As I return from an inspiring conference for the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), I realize that yoga therapy is still a new concept, even to many yogis. So, What is Yoga Therapy?
Even though yoga has been applied with therapeutic intention for thousands of years, Yoga Therapy is now (slowly but surely) being recognized as an effective modality for healing and managing many health conditions. Thanks to organizations like the International Association of Yoga Therapists, the science behind yoga is being well documented and disseminated.
Yoga therapy is a type of therapy that uses the principles of Yoga and yoga techniques for physical and mental health. It is a comprehensive approach to wellness using asana postures and movement, breath work (pranayama), meditation and guided imagery, with a major emphasis placed on the mind-body-spiritual connection.
Yoga therapy can be done one on one, or more commonly in a small class setting of individuals with similar needs where the yoga therapists will adapt the yoga techniques to those needs. Yoga therapy can be applied to various conditions such as chronic pain, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, depression, anxiety, and autism in children.
Many people know that yoga can be beneficial for their health. However, your typical yoga class may not necessarily be the best place to start if you have any health related concerns. With proper guidance, I believe that nearly anyone can do yoga.
One of my favorite books on the subject is written by Dr Timothy McCall who is a board-certified physician of internal medicine, who through his own practice and journey of yoga, learned of its positive effects.
So, as my good friend, Mala says, “we have to keep pounding the pavement and spreading the word”
Namaste
🙏🏼 Namaste, Your Yoga Doctor