WHAT'S IN YOUR YOGA TOOLKIT?

One thing to consider as you begin your work with each client is to think about what you would put in your “yoga toolkit”.  A yoga toolkit can contain physical items, but it can also include ideas, thoughts, practices, meditations, etc.  Let’s take a moment to think about some tangible items to place in an actual yoga toolkit that we would bring with us to each appointment.

 

For Bedside Care:

 

• Barrier cream

• Wipes for the booty

• Clorox wipes for environment

• Antibacterial lotion/gel

• Small garbage bags

• Facial tissue

• Unscented lotion

• Small shoe horn

• Gloves (they may not have your size or not restocked)

• Disposable chux*

• Sharpie 

 

Disposable chux are useful as a barrier between what supplies you're bringing in and your Guest’s environment. It’s good bag technique.  These are also necessary if your Guests have large outputs of any kind of fluid.  Again, your Guest’s hospice might not have resupplied their space.    

 

Hospice will provide most of the materials necessary for hands-on bedside care, but it can be helpful to have your own supply of certain items.  What would you add to the list above?
 

What else might you need?  Some items to consider:

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• Scarves (to drape over light fixtures to create a specific atmosphere or mood)

• Battery-operated tea lights 

• Candles (ask first about scented candles, as some people may be sensitive to smell)

• Essential oils (ask first)

• Barbara Karnes books/pamphlets

• Meditations to read

• Poems to read

• Books or puzzles

• I have this wonderful mandala coloring book.  Depending on where your client is, some activities to do together might be a good idea.

• Playing cards

• Music to play, playlists prepared specifically for your Guests

• Breath mints / gum

• Medical scissors 

• Hemostat forceps

• Self care items (healthy snacks, water, a sweater or wrap)

• Vicks Vapor Rub (for under your nose to mask unpleasant odors)

• Dark colored hand towels (to clean up blood or other bodily fluids)

 

It’s important to calibrate the items in your yoga toolkit to match the client you’re working with.  

What would you add to the list above?

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And now, what can’t be put in a bag?  What are some mental/emotional/spiritual tools that you could put in your figurative yoga toolkit?  Some ideas to consider:

• Breath practices (pranayama)

• Meditations

• Songs

• Mantras

• Mudras

• Stretches

• Your ability to listen

• Your ability to hold space

• Don’t know mind (from The Five Invitations)

 

What would you add to the list above?  

 

Your yoga toolkit is a reflection of what you can bring to be of service to your client.  Sometimes we can think of this in a physical form?  Sometimes it’s the energy or the presence you bring.  

 

It’s also a good idea to have on hand:

• A list of funeral homes with contact information

• A list of attorneys who can help with wills and advance planning

• A list of local grief groups

• Guest’s hospice contact info

• Contacts of other doulas who can help you through sticky situations

• List of caregiver support groups

• A list of 24/7 caregiver services