How is yoga therapy different from general yoga classes and other styles of yoga?
With so many styles of yoga out there, it is important to ask how yoga therapy differs and why the distinction is important. This can can help clients such as you decide on what style of yoga is a more effective tool in helping you support any pains, concerns or goals.
Therapeutic applications of yoga recognises two things:
1) not all yoga is therapeutic for everybody
2) yoga is a technology which needs to be applied mindfully, respectfully, with discernment and knowledge
So therapeutic yoga training equips practitioners like myself with deeper understanding and as a result I am then more able to tailor safe and impactful practices and solutions for each client’s needs.
So therapeutic yoga offers practices which are prescribed to individual needs?
Yes.
Practices are carefully considered and all sessions are delivered in a biomedically informed way that is tailored to you.
This is possible because, as well as recognised yoga teacher training, therapeutic yoga specialists receive training in the science and technology of yoga plus skills and knowledge which combine the approach with a range of other recognised therapeutic modalities, incorporating
mindful yoga
trauma sensitive yoga and movement
embodiment practices
somatic awareness
keynotes in neuroscience
keynotes in biomedicine
psychology and counselling skills
For me this means that I am safely and skilfully trained to be able to tailor sessions to you rather than hoping you might benefit from a one-size-fits-all instruction.
Underpinning this is the deep understanding that we have many things in common but that we are all also unique
There is no doubt that we are all human and so share many things in common.
For example, we can all benefit from warmth, acceptance, care and community.
But we also have individual physical, mental and emotional needs which we are working with and through in our own ways and will therefore benefit from different approaches when it comes to the therapeutic practices we choose to work with to support these.
Why is this important?
Yoga was originally developed to support individuals in 1-2-1 settings or tailored small groups to enable sufficient individual attention and tailored practices designed to meet specific needs.
This is because general group yoga classes are great when taught mindfully but they are not suitable for all.
For example, Downward-facing dog and Standing forward bend are favourites in many general yoga classes but should be avoided if you…
have high blood pressure or any cardiovascular health concerns
suffer from headaches or migraines
have eye pressure issues
experience some dental issues
have sinus or ear infection…
…among other things
Certain poses can make these conditions worse, resulting in potentially negative, even dangerous, health implications for some.
The same logic can be applied to mental and emotional health as some practices can mobilise, activate, suppress or soothe and so need to be applied with knowledge and skill depending on the outcome required.
How does this work in session?
Through the therapeutic yoga approach, the right balance for you is achieved because you will have:
a thorough intake in your first session with me comprising of questions about your health and lifestyle (but without long analysis common to talking therapies)
and our second session is then dedicated to mindful observation of movement, breath and rest.
Brining these two together provides us with a mindbody overview. This overview allows me to build a clear picture of your requirements so the practices can be personalised - making your therapeutic yoga sessions safer and much more effective.
Whatever the aim of your session
Whatever the reason you come to me, whatever discomfort, condition or goal we are working with, I will always ensure that your sessions are safe, enjoyable, comfortable, welcoming and that you leave each session feeling good, with simple and effective tools to support your everyday living.
If you have any question about the approach the please feel free to get in touch >