WHAT IS YOGA THERAPY?
The British Council of Yoga Therapy (BCYT) defines yoga therapy as “the use of yoga where there is a specific health need or needs… applying the tools you would find in many yoga classes; postures, working with breath, meditation, awareness of the body and/or mind, relaxation, and these are directed to the needs and ability of the person concerned”.
In other words, yoga therapy is a bespoke practice, typically offered in a 1-to-1 setting; designed to address an individual’s needs and help alleviate discomforts that this person may currently be experiencing.
The approach is 360° and holistic whereby the body, the state of mind and emotions are taken into consideration, when evaluating the ailments of the care-seeker. From here, a treatment plan in the form of a personalised home practice is implemented, and over follow-up sessions, the practice continues to evolve, adjusted accordingly to meet the needs of the individual, empowering the client with their own recovery and healing process.
In other words, yoga therapy is a bespoke practice, typically offered in a 1-to-1 setting; designed to address an individual’s needs and help alleviate discomforts that this person may currently be experiencing.
The approach is 360° and holistic whereby the body, the state of mind and emotions are taken into consideration, when evaluating the ailments of the care-seeker. From here, a treatment plan in the form of a personalised home practice is implemented, and over follow-up sessions, the practice continues to evolve, adjusted accordingly to meet the needs of the individual, empowering the client with their own recovery and healing process.
1-to-1 Yoga LESSON vs Yoga Therapy Session?
Since they share a bespoke element, questions are often posed about the differences between a 1-to-1 yoga class and a private yoga therapy session; in fact, the approach and application of yoga is vastly different between the two, which makes them a distinctly different experience.
Despite the personal goals of the student, the practice of yoga is the focus in a private class and the aim of the teacher is to impart more yogic knowledge to the student.
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Yoga therapy however, are personalised sessions focused on addressing the symptoms that a client is seeking help for, adopting a holistic approach, the aim is to support and alleviate discomfort through the application of all available yogic tools. Whilst there may or may not be a prior interest in yoga from the client, their physical, psychological and emotional state are all taken into consideration when evaluation and treating the care seeker.