Yoga therapy uses the diverse and time-tested principles and practices of Yoga to assist body, mind and spirit in the process of healing and evolving. Ultimately Yoga therapy provides one with the tools to not only address an emotional or physical ailment or injury, but to build a more balanced, enriching and productive lifestyle. Yoga therapy is preventive by strengthening body and mind, curative by supporting the healing process, and generative by opening up new perspectives on self and life.
The tools of yoga therapy are drawn from a vast body of practice that includes:
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- Yoga poses, modified to suit the client’s individual needs
- Breathing exercises for improved self-regulation
- Meditation practices, including mindfulness techniques, imagery work and the use of sacred words, to change thinking patterns
- Self-inquiry to review belief systems and lifestyle practices
- Applied ethics to deepen and sweeten relationships with self, with others and with nature
- Relaxation methods to provide the body with deep rest
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Once learned and mastered, these tools become gifts that last a lifetime.
There is an increasing body of research evidence to support the experiential findings of yoga practitioners across the centuries. For example, a 2015 study by Vijayaraghava et al shows that a sustained yoga practice over many years strengthens immunity and protects one from inflammatory diseases; and a 2016 literature review by Innes and Selfe shows that yoga practices help reduce blood sugar, fatty acid and cholesterol levels in adults with type two diabetes.
In summary, Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals towards improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of Yoga.