What is Yoga Therapy
According to International Association of Yoga Therapists, Yoga Therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of Yoga. https://www.iayt.org/
Yoga Therapy for us in Yoga Therapy Greece is the personalized application of yoga,that takes into account the bio-energetic-psycho-socio-spiritual condition of the individual and is given as prevention, therapy and palliative. In reality, most of the Yoga Therapists are health professionals, either physiotherapists or psychotherapists giving integrative mind and body health and wellbeing.
Please find attached our short video in our you tube about what yoga therapy is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM4G955iTOA&t=6s and feel free to visit our you tube channel since has many shorts videos of the role of yoga in many different conditions (in Greek and in English). https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1N5NEcj85ctUbsx1Xv55aQ/videos
How does a Yoga Therapy takes place
Yoga classes are generally ‘one size fits all’, since the same practices are given to everybody, while the yoga teacher is unaware of the student’s relevant health information. On the other hand, Yoga Therapy starts with the completion of a confidential Health Information Form and continues with the personal intake, postural movement and breathing assessments. Based on these and patient’s feedback on every movement, a personal practice is developed that addresses the goals and the conditions or symptoms of the patient. The personal short and simple yoga practice usually includes movements/exercises/asanas, simple breathing practice, guided relaxation and lifestyle management tips. The practice is given written and drawn with simple stick figures with the date and the name of the individual.
How do the sessions take place
The yoga therapy sessions ideally last 90 minutes, although they can last only 60 minutes, except of the first one that needs to be 90 minutes due to the assessments. The second session usually takes place after a week practicing the personal yoga therapy sequence. In the second session, based on the individual’s feedback we further develop the practice either modifying it or making it more complicated. The third session takes place 2 weeks after the second one and the fourth session 3 or 4 weeks after the third one. So, in total the 4 sessions take place within 2 months. In this way, the person gives the opportunity to the practice to show its results but also get used to doing a personal 20–30-minute mind and body practice that works for them. It is their practice, the practice that was developed based on their feedbacks, on their body, on their energy levels and on their lifestyle.