What is Yoga Therapy?

Yoga Therapy involves:

Self-investigation | Self-transformation | Self-realization

Yoga Therapy is multidisciplinary in its approach and use of traditional yoga practices for healing to begin and wellness to be achieved. It considers the whole person and the layers of body, breath, mind, emotions, wisdom and the ever-present divine self. Traditional yoga practices include:

• Asana (postures)

• Pranayama (controlled breath techniques)

• Meditation

• Mantra

• Chanting

• Mudra

• Ritual

• Disciplined lifestyle

Yoga Therapy helps to develop a consistent yoga practice that supports clients to:

• Develop self-awareness, 

• Move toward their goals

• Reduce suffering

• Improve function 

• Improve outlook

• Improve quality of life

Yoga Therapy is more than a yoga class. While all yoga can be considered therapeutic, Yoga Therapy takes it a step further with higher levels of education. A yoga teacher will assist or teach yoga classes with philosophy and foundations, basic anatomy and physiology. A Yoga Therapist will be additionally educated in and/or integrate:

• Psychology and biomedicine

• Refined ways to adapt yoga tools to individual needs

• In-depth anatomy and pathophysiology

• Extensive clinical practicum

Furthermore, Yoga Therapy infuses yoga, the science of the mind, with the workings of Ayurveda, the science of life. These sciences buttress each other in coordination with “contemporary health science” to provide a well informed and researched therapeutic discipline to notably acknowledge high levels of efficacy in positive overall health and well-being. 

Derived from the full Definition of Yoga Therapy by the International Association of Yoga Therapists