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A yoga class—even a slow pace, gentle yoga class—is not a therapy session. Illness issues, Trauma-related conditions, mobility issues will often prevent an individual to attend a yoga group class.
This is not to say that a yoga class is without therapeutic value, and many people may not need a one-to-one yoga therapy session. However, yoga therapy addresses issues that traditional group classes cannot. A common misconception is like all gentle yoga is therapeutic. Yoga therapy is an invaluable way of learning to bring wellbeing and or healing to where we personally need it most
What Is Yoga Therapy?
Deciding on a yoga therapist
Yoga therapy is the specific application of yogic tools—postures/exercises, breathwork, meditation techniques, and more—to address an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. Many people first learn about yoga through its physical practices, but a common misconception is that it’s all about stretching or movement. In fact, yoga therapy can help people who can’t move at all, as well as active individuals!
When deciding on a yoga therapist, it is important to know that there are many types.
The most well-known professional title to describe a yoga therapist is Certified Yoga Therapist, credentialed as CYT.
What Is Yoga Therapy?
When deciding on a yoga therapist, it is important to know that there are many types.
The most well-known professional title to describe a yoga therapist is Certified Yoga Therapist, credentialed as CYT.
Deciding on a yoga therapist
Yoga therapy is the specific application of yogic tools—postures/exercises, breathwork, meditation techniques, and more—to address an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. Many people first learn about yoga through its physical practices, but a common misconception is that it’s all about stretching or movement. In fact, yoga therapy can help people who can’t move at all, as well as active individuals!
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF YOGA THERAPISTS is the leading organization in this field. Yoga Therapists have fulfilled years of specific training, they have in-depth training to help them assess and keep their clients safe. They work with you to address your specific goals while considering any limitations you might be experiencing. The practices your yoga therapist recommends could include:
- Movement ranging from gentle to vigorous
- Breathing techniques
- Meditation or visualization practices
- Physical postures that address specific areas of discomfort or musculoskeletal imbalances
- Any combination of tools like these!
YOGA Therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalized and evolving Yoga practice, that not only addresses the illness in a multi-dimensional manner but also aims to alleviate his/her suffering in a progressive, non-invasive and complementary manner
IAYT. International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Clinical research has shown that YOGA THERAPY practices can reduce symptoms and improve outcomes in a multitude of conditions, such as:
Physical Conditions
- Back Pain
- Sport Injuries
- Fibromyalgia
- Musculoskeletal problems
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Parkinson’s
- Asthma
- COPD
- Cancer – Quality of life measures in patients with cancer
- HIV
- Alzheimer’s
- Brain Injury
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Autoimmune Diseases
- IBS
- Obesity
- Heart Disease
- Insomnia
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Fertility
- Hormonal imbalances
Mental Health Conditions
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Schizophrenia
- ADHD
- Eating Disorders
- Addiction
- Autism
- Post-Natal Depression
Yogic practices have also been found to improve:
- Weight management
- Blood sugar regulation
- Stress resilience
- Attention
- Emotional self-regulation
It all depends on what you need to increase your health and well-being.
“When scheduling private therapy sessions, people often assume they will receive the same set of practices that are offered in a gentle yoga class. Yoga therapists, however, are not simply teachers or personal trainers, but rather trained therapists offering specific techniques in breath, physical movement, sound, and sometimes mudras and meditation practices to assist healing. Yoga therapists look at how you walk, sit, and stand—and even how you eat—helping you create healthy new patterns and allowing you to take charge of your own well-being.” Beth Spindler
Why I offer Yoga Therapy in a one-to-one basis?
I have studied and teach fitness, traditional yoga vigorous and gently hatha yoga, dance classes and other wellbeing programs in different settings to a diverse and different age groups population. But after teaching for a few years I realised three main things; one: people come to a Yoga class with a huge range of necessities and expectations that many times can not be addressed on a group class.
Two: I needed to be trained further to address these individual needs of my students and to be able to offer a more personalized service.
Three: each person is individual and unique and we might want to look at a person as a whole; on each individual basis considering the different aspects like the mind, body, emotional, psychological, spiritual, etc. Therefore Yoga therapy will complement my previous skills and experience to bring a more suitable service so that I can be able to help more people and to bring a deeper and more direct benefit to my students-clients.
PAOLA KENNEDY- T. YOGA THERAPY TRALEE
Paola Kennedy is at the late stage to be registered with the prestigious IAYT. ORG. in 2021. + 800 hours Yoga Therapy Training. There is only 4 Yoga Therapist registered with the IAYT in Ireland.
Reference: IAYT.org