When people ask what a yoga therapy session is like, one helpful definition is that: Yoga Therapy is a hybrid between physiotherapy and a counseling appointment.

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Physio focuses on treating and managing physical injuries and conditions through stretches, exercises, and other manual adjustments like needling, acupuncture, lasers, and shockwaves. In counseling, the general focus of each branch of psychotherapy is on helping treat individuals for their mental health conditions, especially those surrounding their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

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Often the mind and body are treated in two separate realms, however, as research advances, scientists continue to find fascinating connections between the mind and body.  For instance, the Mayo Clinic reported that "People who frequently experience stress and anxiety may be more likely to develop trigger points in their muscles. One theory holds that these people may be more likely to clench their muscles, a form of repeated strain that leaves muscles susceptible to trigger points." (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myofascial-pain-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20375444)

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A physiotherapist may be able to help treat the symptoms of muscular pain but oftentimes may not feel well-equipped to get to the root issue causing the stress and anxiety.  A psychologist, on the other hand, may help address the underlying issues but addressing the residual physical concerns is not in their scope of practice.  

 

What if the physical and mental health concerns could be addressed at the same time?

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This is the gap where yoga therapy comes in. Many studies show the therapeutic benefits of yoga to address physical, mental as well as spiritual health.  Many people are familiar with the fitness and flexibility aspect of yoga but may be less familiar with other aspects of yoga that could be helpful in them coming back to a place of holistic health. There are many other yoga offerings, such as restorative yoga, yin yoga, myofascial release, yoga nidra, meditation, breath practices, accessible and adaptable yoga as well as ethical and philosophical practices that can help alleviate health from the inside out. Perhaps their condition prevents them from feeling like they can participate in fitness or flexibility and so yoga feels inaccessible when in reality yoga is for EVERY body.

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In a yoga therapy session then, a client meets one-on-one with a practitioner who is trained in a wide range of physical and mental health therapeutic techniques.  There is an intake process in which the practitioner may do a physical assessment and become familiar with the client's current state of being.  The remainder of the session is education and experimentation with the client around yoga offerings to address their health concerns.

 

Yoga Therapy is not a place to receive a diagnosis of a physical or mental health condition. The emphasis is less on treatment and more on empowering the client to address their body and mind with care through integrating yoga practices into their everyday lives. To reclaim a sense of harmony in all aspects of life.