While I have been conducting my yoga classes for many years now, I have been a yoga therapist for some of that time. In other words, my work as a yoga therapist began later; after I had gained significant experience and insight into teaching yoga. This was the result of the conviction that yoga is not only good for fitness and physical health but also has the potential to be therapeutic in nature – both physically and emotionally.
Yoga is a part of yoga therapy
So, the question would be, if yoga is therapeutic, isn’t it enough? Well the answer to that is, for many people, yoga is enough. However, there are many who suffer from certain specific ailments for which customised therapy would be required. People commonly have problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, hormonal imbalances etc. Then there are those who could have certain other issues in their life – unexplained fears or anxieties, the feeling of dissatisfaction in the professional arena, relationship issues, an unhealthy relationship with food etc. Many people who come to me have a combination of physical and emotional issues and I find that they need help beyond attending a yoga class.
Yoga therapy is a holistic approach that simultaneously addresses physical, emotional and spiritual health. This treatment system includes physical therapy as well as a certain amount of counselling to bring about a shift in the mindset. By incorporating therapies aimed at every aspect of wellbeing, a yoga therapist can bring about holistic change and genuine healing. If on the one hand physical strength improves and results in better hormone regulation, concentration and mental balance will also improve to make a person feel calmer, more resolute and in control of their life. Yoga therapy recognises that physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing are all interconnected. They work simultaneously to improve each of these facets of overall health.
What does a yoga therapist do?
When there is such a complex array of issues that a person suffers from, they would need a treatment protocol that is tailored for them. This treatment is usually not in a group setting but on a one on one basis. The treatment would of course include yoga exercises that are suitable for the person’s age, health and fitness level. In addition, the treatment would include a great deal of counselling to create a mental shift toward more agreeable thoughts. Dietary interventions could also be required, as well as meditation and visualization techniques.
Apart from physical ailments such as heart disease and hormone imbalances, yoga therapy is seen to be effective in treating a range of conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia and PTSD. Yoga therapy is also seen to help people with substance abuse issues because of the way that the therapy positively impacts those parts of the mind and body that are susceptible to addiction. In addition, it is effective in helping children with special needs such as autism, making them more self-reliant and emotionally calmer and better able to cope.
More than anything else, yoga therapy can be seen as a set of life affirming changes and the creation of healthy habits that improve mental and physical wellbeing. Eating a healthier diet, becoming more mindful, coping effectively with stress and learning about self-care – these are just some of the changes that yoga therapy brings about – that lead to lasting self-healing.
To read more about how people have benefited from private yoga therapy in Mumbai, click here.
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