Yoga Therapy
What is Yoga Therapy?
Yoga is an ancient practice developed in India for the purpose of enlightenment. In the West, yoga is practiced largely from a secular lens, however the boom of this practice in the last 50 years, we have an ever increasing body of literature indicating the therapeutic effects of regular yogic practice.
Offering a treatment modality that is based in Eastern philosophy, yet grounded in Western Science, I am pleased to offer yoga therapy as a form of management injuries, aches and pains, injuries (chronic or acute), post partum and pregnancy care, aging plans, and mental health therapies. Within Yoga therapy, we dive into a deeper understanding of the different “bodies” or Koshas as a lens for health or lack thereof. We can then create treatment practices through breathing, movement or lifestyle adjustment to help address the concerns found here.
An example of Yoga Therapy session: I once had a patient whom I only worked through virtual sessions. She was concerned about experiencing some tailbone pain despite not having experienced a fall/injury to that area. She was aware of how the body and mind of often connected and mentioned that she was doing some therapy work with a licensed professional at the time. Following some screening questions to ensure no direct mechanism was responsible for her presenting concerns, we did a quick movement screen, and discussed the pain from the perspectives of the Chakra system--energy systems in the body. We explored some Yoga Asana and breathing practices/Pranayama practices she could implement for a few weeks. We also discussed the unique transitionary period she was in, and introduced lunch time walks where she would call a friend during her walks to keep her more connected and grounded to her community. I was pleased to hear her tailbone pain resolved quickly and it never returned.
Can Yoga Therapy Help Me?
Yoga Therapy offers a gentle alternative to more rigid and prescriptive forms of exercise therapy, that work with the nervous system and safety at the forefront. From this place, we can get curious about the body’s experience through movement and breath, and teach the body--from the outside in--that it’s safe to move and feel all it’s holding onto.
Whether dealing with chronic pain, a nagging shoulder injury, or body discomforts (often associated with various mental health concerns), Yoga Therapy can be an excellent space to explore concerns that you suspect might lie deeper than just from a physical injury perspective. As part of the assessment, we explore the different aspects of wellness, which includes the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual.
By taking a holistic lens in Yoga Therapy, we can understand and appreciate how pain can affect all aspects of life, and therefore, how all aspects of life might be able to impact the pain experience.
Yoga Therapy Resources
While the research on this topic is growing vastly, we still have a ways to go as health care practitioners in sharing this knowledge. And while I would love to have you in the clinic for a deeper dive, I also want to encourage the exploration and offer some of the guiding mentors and books that have helped me on my journey:
My family immigrated from India before I was born--my culture and roots are in that land. It was truly a blessing to be able to go back to India and learn about the fundamentals of yoga from the land both the practice, and my bloodline have come from.