Yoga Therapy
Yoga therapy is the personalized application of the tools and philosophy of yoga. When using yoga therapeutically, physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation practices are adapted to match the ability, interest, and health concerns of each patient. Patients are given individually designed practices to be done daily, at home. These practices, when done over time, facilitate changes in the body and mind that support healing.
Pain Management:
Yoga therapy is an important and unique modality used in the treatment of both acute and chronic pain because yoga addresses pain on both a physical and mental level in a safe and controlled manner. At the physical level, physical postures and breathing exercises directly heal injuries by promoting circulation to areas of pain and retraining soft tissue structures to decrease tension and improve alignment. In addition, according to Yogic and Ayurvedic science, physical postures and breathing exercises facilitate the flow of prana, or life force, to painful areas of the body that are deficient in prana, restoring the integrity of these areas of the body and reducing pain.
At a more subtle, mental level, the appropriate practice of yoga helps balance the autonomic nervous system - yoga helps our system shift away from a “fight or flight” state characterized by excessive stress, and shift into a “rest, digest, and heal” state. This latter state, the parasympathetic state, not only facilitates direct healing of the body to reduce pain, but also decreases our mental perception of pain, and generates an overall feeling of well-being.
Individual Sessions:
The initial yoga therapy visit is focused on gathering information about the patient’s goals for their yoga practice and about their lifestyle and health status. This information is used to develop a personalized practice, which will consist of a sequence of appropriate exercises that they are encouraged to do everyday. Follow-up visits will focus on revising the practice to ensure that it remains appropriate for the patient as they and their environment change with time.
