Yoga Therapy is an emerging field that is regulated by the International Association of Yoga Therapists. It requires certification through an accredited school that provides 1000 hours of instruction.
Yoga teachers that you typically find in studios will have between 200-500hrs of yoga teacher training designed for teaching group classes and sequences to help with health and wellness in a general way. While methods and practices vary across yoga teachers, yoga therapists focus on the client’s needs. My yoga therapy clients are typically not coming to learn yoga.
Yoga therapists are trained to work with the tools of yoga (breathing, movement, stillness, philosophy) to support individuals with specific conditions. Some of my current and past clients have conditions that include physical pain (back pain, shoulder, hip and knee injuries), autoimmune diseases like MS, Parkinsons, lupus and fibromyalgia, anxiety disorders, cancer support, insomnia, stress management, and improvement of athletic performance, etc. Yoga therapy can work in conjunction with your team of health care providers or as a stand alone therapy. My particular training in yoga therapy is very focused on kinesiology and biomechanics and teaching the client how to become aware of patterns that keep us limited in cycles of pain or discomfort so they can become empowered on how to listen to their body and intervene before symptoms arise.
What can you expect in a yoga therapy session? My sessions are in a private setting where I see clients one-on-one. As a yoga therapist I take you through an in-depth intake and physical assessment in order to get to you and your concerns and goals. The therapeutic relationship becomes important as our work becomes a collaboration between myself and the client. Along with the work we do in a session, you will be given a program with practices to work on and/or reflect on and will have follow up appointments or email check-in’s to make sure progress is happening.
Why should you work with a yoga therapist? As a yoga therapist I have a whole hour to work with you. Unlike other health care providers that have time limited sessions, I am able to take the time to get to you know and your story. This allows me to help you connect the dots between seemingly unrelated factors that others may miss. A yoga therapist is able to see the broader context of your life and how it relates to your condition and guides you to make helpful shifts that others often miss.
Yoga therapists take a whole body approach to healing. Specialists have a tendency to be myopic and focus on one thing. You may experience me directing your focus to something seemingly unrelated. For example, I might direct your attention to your hip movement, when you came in with a shoulder injury. This is because I am able to see connections that other might miss. This leads to faster progress and healing that lasts.
The collaborative process seeks to educate and provide opportunities for feedback so you can learn how to self-assess and become independent in your practice. This is crucial in developing long term sustainable results.
Relationships matter. You should always feel like we are on equal ground. I try to create a therapist/client relationship that is supportive, caring, non-judgmental and empowering. My goal is to be your trusted advisor.
Yoga therapists are trained in practices that facilitate healing connection and balance in the physical body, mental states and emotions. While my work with you may largely focus on the physical body, what you learn is carried over into other aspects of your life.
What are you waiting for? Book your yoga therapy session today.