomfort and pain.

Interoception also plays a key role in emotional wellbeing. Our emotions often show up first in the body, a tightening of the chest, a heaviness in the belly, or a warm opening of the heart. When we’re practiced at noticing these sensations without judgment, we can navigate our emotional landscape with greater ease and compassion.

Each of our group classes at Dogwood emphasize interoception. This is an opportunity to learn how to move safely and efficiently in your body while tuning into its inherent wisdom. You’ll experience how mindful movement and increased interoceptive awareness can support bone health, balance, and overall vitality.

Learn more about how Yoga Therapy can support your wellbeing by visiting https://yogatherapy.health/.

Amanda Dzengeleski is a 500-hour registered yoga teacher and yoga therapist in training. She has additional training in trauma-sensitive yoga, therapeutic yoga, and functional movement. Amanda deeply believes that all beings possess an innate wisdom that blooms despite difficulty, trauma, illness or loss. She is dedicated to hosting a safe and inclusive space and inviting an embodied experience for students to honor their uniqueness and learn to listen to the wisdom of their bodies.

Sam Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and an Insight Yoga Institute (IYI) endorsed teacher. She individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.