What is yoga therapy?

The International Association of Yoga Therapists states yoga therapy bridges yoga and health care. Because yoga teaches the connection between body, soul and spirit, yoga therapy can often accomplish more than is possible with traditional therapies. With yoga therapy we work the whole person, adapting and applying yoga techniques & practices, breathing & relaxation methods and Ayurvedic principles, focusing on health and wellness at an individualized level.

Yoga therapy respects individual differences in life. It is the integration of traditional yoga concepts and techniques with western medical knowledge. It invites a presence and awareness so we are able to know ourselves more fully, and enables and empowers us to pursue wellness and progress towards greater health and life balance.

In YogaJournal.com, Timothy McCall, M.D., gives this overview of yoga therapy:

Yoga therapy is typically conducted one-on-one or in small groups. Often, a session more closely resembles an appointment with a physical therapist or rehabilitation specialist than it does a typical yoga class. What sets this healing modality apart from others is the focus on linking movement to deep, rhythmic breathing. Another difference is the emphasis on relaxation. In fact, when someone is gravely ill, a therapist may suggest that the entire practice consist only of breath awareness and relaxation until the patient is ready to tackle more.

What is a Yoga Therapist?

Yoga Therapists are yoga teachers who have additional training in therapeutic applications of yoga and other wellness modalities, offering a multi-dimensional look at each individual and their wellness. They traditionally work one on one or in a small group setting organized for specific issues or medical conditions.

Yoga Therapy is often tailored to ones individual health needs; it is organized around balance and wellness for the body, soul and spirit. It is very common for the yoga therapist to integrate yoga to compliment the many different therapies and modalities in western healthcare, massage & Bowen therapy, Ayurvedic principles, and mental health counseling services.

Yoga Therapists are wellness professionals that have the unique ability to apply the knowledge, listening skills, integration of healthcare modalities of wellness and balance, and all around coach, to lead one towards their journey of empowering their healing process.