Yoga Therapy

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PearYoga provides both public and private yoga instruction, as well as yoga therapy sessions and consultations.  Please contact me to learn more.

The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) defines yoga therapy as "... the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of Yoga.”

A yoga student may attend yoga classes for a variety of reasons including for a form of exercise with strengthening and lengthening (stretching) practices that help maintain health and vitality, balance and agility.  Other reasons may include for stress relief, an exploration of other aspects of yoga such as pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation, or chanting, all of which calm and relax the nervous system.

A yoga therapy client on the other hand, usually is not coming to learn yoga, but to get relief from a health condition that is affecting their peace of mind and quality of life.  In a yoga therapy session, the therapist will take in information, including information about a medical diagnosis the client has received, and make an assessment about the condition. The yoga therapist, working together with the client, will develop personalized practices (protocols) to help the client manage symptoms and improve wellbeing.

The therapist’s role is to empower the client to take a more active role in the client’s self care.  Examples of conditions may include, pain management, anxiety, depression, insomnia, cancer treatment and recovery, back pain, pregnancy, changes in life, aging, and many others.

“Yoga therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalized and evolving Yoga practice, that not only addresses the illness in a multi-dimensional manner, but also aims to alleviate his/her suffering in a progressive, non-invasive and complementary manner.  Depending upon the nature of the illness, Yoga therapy can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve a means to manage the illness, or facilitate healing in the person at all levels.” ~ TKV Desikachar and Kausthub Desikachar