So how is Yoga Therapy different from Yoga? Most yoga practices have the potential to be therapeutic. Students may sign up for a yoga class to increase flexibility and strength or to help reduce stress in their life. However, Yoga Therapy differs from a Yoga class in several ways.

Yoga Therapy focuses on the individual needs of clients. Instead of the student modifying to fit the class, the class is modified to benefit the needs of students Health issues ranging from chronic pain and injury, to cancer, depression, digestive issues, heart conditions and stress related symptoms can be affectively addressed using yoga techniques, and each of these classes would be significantly different in its composition, based on student needs. Many times yoga therapy is offered one-on-one to address individual needs more directly in a private environment.

Yoga Therapy places equal emphasis on the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the practice. Although many Yoga classes include some reference to psychological issues like reducing stress, the physical practice is the primary focus. In a Yoga Therapy session, one third of the time is spent in the body, one third working with the mind, and one third connecting with spirit. By placing equal emphasis on quiet meditation, breath techniques and movement, students find more balance on the mat that they can then bring with them off the mat and into their life.

Yoga Therapy sees healing as a process of bringing the entire being into wholeness, not just relieving symptoms. Western or allopathic medicine diagnoses and then treats the symptoms of disease but often ignores the root cause which may be physical (due to lack of movement or injury), emotional (brought on by stress or negative mind chatter), or spiritual (expressed in feelings of despondency, depression or failure to thrive). The broader approach of Yoga Therapy reminds clients that they are not defined by their diagnosis and symptoms. Relief from symptoms is just one aspect of the healing process, a multifaceted journey focused on mobilizing the individual’s progress toward greater health and well being. Yoga Therapy is not intended to be a substitute for modern medicine, but is a complimentary and alternative method that enhances the healing process.

A typical Yoga Therapy class begins with body scanning, a technique that involves simply being present with the body and really “feeling” what is going on instead of telling a story about it.  Next is breath exploration.  Yoga offers many unique breath techniques that cool or warm the body and help the mind focus in the present moment. Warm-ups and postures are chosen to increase awareness and connection with the body in its present physical state.  Some classes are completely experienced in a chair, while others can be more physical, lying on the earth, bending, arching, standing, or balancing.  Experienced practitioners can incorporate complicated poses into their therapeutic practice, like head stand to reduce depression or deep twists to stimulate fatigued kidneys and adrenals.  Mudras, meditation, relaxation, intention, and imagery are intertwined to help clients release destructive patterns in body and mind as they open their consciousness to more healthy ways of being.

There are many different schools and philosophies of Yoga Therapy, but my teacher, Joseph LePage, defines Yoga Therapy in this way:

"Yoga therapy is that facet of the ancient science of Yoga that focuses on health and wellness at all levels of the person: physical, psychological, and spiritual. Yoga therapy focuses on the path of Yoga as a healing journey that brings balance to the body and mind through an experiential understanding of the primary intention of Yoga: awakening of Spirit, our essential nature.”

Yoga Therapy: A complimentary and alternative method of healing that enhances the journey to wholeness.