Yoga Therapy is…
“the professional application of the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and yoga practices for individuals or small groups.”
Is Yoga Therapy for you? Here are the most common therapeutic applications
How does a session work? Jump to FAQs
Who Needs Yoga Therapy?
Yoga Therapy is an excellent stress reduction modality that offers us tools to move from survival mechanisms to a state of regulation by consciously initiating the Relaxation Response. Each individual has a personal way to respond to stress, so a personalized approach through a nervous system assessment can provide the right practices to achieve balance. What is medicine for one person can be detrimental for another.
Thanks to its somatic, “bottom-up” approach, Yoga Therapy can be an effective complementary modality for people affected by PTSD and common mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression. It is also optimal for working with the somatic aspect of intense, difficult emotions, making it an ideal modality when dealing with the storms of life, such as a tough diagnosis, the aftermath of trauma, grief and loss of any kind, and, in general, difficult life transitions. While complementing any ongoing traditional therapeutic intervention, yoga therapy does NOT replace proper, qualified, professional mental health support.
Yoga Therapy has been proved effective in supporting with chronic pain, physical ailments, and chronic or acute health conditions; yet, just as any other alternative healing method, it is not intended as a substitute for traditional medical care, nor is this profession (or I personally) making any claims to “heal” or “cure” anyone’s body or mind, or to reverse any diagnosis, illness, pain, or injury. As mentioned above, yoga therapy is merely setting the ideal conditions for physical, mental and emotional well-being through the tools offered. It is inteded to be used as a complementary or integrative therapy.
I mention this in utter respect of the workings of our body; in deference to the large body of scientific research showing the effectiveness of many of the practices used; in recognition of the many medical professionals that devote their lives to curing or managing life-threatening diseases that are extremely difficult to understand and control; and ultimately, in reverence of the mystery and wisdom of Nature, Life, and our Higher Source itself.
FAQs
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A typical session consists of an initial assessment, followed by appropriate practices to bring the client to a state of balance. A guided relaxation is often followed by gentle, somatic movement sequences. Other interventions include breath work, therapeutic, restorative flows, sound, and embodiment practices, all highly prescriptive and skillfully applied based on individual needs.
Sessions typically begin after an initial consultation and after filling out an intake form consisting of an in depth holistic wellness questionnaire. The first session includes a more detailed assessment. At the beginning of each following session, the client is briefly assessed, as our states vary based on times of the day, seasons, and other variables. A Home Plan can be devised for the client, consisting of a personalized, Yoga Therapy-based, Lifestyle Medicine Program to be followed at home with the coaching support of the Therapist.
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No yoga experience is required: in fact, many of the practices we use involve little or no movement. You can enjoy the benefits of yoga therapy and any somatic therapeutic practice even if you have very limited physical abilities.
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A: No! Y.T. is an opportunity to advance your practice by taking the focus off the more surface approach of form and effort, and delving deeper into the nuances of the inner and outer experience, allowing it to grow in depth and authenticity, perfecting it through detailed, extremely subtle explorations of familiar asana, in a realm where “less is more” and “slower is better”.
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Y. T. is ideal as a complementary modality, but it is not intended an alternative to mainstream treatment. Although Yoga Therapy is an effective integrative modality to support with some chronic and acute health conditions, just as any other alternative healing method, it is not intended as a substitute for traditional medical care. Please continue with your prescribed treatment as you explore yoga therapy as a safe, beneficial modality with the potential to promote health and support you on your ongoing healing path.
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Noticeable benefits can be experienced even after a single session, yet multiple sessions are usually more effective for obtaining lasting results. Generally speaking, a minimum of 5 to 10 sessions is suggested.
Please consider that a goal-oriented approach can often hinder rather than accelerate progress, and the healing journey is not always a straight line.
It is also important to note that ultimately, improvements are greatly dependent on the client’s willingness to put the learnings to use in everyday life and consistently practice the optional Home Plan.
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No. Yoga Therapy looks at the person as a whole, addressing physical and emotional symptoms, lifestyle, and spirituality, while respecting individual belief systems and never imposing a particular philosophical or spiritual viewpoint.
Not sure yet if Yoga Therapy can help you?
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"She addresses my problems from a variety of different complex frameworks that make up the practice of Yoga Therapy and Lifestyle Medicine."
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"Letizia identified the source of several body aches and methods to ease this discomfort, including anatomical illustrations and diagrams of simple but effective stretching and breathing exercises."
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"She has helped me resolve some lifelong issues and I am very grateful for her gentle, yet powerful approach to yoga therapy."