What is Yoga Therapy

Benefits of Yoga Therapy

Reduce Anxiety/ Suppresses the default mode network
Improves gross motor skills, coordination, and balance
Improves bodily awareness (Interoception)
Improves self-regulation
Increased independence
Emotional and behavioral regulation
Enhanced self-esteem
Improve social skills
Improve focus and attention

Most yoga teachers take a 200hour training or possibly 500hours but yoga therapists attend an accredited school and complete over 1000 hours of training with specialists including a clinical practicum. Each Yoga Therapist may have their own individualized style and scope of practice due to experience, training, and other credentials. For example Nikka’s style incorporates dance, somatic practice, qi-gong, pilates, martial arts, and creative movement into her work as she has credentials and degrees in these areas.

Although all yoga is potentially therapeutic and healing, yoga therapy is the speciﬁc application of yogic tools—postures/exercises, breath-work, meditation techniques, and more—to address an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. Yoga therapists have in-depth training to help them assess and keep their clients safe. They work with you to address your speciﬁc goals while considering any limitations you might be experiencing. The practices your yoga therapist recommends could include:

Movement ranging from gentle to vigorous
Breathing techniques
Meditation or visualization practices
Physical postures that address speciﬁc areas of discomfort or musculoskeletal imbalances
Any combination of tools like these! (IAYT 2023)

For more information on yoga therapy and the IAYT (International Yoga Therapy Association) please visit www.iayt.org