What is involved in Yoga therapy?

 

Like physical therapy, yoga therapy extremely relies on a therapeutic relationship. This involves deep listening and which results in tailoring the practice for the individual need.

 

Yoga therapy is offered on one to one basis. Before the yoga therapy session,

 

• A thorough case taking which involves asking questions about your medical history, past history, diet, stress, sleep and energy

• In depth analysis of your breath, gait, posture

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   After the initial case taking, treatment plan will be established, the therapy session will most likely include the following  

• Asana(poses): During session Yoga therapist will teach ailment specific yoga posture Eg- Matsyasana (Fish pose) is used to open up the chest and very beneficial practice for breathing difficulties due to asthma. This practice helps body to a certain level of maturity and takes to the next level.

• Pranayama (breathing technique): Series of breathing technique to balance the breath. Normally practiced after the posture practice

• Kriya (cleaning technique): The hatha yoga cleansing processes have been placed into six groups of purification practices known as Shatkarmas, ‘Shat’ meaning six and ‘karma’ meaning action. They are described in the ancient texts of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gherand Samhita. Yoga therapist will teach the specific one.

       Eg- Neti is one of the cleansing methods and used to cleanse the nasal passage and can find beneficial effect in allergy related health problem

• Dhyana (Meditation technique): Posture, kriya and breathing technique prepare one’s body for the meditative state

• Banda and Mudra (energy locks): Banda means lock or seal; we have three of them in the body. Anatomically speaking, these three important neuromuscular locks regulates changes in the intra-abdominal and intrathoracic pressures that affect abdominal and thoracic organ.

       Yoga therapist carefully selects the Banda and incorporates into the practice.