What to Expect During a Yoga Therapy Session
Yoga Therapy is an emerging field and many people are unsure what a yoga therapy session entails. Is it like talk therapy? Is it basically just a private yoga session? The answer to both of those question’s is NO. Yoga therapy is a unique holistic healthcare modality.
Here are four main things you can expect to experience in a session. Keep in mind that some sessions will focus on just one of these areas while other sessions might incorporate all four or even other things not listed here.
1. Holistic Care
Yoga Therapy takes into consideration the interconnectedness of your body, mind and soul. For example, stress and trauma can manifest as physical pain or tension. Mental distress, like anxiety or grief, can start to show up as digestive distress, sleep disturbances or joint pain. Also some things like headaches, can be caused by muscle tension. The list goes on and on…
As a yoga therapist myself, I will ask clients about stress, sleep, diet, lifestyle, etc… so that I can understand you as a whole and complex person before recommending any tools.
2. Patience & Active Listening
In a yoga therapy session, you can expect patience. You will not be rushed. This time is for you. Your yoga therapist is trained to listen and hold space for whatever you’re going through without judgement. Yoga therapists are not psychologists (unless they have an additional degree too!) but they can be great listeners. Human to human we can benefit from connection and support.
In sessions, I’ve noticed that some of my clients like to spend most of the time checking in and talking about things they’ve experienced that week while others like to get right into movement and breathing exercises.
A good yoga therapist will meet you where you’re at and provide tools that resonate with you. Each day and session will be a slightly different to fit your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask or tell your yoga therapist if something they are doing or suggesting doesn’t resonate with you. This is a collaborative environment.
3. Meditation and Breathwork
Many yoga therapy sessions incorporate a meditation or mindfulness practice to help ground your energy at the beginning of the session. Your yoga therapist may also teach a variety of breathwork techniques, also known as pranayama. Breathwork is an excellent tool for learning to regulate your nervous system.
Like breathwork, there are many forms of meditation. Your yoga therapist can recommend styles of meditation to suit you needs. They may also simply teach you how to meditate if you aren’t sure where to start.
4. Movement/Asana
Asana is the Sanskrit word that describes the physical postures that you do during a yoga class. These movements and poses all have unique benefits.
In yoga therapy, poses can be used to rehab injuries, improve mobility, build strength, improve balance and/or help with lymphatic drainage and cardiovascular health. Your yoga therapist will be able to recommend poses and types of movement to suit your needs.
Written by Kendall Wood - Learn more about me HERE.
