True Yoga + Therapy: The Mind-Body Connection

Words by Charlotte Kilborn Carey; photography by Stevye Murray

 Merging mental and physically-focused health treatment under one roof is proving to be a brilliant approach, and at the local forefront of this new frontier is Sydney Wasdin, M.Ed., ALC, NCC, RYT. With a lot of intimidating initials following her name, Sydney is anything but. Both bubbly and down to earth, she’s definitely onto something. Luckily, our supremely curious and forward-thinking Southern influencer, Charlotte Kilborn Carey, found her. Here, enjoy their fascinating exchange.

So let’s break it down. Our minds and bodies areproven powerful allies. How we think affects how we feel and vice versa. For example, who can’t relate to getting a stomachache under stress? Or, who hasn’t witnessed a tough diagnosis taking an emotional toll on a loved one? It’s all connected.

Anything but new-aged or “out there,” Sydney uses the combination of yoga and traditional talk therapy—a purposeful pairing and a result-driven method. “Knowing the mind and body have a reciprocal relationship, it’s important both are engaged in any healing process—regardless of whether it’s physical or psychological,” she shares. “Best done in tandem, we offer professionally-led, customized journeys to true holistic health and happiness.

”Perking up at the word “true,” I ask about the practice name. “It’s all about a person’s truth and their perspective,” she explains. “As therapists, we have to meet clients where they are, even if their truth is possibly distorted. There also has to be a degree of mutual authenticity between client and therapist in order to get to them where they need to be,” she details.

Finding her beyond easy to talk to, Sydney adds, “I think it’s beneficial to not see your therapist as an emotionless robot. I’m very up front about the fact that I value authenticity. I want clients to know I’m a person, too, and I encourage questions and honesty. I also take the time to get to know my clients and what’s important to them,” Sydney shares.

And if you’ve assumed yoga isn’t for you, consider that 15 minutes a day can change your brain chemistry, boost your mood, delay the aging process, and increase your lifespan. On average, consistent yoga practice decreases anxiety levels by 40 percent, depression levels by approximately 50 percent, and helps 52 percent of people alleviate PTSD symptoms. Physically, it can alleviate back pain, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, improve sexual satisfaction, and more. Apparently, the more than 37 million people in the U.S. practicing yoga are on to something.

With a Master’s in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and originally from Bay Minette, Sydney is a National Board-Certified Counselor completing her Alabama licensing, a Yoga Alliance accredited and registered yoga teacher, and is currently working towards her 900-hour Yoga-Therapist Certification from the International Association of Yoga Therapists. “For continuing education, I focus on trauma, neuropsychology, holistic psychology, and issues within my client population,” she adds.

Regarding life in the pandemic, Sydney explains, “The current situation has exacerbated depression and anxiety between both the practical, health-related fear and the social isolation. We’re wired for social connection, which naturally alleviates stress, and the absence of social interaction has worsened the feeling and perception of isolation. Social interaction actually releases oxytocin and is inherently soothing,so we’re missing out on getting to feel the safety and comfort that person-to-person and group interaction provides. We’ve found some compromise with having more virtual interaction but this doesn’t have quite the same effect for our bodies. Teens have been particularly affected, as they’re in a crucial time within their social and brain development.”

Keeping it social, Sydney also offers socially-distanced group therapy with parenting and family counseling, open yoga classes, and integrative and educational workshops with others. She enjoys providing services in and out of her practice and loves to help however needed. “I love to provide counseling and educational services that would benefit our community and help fill the needs we have, especially for teens,” she adds.

Connect with Sydney at True Yoga + Therapy

8851 Rand Ave.Suite B Daphne, AL

251.250.9440

Hello@TrueYogaTherapy.com

This post as been edited for length. Read the full article in the November issue of ACCESS magazine.