Yoga therapy and its meaning

Page 1

Yogatherapyanditsmeaning

AdefinitionofyogatherapyprovidedbytheInternationalAssociationof YogaTherapistsreadsasfollows:"Yogatherapyistheprocessof empoweringindividualstoprogresstowardimprovedhealthandwellbeingthroughtheapplicationoftheteachingsandpracticesofyoga"

Abroadspectrumofphysical,emotional,andmentalhealthissuescan benefitfromthetherapeuticuseofyogicprinciples,whichiswhatYoga Therapyisallabout.Yogatherapyapproacheshelppeopletakecharge oftheirhealth,whethertoalleviatesymptomsorboosttheirhealthin general.Toeasethediscomfortofaherniateddisc,forinstance,various yogaposesandposturescanbeusedtostrengthenandsupportthe back.Youcanfindmeditationclassesnearme.

Yoga'sRemedyTools

Thefollowingareexamplesofwhatyogatherapysessionsmaycover:

TheAshtangaYogatenetsofYama,Niyama,Asana,Pranayama, Pratyahara,Dharana,Dhyana,andSamadhiareallessentialpartsofthe practice.

PerformingAsanas

HowtoBreatheProperly

NumerousMudras

PracticalUsesforMeditation

Readingphilosophicaltexts,undergoingspiritualormentalhealth counseling,chantingmantras,etc.

techniqueslikeguidedvisualization,bhajans,relaxation,andadvocacy forahealthierwayoflifeareallpartofthispractice.

TherapeuticYogaandYogaExercise

Thedifferencebetweenyogaandyogatherapyisnotoftenasclear-cut asthedifferencebetweenayogainstructorandayogatherapistWhen someonepracticesyogatoimprovetheirhealth,wemightsaythatthey areengaginginyogatherapy.Onlineyogaclassesanywherecanhelp yougetridofdiseases

Theprimarydistinctionbetweenyogaandyogatherapyliesinthe latter'sfocus.Thepracticeofyoga,whichincludesasana,pranayama, andmeditation,hasmanypositiveeffectsonone'sbodyandmind. Groupclassesarethenormforlearningyoga.

However,yogatherapytakesapersonalizedapproach,tailoringits methodstoeachpatient'suniquephysicalandmentalneedsEach student'shealth,disease,strength,age,etc.aretakenintoaccount whenplanningtheyogatreatmentsession.Yogafordiabetesishelpful forgettingridofit

Whenplanningayogaclass,yourinstructortailorsthesequencetothe groupasawhole.Ayogatherapistwilltailorayogapracticetothe needsofaclientwithaparticularhealthissue.Ratherthanonly instructingstudentsinyogaposes,onemustemployallavailableyoga therapyapproachestocurethestudent'sconditionAyogatherapy sessiondesignedtotreatdepressionwilllookdifferentthanone designedtotreatbackpain.Yogatherapists,incontrasttoyogateachers morebroadly,focusontreatingaspecificillness.AYogaTherapist,in contrasttoaYogaTeacher,willdealwithawidevarietyofmedical issues,whichiswhytheYogaTherapyCourseiscompletedunderthe supervisionofamedicalexpert,doctor,psychologist,etc.Theseexperts teachthemeverythingtheyneedtoknowaboutthehumanbodyand howphysiotherapyandmedicinecanbeappliedtoawiderangeof conditions.

AwareOfTreatmentofVertigowithYoga

ThegoalsofYogaTherapymayinclude,butarenotlimitedto• eradication,reduction,ormanagementofsymptoms;•enhancementof normalbodilyfunctioning;•preventionofrecurrenceofsymptomsor

causesofillness;•promotionofhealthymind,body,andspirit;• encouragementofbodyandmindmindfulness.

Yogatherapy'sguidingprinciples

Asaformofholistichealth,yogatherapycanbeevaluatedinavarietyof ways.Itiswell-known,forinstance,thatangercausesthebodyto produceheat,whichcanleadtoacidity,highbloodpressure,blood pollution,skinillnesses,inflammation,andahostofotherproblems.In additiontoitsothernegativeeffects,angercandisruptone'snervous systemandleadtomentalandemotionalillness.Thesearemerelyafew obviousexamplesmeanttoillustratethemind-bodyrelationship.Yoga therapyistheuseofvariousyogicpracticestoimproveone'smental, emotional,andspiritualwell-being.WhilemostpeopleassociateYoga withphysicaltherapy,aYogaTherapistwillalsodealwiththesubtler aspectsofthebodytogettotherootoftheproblemAnnamayaKosha isthephysicalbody;PranamayaKoshaistheenergybody;Manomaya Koshaisthementalbody;VijnanamayaKoshaisthewisdombody;and AnandamayaKoshaistheblissbody.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.