What is Yoga Therapy, anyways?
When I first heard the term “Yoga Therapy”, I imagined a room full of people who smelled like patchouli talking about their problems and then doing a class together. (Though that wouldn’t have been a deterrent for me.) My first experience with Yoga Therapy was with a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Body-Centered Psychotherapist, who just so happened to also be a Yoga teacher. I’d been practicing Yoga for over a decade and was curious to learn more about how it could be integrated into a therapy session. I had already experienced many of the benefits that come with a physical Yoga practice, or, Asana, including improved mood, increased body awareness, lowered anxiety, decreased pain and muscle tension, to name only a few. Yoga Therapy helped teach me to regulate my nervous system, and embody the truth that so much of how and what we feel is not what happens to us, but how we respond, rather than react, to it.
Practiced on its own or along with other therapies such as talk therapy with a licensed professional, Yoga Therapy empowers you to feel your best.
What is Yoga Therapy?
Quickly gaining in popularity, Yoga Therapy is an evidence-based practice that formally began in the 1980’s. Unlike a public Yoga class, “Yoga therapy is the professional application of the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and yoga practices for individuals or small groups.” (IAYT) These practices may consist of Asana (physical movement/stretching), Pranayama (breath work), Dhyana (meditation), lifestyle adjustments and diet changes, among other things. The therapy is customized, allowing for our collaboration on a plan that will benefit your physical and mental health, while comfortably fitting into your schedule.
Yoga Therapy is based in the philosophy and science of Yoga and Ayurveda, addressing the person as a whole through the lens of the Koshas, or, body sheaths. These Koshas include the physical body, energetic/breath body, mental/emotional body, intellectual body and subtle bliss body. I’ve found the holistic approach of Yoga Therapy to be especially helpful in healing the person as a whole, as anxiety, depression and trauma affect more than just the mind and mood.
What to Expect
The intake process begins with a form that includes questions about your goals, lifestyle and health history. The in-person intake that follows may also include things like postural assessment, breath analysis, and body awareness exercises.
The first meeting runs about 90 minutes and includes a more in-depth discussion and walk through of your initial treatment plan. The next 3 meetings are 45 minute follow ups to check in and possibly change the plan to best work with your lifestyle, schedule and goals. All meetings may be done in person or virtually.
Interested in Yoga Therapy but not sure you want to commit?
I integrate Yoga Therapy tools into my selfcare sessions, available as an add-on to your 60 or 90 minute massage.
If you have symptoms of anxiety, depression or trauma, Yoga Therapy has the tools that can allow you to feel well and enjoy life more fully. Reach out to find out more about how I can help!
Valerie Rix LMT, RYT-500