What Does a Yoga Therapy Session Look Like?
Yoga therapy is the specific application of yogic tools to treat a specific disease or to prevent it from ever arising. This therapy is normally given out in a series of sessions designed by a yoga therapist based on the specific issues or goals of the patient.
A yoga therapist would start by listening to the client to understand their problems/goals.
Once the assessment is complete, it will create a plan with practices and techniques from yoga (like physical postures, breathing exercises, meditation, mantra, chanting, and relaxation), that can benefit the client.
The yoga therapist will then work with the client and establish a plan of action to improve their condition or reduce/manage their existing symptoms.
A typical yoga therapy session will involve your therapist checking with you on your issues, symptoms, and progress. You are likely to follow the plan designed for you and do asanas or other yogic practices, as deemed fit by your therapist. There will be time to discuss any challenges you are facing in your practice and if need be, your therapist can work with you, to revise your plan.
Unlike yoga classes, yoga therapy is goal-oriented and hence, time-bound.
Depending on the issue, a fixed number of sessions are decided, which can be extended if more work is needed.
If using yoga as therapy interests you and you are keen to understand the areas that yoga therapy can help you with, this article is for you.
It will help you understand all you need to know about yoga therapy, including how it can help you, its benefits, and some therapeutic poses for you to practice at home.
What are the principles of yoga therapy?
The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), lists down the following principles of yoga therapy:
1. Teach what is appropriate to the individual (yukta-shiksana).
2. Differences in different people must be respected (bheda).
3. Teachings must consider the situation, place, or country from which the student comes (desha).
4. Each person needs to be taught according to his or her individual constitution, age, disposition, etc. (i.e., obese, lean, young, old, etc.) (deha).
5. The method of instruction depends on the time of year, the seasons, etc. (kâla).
6. Depending on the occupation of the student, he or she will need to be taught different things (e.g., a runner would be taught differently than a philosopher) (vritti).
7. One must understand the capacity of the student, how much endurance he or she has, how much memory, how much time to study or practice (shakti).
8. The teaching must conform to the direction of the mind (i.e., it must take a person’s interests into account, such as exercise, devotion, God, chanting, etc.) (mârga).
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What can yoga therapy treat?
Yoga therapy is used to treat both physical and mental health issues.
Besides treating existing conditions, yoga therapy is also used for the prevention of health issues and the maintenance of body and mind wellbeing.
1. Physical health issues
Yoga therapy has been used to treat a range of physical health issues like back pain, heart ailments, hypertension, respiratory conditions like asthma, and multiple sclerosis.
2. Cancer side effects
Yoga therapy is being increasingly used for managing side effects of chemotherapy and helping with cancer and cancer-related symptoms.
3. Depression and anxiety
For mental health issues like depression and anxiety, yoga therapy is now being used as an alternative form of treatment.
5. PTSD, schizophrenia, and autism
It is also being used for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia and for children with autism.
6. Substance abuse
For those susceptible to addiction and substance abuse, yoga and yoga therapy have worked well to positively impact the brain, thereby helping overcome these susceptibilities.
7. Sleep disorders
Yoga therapy is also helpful for those with sleep disorders and insomnia.
This brings us to the question of the benefits of yoga therapy.
What are the benefits of yoga therapy?
Yoga therapy has benefits for the physical, mental, and emotional bodies.
Here are the benefits of yoga therapy:
1. Increases self-awareness to work on self-care
Through yoga therapy, which can also include psychotherapy, there is an increased self-awareness to engage in prevention, maintenance, and betterment of one’s health and wellbeing.
2. Enables setting of goals
Yoga therapy enables the setting of goals, which helps set the momentum and keep awareness on the journey that needs to be taken and the milestones that need to be reached.
3. Helps with physical and mental health issues
Yoga therapy helps with the elimination, reduction, and/or management of symptoms that cause dis-ease.
It helps with both, the prevention and reoccurrence of the inherent causes for dis-ease.
It enables moving towards greater wellbeing and improved health.
4. Empowers progression towards the betterment
Yoga therapy is not a passive form of treatment.
It empowers clients to take charge of their health and wellness and enables them to take action rather than creating dependence on the therapist.
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How much does yoga therapy cost?
A yoga therapy session can cost between $50 and $175.
A session is typically for one hour and can last from 45 minutes to 75 minutes.
The frequency of sessions depends on the issue.
It can take anywhere from a couple of sessions to regular weekly sessions for a continued period of time to reach the desired goals.
Is yoga therapy covered under your insurance policy?
Most health insurance plans do not cover yoga therapy, even if they cover treatment that is based on wellness and prevention of disease because of the lack of certification for yoga therapists.
To be covered by a health insurance policy, the health practitioner needs to be licensed.
5 therapeutic yoga poses to practice at home
While yoga as a practice is therapeutic, here are 5 poses that you can practice from the comfort of your home and that can help you improve your health.
1. Bridge Pose or Setu Bandhasana
This pose helps stimulate the thyroid gland and helps with hormonal issues.
It strengthens the back, the glutes, and the muscles of the thighs and calves.
It also stretches the muscles along the neck and the entire length of the spine.
It helps to calm the mind, thereby reducing stress and finding relief from depression.
As a restorative pose, it helps to find relief from menstrual pain and discomfort and menopause.
2. Shoulder Stand or Sarvangasana
One of the biggest benefits of this pose is the strengthening of the heart.
It improves digestion and builds immunity.
It helps build strength in the core, legs, upper body, and back.
It also helps those with fluid retention in the lower body.
3. Bound Angle Pose or Baddha Konasana
This pose is therapeutic for kidney-related issues.
It helps stimulate the urinary bladder.
It helps to ease the symptoms of menstrual discomfort and issues with digestion.
It strengthens and opens the inner thighs, groin, and knees.
4. Corpse Pose or Shavasana
This is a therapeutic pose for curing insomnia and sleep-related disorders by relieving the mind from stress and anxiety.
It helps deal with constipation.
It is an excellent pose for relaxation and improving mental health.
It helps connect with the body and strengthens the body-mind connection.
It helps to deal with mental health issues.
5. Forward Bend or Uttanasana
This pose is helpful for curing a number of diseases including hypertension, osteoporosis, and insomnia.
It helps relieve the symptoms of menopause by stabilizing hormones and elevating mood.
It promotes proper functioning of the nervous system, thereby preventing premature aging and improving memory.
It stimulates the abdominal organs, improving blood flow and improving digestion.
In closing
Yoga, whether administered as therapy or through regular practice, is beneficial for both the mind and body.
Choosing yoga therapy as a means to work on your health is both empowering and healing.
If you want to learn more about another type of energy healing therapy, checkout this article about vibrational sound baths.
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