YOGA THERAPY
What is yoga therapy?
an individual therapy concept developed after a successful anamnesis over an agreed time frame, which is concluded with expected results
yoga practice specifically guided for individuals with physical or even psychological complaints
helpful guidance for explicit physical symptoms for example back or knee joint symptoms, migraine, menstrual cycle problems etc.
healing care for complex disease patterns
active as well as conscious support of the self-healing powers
mental consolidation in life crises
training of the musculature: stretching and strengthening of muscle structures
mobilization and maintenance of mobility of the spine and all joints
awareness and expansion of the breath
attentive perception of the body in its organic functions
observation and calming of the mind
physical, mental and emotional relaxation
However, yoga has always been used therapeutically and preventively. This is because the various elements of yoga - asanas, pranayama, meditation, relaxation exercises - are ideally suited to both preventively balance individual unfavorable predispositions and positively influence psychological and physical complaints of any kind.
In yoga therapy, the therapist adapts his "patient".
He tells variations of asanas, gives tips on which postures can help with specific problems, corrects incorrect postures and thus tries to initiate and accompany positive developments on all levels. In short: yoga, correctly performed, always has a preventive, balancing and healing effect.
Why yoga therapy?
Yoga therapy can be considered as a way to health and general lifestyle concept. It can be used preventively to maintain health and general quality of life, but can also become curative.
Through yoga, conventional medical elements are combined with complementary medical elements.
As an integrative treatment method in psychology, it can contribute to the patient's recovery process. In its origin, yoga is an ancient Indian teaching that includes a series of mental and physical exercises.
BUT
Yoga therapy, however, goes one step further. Because while different yoga styles, yoga courses and yoga teachers focus on different aspects - muscle building, flexibility, relaxation, spiritual development - yoga therapy clearly focuses on improving individual ailments.
Yoga therapy can be supportive (e.g. for mental and physical support during cancer treatment) or the main healing method (e.g. for back problems, of course after clarification with the treating physician).
Most effective and common are individual courses in yoga therapy, but there are also courses where, at the therapist's discretion, people with back problems come together in small groups.
The difference between yoga therapist and yoga teacher
Rather than focusing on yoga methods and practices, yoga therapists basically focus on the needs of their clients. Their job is to understand why the client has come, what they need. Yoga therapists conduct a medical history to choose a proper strategy. Therapists look for ways to help their clients reduce their symptoms and/or gain a mental strength. After the assessment, the yoga therapist sets therapy goals, develops a practice session for the client to practice at home. In this sense, therapists choose yoga techniques in relation to how they specifically benefit individual clients.
Whether one is young, middle-aged, or advanced, even if one is ill or weak, anyone can begin the practice of yoga. Yoga is suitable for everyone. You don't have to be athletic or limber to do it, nor does age matter.