What Is Yoga Therapy?
Yoga Therapy is useful for enriching all areas of your life. It is a way different process than what people generally think. The majority of people think of yoga as movement and exercise. In reality, yoga is a vast science and includes way more than just the postures (asanas).Asana can be a wonderful introduction to yoga, and in itself aids the body and mind greatly. But the science does not stop there. Other practices of yoga take us further into our inner realms, where deep change takes place.
Some of these practices include:
Yoga Therapy Practice 1: Relaxation
Stress and anxiety pervade the everyday lives of many people. Until this is minimized, useful change is thwarted. The yoga system includes many types of relaxation exercises to calm down the physical body, mind, and emotions.
The methods range from exercises like tension-relaxation (where we tense and then relax each area of the body) and systematic relaxation (where we mentally go through the body and relax each area) to working on relaxing the energy body and the mind. Working with a systematic progression of these exercises insures success.
Yoga Therapy Practice 2:Breathing
Breathing is the heart of all yogic practices. Without proper breathing, the body, nervous system, and mind tend to stay in a state of tension. This is where anxiety, stress and fear take over. Our ability to think becomes limited, and we develop tunnel vision.
The most important practice to master is diaphragmatic breathing. When we breathe diaphragmatically, we breathe slower and smoother. The heart, digestive and eliminatory systems, and nervous system have a chance to work effectively. Our emotions are much calmer and our focus is clearer.
There are many other aspects to good breathing. Each one aids us in living a calmer, more centered, grounding, and fulfilling life.
Yoga Therapy Practice 3: Meditation
Meditation is the heart of yoga. It introduces us to ourselves. We are a citizen of both our outer and inner worlds. We are already familiar with our outer realm. Meditation leads us to experience our inner realms, from where all deep change takes place.
Using meditation, we focus the mind on one object of concentration. In the yoga system, breath and mantra are the two major tools used to focus the mind. Just a few minutes a day leads to significant change. The key is to practice regularly, without skipping days.
Where Should I Start?
This would depend on your goals and what background you have. It is important to work with a certified yoga therapist who can skillfully lead you through the process. If the client is experiencing pain, it is important for them to also be working with a physician. If they are experiencing extreme psychological issues, it is important for them to also be working with a licensed mental health professional.
For the average person, these methods help everyday people with everyday problems. The real beauty of the system lies in the fact that people learn methods they can use to help themselves. Then, in most cases, they can rely on themselves for the help they need.
Thx!