Yoga as Therapy
What is Yoga as Therapy
Yoga as Therapy is the professional application of the principles and practices of Yoga to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personalised assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management and yoga practices for individuals. It is an evolving field, which focuses on using clinical evidence-based yogic practices in the treatment of specific health conditions.
At SANAR we only apply this to musculoskeletal conditions. We have however a referral protocol in place for those conditions that are outside our scope of practice.
Yoga as Therapy can be adapted to mitigate body imbalances to avoid injury and for rehabilitation and body realignment, as well as for relaxation and reduction of stress.
Yoga is for everyone regardless of their knowledge on yoga and ability.
What to expect of a Yoga Therapy session
When visiting a Yoga Therapist, the client will be subject to a detailed assessment in advance of embarking on any practice or exercise.
An individualised treatment plan will be drawn up, which may be modified as the treatment progresses, according to client’s condition and response.
As we concentrate on musculoskeletal conditions a session might be preceded or followed by a therapeutic deep tissue massage. Your therapist will advise you accordingly.
Please note that a Yoga Therapy session should not replace a regular yoga class or practice.
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Yoga Therapy is a practice mainly focused on recovering health at a physical, mental, emotional and energetic level. The different yoga techniques provide us with tools and resources to restore balance through a process of body awareness, relaxation and self-observation, in order to recover vitality.
There are different methods to apply yoga techniques. Some are anatomical and structural, others are based on the somatic and mindfulness, and others are integrative approaches that combine many techniques and practices.
At SANAR in a Yoga Therapy session, repeated movements of the body and breathing techniques are used, as well as postures performed with the help of supports, wooden or cork blocks, belts, chairs, blankets, and ropes. The practice, at a structural level, focuses on restoring body alignment. Yoga postures (asanas) allow us to explore and work our ailments, finding different variations in posture, so that we can apply the one that suits a particular condition, according to our ability and limitations.
A Yoga Therapy session offers a practice adapted and accessible to the abilities of the client, regardless of age or condition. It is a practice especially recommended for people who have some type of limitation of movement or injury, as well as for the elderly, or those unfamiliar with yoga.
In a Yoga Therapy session at SANAR, the postures are practiced with a clear anatomical focus to improve alignment. The movements work gradually through pain, to regain mobility and pliability.
All yoga practices are healing, but the way we apply them is what makes them therapeutic.
The healing process (SANAR in Spanish) requires perseverance, effort, and great patience. For this it is necessary to make the decision to attend to ourselves on many levels, making changes in our lifestyle, cultivating a positive attitude, reflecting on the origin of the injury or condition, beyond the symptoms. It is a process that requires setting accessible goals, feeling confident and valuing every small improvement we make.
At SANAR our goal is to provide you with the right tools and knowledge to practice yoga in a safe and autonomous way, and to be able to use these resources to improve your quality of life and restore balance. Therefore, the sessions are usually individual, to be able to offer you a careful and personalized attention.
It is not necessary to have an able and flexible body to enjoy the benefits of yoga.
"Yoga teaches us to heal what is not necessary to endure, and to endure what cannot be cured."
B.K.S Iyengar