WHAT IS YOGA THERAPY ?
VINIYOGA
Yoga Therapy is adapting customized yoga practices to empower individuals towards greater well being.
''Yoga therapy is the adaptation of yoga practices for people with health challenges. Yoga therapists prescribe specific regimens of postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques to suit individual needs. Medical research shows that Yoga therapy is among the most effective complementary therapies for several common aliments. The challenges may be an illness, a temporary condition like pregnancy or childbirth, or a chronic condition associated with old age or infirmity''.
A Breath-Centered Approach
In regular Yoga classes, it is mostly about the student trying to perfect the yoga practice but in YT, the practices are perfected to the student's needs. The teacher will bring the pose to the student. It is about function over form and awareness instead of perfection.
The spirit of Viniyoga is starting from where one finds oneself.
As everybody is different and changes from time to time,
there can be no common starting point, and ready-made answers are useless.
The present situation must be examined and the habitually established status must be re-examined.”
– TKV Desikachar
A Yoga Therapist works in small groups and/or privately. The nature of the practice is determined by the severity of the problem.
The Yoga Therapist does not diagnose but uses a complementary holistic approach based on your medical diagnosis and treatment plan determined by your MD, physiotherapists, psychologist and/or other healthcare practitioner.
By using multiple tools of yoga, diet and lifestyle modifications based on Ayuveda, the Yoga Therapist designs a personal practice for the care seeker
The body, breath, and mind relationship connecting in the present moment can facilitate healing.
YT helps alleviate a wide range of illnesses, chronic conditions and pain symptoms such as:
-
*Common Aches and Pains:
-
Feet and ankles; knees and hamstrings; hips; lower back; hands and wrists; neck and shoulders; sciatica; etc.
-
Tight Muscles/Fascia/Nerves or Hyperextension
-
(Over flexible/Over stretched ligaments)
-
Misalignments:
-
Kyphosis (hunch back/rounded shoulders);
-
lordosis (sway back);
-
asymmetries in hips;
-
pronated feet;
-
scoliosis; etc.
-
Injuries:
-
Whiplash; strained muscles, tendons or ligaments; sprained joints (hip, knees, shoulder, ankle, elbow, wrist); prolapsed/slipped discs, etc.
-
Post joint replacement surgery:
-
Weight gain/loss:
-
Arthritis:
-
Osteoarthritis (OA); Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA); and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
-
Digestive Disorders:
-
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); acid reflux; indigestion; constipation; and diarrhea
-
Other Chronic Conditions/Diseases:
-
Allergies, asthma, cancer recovery/remission; carpel tunnel syndrome; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS); Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Diabetes -Type II; fibromyalgia; hormonal imbalances; hypo/hypertension (low/high blood pressure); hypo/hyper thyroid; incontinence; insomnia; stroke recovery; etc.
-
Movement Disorders:
-
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
-
Women’s Health:
-
PMS; menstrual irregularities; pregnancy; infertility; menopause
-
Emotional Health:
-
Chronic anxiety, depression or stress; healing from grief or loss; dealing with trauma or change; etc.
YT Yoga Therapy can also be used to maintain health and well-being while managing life's ups and downs. YT can:
-
Promote attention, focus and memory
-
Feel more at home in your own body
-
Reduce stress and anxiety
-
Reduce panic attacks, anxiety, fear and depression
-
Increase your energy level
-
Improve stability, strength, flexibility and mobility
-
Nourish and promote spiritual transformation
Yoga Therapy tools including postures (asana), breath regulation (pranayama), meditation (dhyanam), dietary recommendations, lifestyle suggestions, chanting, visualisations/ affirmations, energetic seals (mudra), guided self-inquiry (svadhyaya).
*Conditions/Illness list is taken from Maggie Reagh
-
Increase self confidence and emotional stability
-
Strengthen muscle tone
-
Increase circulation
-
Improve quality of sleep
-
Regulate heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate
-
Enhance Quality of Life
-
Promote healthier lifestyle
T. Krishnamacharya
Father of Modern Yoga Therapy and Yoga
T.K.S Desikachar
Son of T. Krishnamacharya
Author of The Heart of Yoga
