What is Yoga Therapy?
Yoga is an ancient practice that has been in existence for thousands of years. Many countries have taken this practice, of eastern origin, and have turned it into yoga classes that are popular in studios and gyms. Yoga therapy differs from a yoga studio and gym class.
Yoga therapy is the application of teachings and practices in a therapeutic context in order to support a consistent yoga practice that will increase self-awareness and engage the client’s energy in the direction of desired goals, such as eliminating, reducing, or managing symptoms, improving function, preventing the occurrence or reoccurrence of the underlying causes of illness, improving health and wellbeing, and helping clients change their relationship to and identification with their condition.
Yoga therapists are now certified through a governing and accrediting body, the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), based on evidenced-based practice and peer reviewed literature.
Yoga is a body-centered therapy that can be interwoven with traditional therapies. Yoga therapy also involves intertwining the yoga philosophy that often mirrors traditional therapies. Yoga therapy involves an assessment and development a client-centered recovery plan based on the assessment, along with implementation and evaluation of the yoga therapy treatment plan and communication with the treatment team including physicians, psychotherapists, dietitians, yoga practitioners and other healthcare professionals.
Bibliography of Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles on Yoga Therapy
