The application of yogic concepts to a specific individual with the aim of completing a specific spiritual, psychological, or physiological goal is known as yoga therapy. Yama, niyama, sana, prânâyâma, pratyâhâra, dhâranâ, dhyâna, and samâdhi are among the cleverly designed methods used. Applying meditation, literary studies, spiritual or psychological counselling, chanting, visualisation, prayer, and ritual to the individual’s needs is also incorporated. Individual diversity in age, culture, religion, philosophy, employment, and physical and mental health is all respected in yoga therapy. Yoga Therapy is applied by a skilled and knowledgeable yogin or yogini in accordance with the time period, the location, and practicener’s age, strength, and experience.
What is Yoga Therapy?
The International Association of Yoga Therapists defines yoga therapy as the use of yoga principles and practices to enable people to make progress towards better health and well-being.
Essentially, yoga therapy uses particular Yogic practices to assist people in managing or resolving a variety of mental, emotional, and physical health issues. Attending to each person’s particular needs, it provides a customised approach to recovery and well-being. For example, yoga therapy offers particular poses and exercises that strengthen the spine and even alleviate symptoms of a herniated disc if a person has lower back discomfort.
Techniques for yoga therapy
The following components are commonly found in yoga therapy sessions:
- Asana Practice: customised physical positions for particular medical issues.
- Pranayama: Breathing exercises that control the flow of energy.
- Mudras: Energy channeling hand motions.
- Meditation: Using mental concentration to promote healing and relax the psyche.
- Spiritual counselling and philosophy: Advice for embracing a yogic way of living.
- Bhajans and chanting: Using sound therapy to promote mental calm.
- Relaxation techniques: Strategies to ease tension and encourage restful sleep.
- Lifestyle modifications: Guidance on diet routine and mental shifts.
Yoga therapy aims to treat specific conditions while promoting general well-being.
Advantages of Yoga Therapy
Some advantages of yoga treatment include the following:
- Integrated mind-body focus: Yoga therapy’s poses and exercises enhance both mental and physical awareness by focusing on the mind and body at the same time. This enhances mindfulness and helps in mind-body integration.
- Benefits to physical health: Yoga therapy can help with mental health issues as well as enhance physical fitness. It helps by increasing flexibility, strength, and balance. Physical health issues like pain, blood pressure, heart disease, and arthritis might also benefit from it.
- Fewer side effects: Weight gain and other metabolic issues that increase the risk of heart disease are among the side effects of medications used to treat mental health disorders. Yoga therapy, on the other hand, has fewer adverse effects than anything else.
- Alternative type of therapy: One of the main advantages of yoga therapy is that it appeals to people who might not be prepared for conventional talk therapy. For people who might discover more significant outcomes through The mind body integrative approach.
Conditions Treated with Yogic Therapy
Numerous health conditions can be treated with various forms of yoga treatment, such as:
- Musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain or arthritis
- Mood disorders, anxiety, and stress are examples of some psychological conditions treated with yoga therapy
- Asthma and other respiratory conditions
- Digestive issues
- Gynecological conditions
- Immune system disorders
- Skin disorders
Yoga therapy can be used in conjunction with other medical modalities like allopathy or Ayurveda. It can be utilised as a standalone treatment. Yoga therapy can improve symptoms and enhance general quality of life, even in cases where a condition cannot be fully cured.
Last words
Yoga Therapy is a kind of treatment that uses yoga poses, techniques, and beliefs to enhance both physical and emotional well-being. Although yogas are frequently linked to stress reduction, yogic therapy can also be beneficial in treating a number of other mental health issues. You could also be advised to combine it with some other kind of therapy.