What is Yoga Therapy? (*)
According to the Scope of Practice for Yoga Therapy © International Association of Yoga Therapist (IAYT), Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and wellbeing through the application of the teachings and practices of yoga. The yoga tradition views each human being as a multidimensional system that includes numerous aspects-including body, breath, and mind (intellect and emotions)-and their mutual interaction. Yoga therapy is founded on the basic principle that intelligent practice can positively influence the direction of change within these human dimensions, which are distinct from an individual's unchanging nature or spirit. The goals of yoga therapy include eliminating, reducing, and/or managing symptoms that cause suffering; improving function; helping to prevent the occurrence or re-occurrence of underlying causes of illness; and moving toward improved health and well-being. It does so in cooperation with the traditional Western Medicine and does not position itself as "alternative", but as a complementary discipline aimed at supporting the overall health and wellbeing of the individual.
Therefore, among other things as part of the scope of practice(*) of a Yoga Therapist is to:
Therefore, among other things as part of the scope of practice(*) of a Yoga Therapist is to:
- Receive and provide referrals from and to other appropriate healthcare providers.
- Be part of a multi-disciplinary team when necessary or useful to optimise the care of the client.
- Engage with medical or other healthcare professionals to optimise the client's health and well-being.
How is a Yoga Therapist different from a yoga teacher?
Although all yoga is potentially therapeutic and healing, yoga therapy is the specific application of yogic tools—postures/exercises, breath work, 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 yogic model of health is unique because it addresses every aspect of life rather than considering each body part or system separately.
A general public yoga class can certainly ease everyday aches, pains, and mood complaints. But a yoga therapy session goes much further because it is tailored to the individual.
Yoga therapists draw from the principles of yoga and the full range of yogic practices and assessment skills, as well as familiarity with biomedical and psychological foundational knowledge.
Yoga therapists work with the client to develop and implement a self-empowering therapeutic plan appropriate to the client's needs and oriented around prevention and health promotion.
An IAYT-Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) has undertaken specialized training beyond that of a yoga teacher, in accordance with the IAYT's Educational Standards for the Training of Yoga Therapists or has met IAYT’s requirements for grandparenting professionals.
IAYT-Certified Yoga Therapists adhere to the professional ethics, guidelines, and codes relating to the practice of yoga therapy as defined by the IAYT and commit to not making false or inaccurate claims about yoga's therapeutic and healing capacities.
Here is a full copy of the latest IAYT Scope of Practice for Yoga therapy and the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities which I adhere to as a C-IAYT certified Professional Yoga Therapist.
The yogic model of health is unique because it addresses every aspect of life rather than considering each body part or system separately.
A general public yoga class can certainly ease everyday aches, pains, and mood complaints. But a yoga therapy session goes much further because it is tailored to the individual.
Yoga therapists draw from the principles of yoga and the full range of yogic practices and assessment skills, as well as familiarity with biomedical and psychological foundational knowledge.
Yoga therapists work with the client to develop and implement a self-empowering therapeutic plan appropriate to the client's needs and oriented around prevention and health promotion.
An IAYT-Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) has undertaken specialized training beyond that of a yoga teacher, in accordance with the IAYT's Educational Standards for the Training of Yoga Therapists or has met IAYT’s requirements for grandparenting professionals.
IAYT-Certified Yoga Therapists adhere to the professional ethics, guidelines, and codes relating to the practice of yoga therapy as defined by the IAYT and commit to not making false or inaccurate claims about yoga's therapeutic and healing capacities.
Here is a full copy of the latest IAYT Scope of Practice for Yoga therapy and the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities which I adhere to as a C-IAYT certified Professional Yoga Therapist.
How can Yoga Therapy help?
Yoga therapy meets people where they are, connecting them to their own innate healing potential. Yoga therapy clients report experiencing improved mood, decreased stress and chronic pain, and more. See a sample list of research articles on yoga therapy and yoga.
One mechanism researchers have uncovered is yoga’s capacity to affect the nervous system by improving our ability to self-regulate. The practice uses methods that work via both the mind and the body, known in research as top-down and bottom-up regulation. Put simply, top-down regulation uses cognitive tools like meditation and ethical inquiry to affect the state of the body, whereas bottom-up regulation uses the body itself, through movement and breathing techniques, to change the state of the nervous system and to affect thoughts and emotions.
In short, the practice of yoga equips us with a comprehensive toolkit to help support regulation and resilience in the mind-body system. Yoga therapy is the specific use of these tools by a trained practitioner.
One mechanism researchers have uncovered is yoga’s capacity to affect the nervous system by improving our ability to self-regulate. The practice uses methods that work via both the mind and the body, known in research as top-down and bottom-up regulation. Put simply, top-down regulation uses cognitive tools like meditation and ethical inquiry to affect the state of the body, whereas bottom-up regulation uses the body itself, through movement and breathing techniques, to change the state of the nervous system and to affect thoughts and emotions.
In short, the practice of yoga equips us with a comprehensive toolkit to help support regulation and resilience in the mind-body system. Yoga therapy is the specific use of these tools by a trained practitioner.
- Chronic pain, including low-back pain, arthritis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and other types of pain such as that associated with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Mental health, including concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, insomnia, and others
- Neurological issues and complications of stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Support for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease
- Overall well-being (you don’t need to be sick or in pain for yoga therapy to have value!) and healthy aging.
How does a Yoga Therapy session work?
Yoga therapy may occur in the following settings:
• Individual one-on-one yoga therapy sessions. (If the client is a child/minor, the state or other
local jurisdiction laws governing the safety of children/minors are to be adhered to)
• Group Yoga Therapy:
Group Yoga Therapy is a session in which a yoga therapist works with a small group of clients
who have a similar condition or symptom(s), or with clients who have a variety of health, or
health-related conditions. A hallmark that differentiates group yoga therapy from group yoga
teaching is the presence of an individual intake and assessment for each client in the group
prior to commencing the class, personalization of the practice(s) based on the individual assessment, and reassessment at regular intervals throughout a series of classes to evaluate progress and individual’s response to the yoga therapy practices.
• Individual one-on-one yoga therapy sessions. (If the client is a child/minor, the state or other
local jurisdiction laws governing the safety of children/minors are to be adhered to)
• Group Yoga Therapy:
Group Yoga Therapy is a session in which a yoga therapist works with a small group of clients
who have a similar condition or symptom(s), or with clients who have a variety of health, or
health-related conditions. A hallmark that differentiates group yoga therapy from group yoga
teaching is the presence of an individual intake and assessment for each client in the group
prior to commencing the class, personalization of the practice(s) based on the individual assessment, and reassessment at regular intervals throughout a series of classes to evaluate progress and individual’s response to the yoga therapy practices.
What can I expect from a Yoga Therapy session with YOU?
Before we meet, I will have a little chat (10-15 min) with you over the phone to clarify your initial requirements and book your appointment (about 75-90 min on average).
I will then follow up by email to confirm your appointment and request that you to fill out a form with additional information about your lifestyle, your personal details, your family and work life, and other information, so to be able to initially assess your physical and overall health conditions, as well as your desired goals for your yoga therapy sessions. (Note: complete data protection privacy and full respect of the GDPR regulations is ensured at all times. None else but me will have access to your personal data, which will only be used by me within the scope of Yoga Therapy practice).
It is important to return the filled out assessment form at least 5 days prior to your private session, so to give me the time to study it in depth and prepare your custom session based on the data you will have provided.
When we meet during our Yoga Therapy session, we will have a quick chat about how you are feeling, about the proposed session and to confirm your goals. Then we will embark on your personalised journey of yoga therapy exploring asanas (yoga postures), mudras (hand gestures), pranayama (breathing techniques), relaxation and meditation techniques, and much more... each session is completely different from the other and the best way to understand what Yoga therapy actually is, is to experience it on yourself! :-)
Follow-up sessions may include discussing your progress, your feedback on home practice, integrating additional modified yoga poses, breath work, and meditation practices adapted for your specific needs and requirements.
I will then follow up by email to confirm your appointment and request that you to fill out a form with additional information about your lifestyle, your personal details, your family and work life, and other information, so to be able to initially assess your physical and overall health conditions, as well as your desired goals for your yoga therapy sessions. (Note: complete data protection privacy and full respect of the GDPR regulations is ensured at all times. None else but me will have access to your personal data, which will only be used by me within the scope of Yoga Therapy practice).
It is important to return the filled out assessment form at least 5 days prior to your private session, so to give me the time to study it in depth and prepare your custom session based on the data you will have provided.
When we meet during our Yoga Therapy session, we will have a quick chat about how you are feeling, about the proposed session and to confirm your goals. Then we will embark on your personalised journey of yoga therapy exploring asanas (yoga postures), mudras (hand gestures), pranayama (breathing techniques), relaxation and meditation techniques, and much more... each session is completely different from the other and the best way to understand what Yoga therapy actually is, is to experience it on yourself! :-)
Follow-up sessions may include discussing your progress, your feedback on home practice, integrating additional modified yoga poses, breath work, and meditation practices adapted for your specific needs and requirements.
More questions?
Read the FAQ about Yoga and Yoga Therapy
or contact me
(*) Reference and aknowledgement: the material provided on this page is adapted from © IAYT website and yogatherapy.health
