What is Yoga Therapy and Is It For Me?

Chances are, you may have never even heard of Yoga Therapy. While it IS a fairly newly recognized field, the practice and application of Yoga Therapy has been happening for a very long time.

In fact, if you’ve ever been to a yoga class and felt better in some way, physically, mentally, or emotionally, you could say that you have experienced the therapeutic benefits of yoga. And that’s a great start! But Yoga Therapy is a bit more involved than going to a yoga class.

Defining Yoga Therapy

Let’s start with the formal definition according to the International Association of Yoga Therapists. According to the IAYT, 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.

The real key to Yoga Therapy is that it is within the context of a therapeutic relationship with a Yoga Therapy professional. Yoga Therapists have taken at least 900 hours of training course and had a relationship with a mentor for at least two years prior to receiving their certification. That’s a lot of work!

Additionally, Yoga Therapy begins with a personalized assessment regarding your particular concerns, and then goals are set to keep in mind what you want to happen as a result of this therapeutic relationship. As your Yoga Therapist, I will then work with you to create the outcomes you desire using the techniques of yoga and Ayurveda. You can expect to use yoga postures, meditation, breathing exercises, essential oils, positive affirmations, mudras (yoga for your hands), and more!

We will regularly check in to make sure the techniques are working for you, and assess as needed to ensure we stay on target.

How long does this all take?

You may be wondering how long this all takes. It’s really up to you. I’ve have clients that I have worked with for a month, and others that I have worked with for 2-3 years. It all depends on your needs and how much support you like to have surrounding those needs.

Yoga Therapists have many different specialties: cancer care, trauma, physical aspects of therapy, chronic illness/disease, mental/emotional balance, and more. My focus is strength + balance for mind + body. I love to work with daily routines to create mental balance and postures to alleviate chronic or acute pain. Restructuring mindset and balancing mood, as well as balancing the subtle body systems (chakras) are also areas I like to focus on.

So I guess it comes down to this: is there an area of your life that you would like to be stronger or feel more balanced? If the answer is yes, then Yoga Therapy is for you!

If you’d like to get started or have questions, email me: jenn@jenntarrant.com.