Everyone is aware of yoga practice. However, yoga therapy has not been under the light. Hence, genuine or useful information about yoga therapy is very minimal. Novice yoga practitioners often confuse yoga practice with yoga therapy. But that is not the case.
So, to help you have better clarity of mind, we did some research about yoga therapy. Thus, we present you with a brief introduction to yoga therapy. Then, you must check how is it used and what are the different uses of yoga therapy. At last, go through a usual yoga therapy routine to know about it a bit better. Without wasting any time. Let’s roll further.
Yoga Therapy: An Introduction
In layman language, the primary motive of yoga therapy is to cure physical and mental illnesses using yoga practices. It promotes self-care that encourages the overall well-being of the practitioner. In yoga therapy, there is only the use of specific yoga practices.
These specific yoga practices help in the alleviation of mental as well as physical symptoms. Swami Kuvalyananda coined the term yoga therapy in the 1920s. It came into existence to measure the physiological changes when you practice yoga.
It was under the guidance of Swami Kuvalyananda that the application of yoga practices was done to medical conditions. In contemporary days, yoga therapy is actively recommended by medical professionals to assist along with other medical procedures.
How Yoga Therapy is Used?
The primary aim of yoga therapy is to empower the care seeker. There is active use of yoga practices under the guidance of a yoga therapist. The best thing about these yoga practices is that they keep on evolving with the yoga practitioner.
Further, yoga therapy takes count of numerous illnesses in a multidimensional manner. Thus, this practice alleviates the illness in a progressive and complementary way. Therefore, yoga therapy helps in managing the illness using preventive or curative modes of therapy.
For instance, for physical illness, a plethora of postures are there that help in strengthening the weaker muscles. Whereas for mental illness, different yoga practices are used to tame the nervous system.
The aim is to help the care seeker to get the awareness of his or her body and mind back. Therefore, the use of different methods makes it easier to soothe the heightened sensory arousal in the human body.
Uses of Yoga Therapy
Let’s have a look at some of the uses of yoga therapy. This will give you an overview of how yoga therapy might come in handy in different situations or illnesses. Keep reading.
Mental Issues
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- ADHD
- Autism
- Schizophrenia
- Eating Disorders
Physical Issues
- Lower Back Pain
- Sciatica Pain
- Diabetes
- Parkinson’s
- High Blood Pressure\
- Cancer
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Insomnia
- Alzheimer’s
- Autoimmune Diseases
As you can see, yoga therapy has numerous applications. Hence, you should have a positive mindset while approaching a yoga therapist to curb your mental or physical symptoms.
Let’s have a glimpse at a usual day of a yoga therapy session. It helps you prepare yourself mentally and physically. Roll on.
A Typical Yoga Therapy Session
Discussing Your Needs
In the very first meeting with your yoga therapist, you discuss what you need. This highlights areas of concern that need to work upon. It is like an examination in which you go through scrutiny by the yoga therapy to know your status a little better.
Curating Primary Plan
This is the first yoga therapy session in which you will get a plan about your daily yoga session routine. Usually, six sessions are recommended for a beginner. Hence, you are going to learn about different elements of yoga.
Prescribe Practices
In the third step, you get prescriptions to practice different yoga practices at home. The sole idea is to empower you so that do are self-sufficient even after the completion of your yoga therapy.
Reflection on Changes
This includes reflection on changes that you experience after a yoga therapy session.
Sum Up
Yoga therapy sessions are client driven. Therefore, you have all the power to direct the session. Hence, you should not hold back and completely be transparent with your yoga therapist. This ensures all your vices are flushed out of your body and mind that helps you live a healthier and happier life.
