In the recent past, I have had more and more people approaching me for therapy yoga and not just for my yoga classes. These are individuals looking not just to improve fitness, achieve weight loss or to improve physical health, but for mental wellness as well. So while I am approached for hormonal issues, chronic pain and so on, people also come to me with relationship issues, eating disorders or mental health issues.
As I always say, there is a strong mind-body connect in human beings. This is why our physical health always impacts mental health and vice versa. So when people approach me with either physical or emotional issues, I find that this calls for holistic healing – of the mind and the body. I find that yoga therapy has a positive impact on mental wellness as well as physical health.
Yoga classes and yoga therapy
For years now, I have been able to help people improve their health with my yoga classes. With yoga therapy and counselling I find that I can do even more to help. Working together with the client, we would invariably identify the mental root of a physical ailment and vice versa. I have come across cases where relationship issues have resulted in physical ailments or where feelings of anxiety have caused physical aches and pains. In cases I have also found the reverse to be true: people who suffer chronic pain may develop anxiety issues, social withdrawal and so on.
The aim of therapy yoga is to identify the root cause of a problem and to empower the person to come to terms with and resolve their issues. The attempt is to deliberately reduce stress while learning to develop a positive perspective. I guide my clients to learn how to deal with anger and develop appropriate responses even to stressful situations. Gradually, one learns to stay calm and focused even in difficult circumstances or in the face of provocation.
How yoga therapy improves mental wellbeing
I make an assessment based on a client interaction and then decide the course that the yoga therapy sessions should take. In other words, I customise therapy to fit individual requirements. I try to optimise the experience and help the individual get the most out of their session. Sessions involve one-on-one counselling, meditation, breath control and mindfulness, as well as yoga aasans. Sessions could also change as a person makes progress.
Those who undergo therapy yoga experience significant lessening in their feelings of anxiety. They feel more in control of their emotions as well as their surroundings. This helps to enhance positive feelings and self-esteem. This enhanced sense of control and self-esteem has a positive ripple effect in people’s lives, I have found. People are able to improve their intimate relationships as well as their relationship with food and exercise. They are able to respond positively at work or in other stressful situations, and manage anger better. The mood as well as physical energy levels can also improve, which enhances mental wellbeing on the whole.
Sometimes people feel isolated and alone, not because they are physically alone, but because they feel that no one understands them. However, it is important to remember that help is always at hand. We all need help from time to time and there is nothing wrong in asking for it. Yoga therapy has helped numerous people. I am firm in my belief that it can help people enhance physical and mental health. Check out the various testimonials of my Therapy Yoga clients here.