This article is evidence-based, verified by John Cottrell, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is it different from Yoga and traditional psychotherapy<\/a>? Letâs take a look at yoga therapy to examine its origins, how it works, and the professionâs future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, we'll cover:<\/p>\n
In Yogaâs modern era, it is straightforward to find yoga classes in your gym, community center, and in a stand-alone studio at your nearby strip mall. Yoga is everywhere; it is no longer that mysterious entity that only hippies practiced back in the 1960s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone from lawyers, school teachers, skateboarding teenagers, basketball stars, and fashion models are practicing Yoga. They are taking part in weekly Hot Yoga classes, Mindfulness Meditation, and Power Yoga sessions to improve their bodies and minds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hot Yoga<\/a>, for example, is an intense practice that tests oneâs fortitude and dedication. Itâs both challenging to the physical body as well as the mind. The heat not only makes you sweat, but it limbers up the body so you can twist your physique into some dynamic yoga poses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those experiencing stress and anxiety, attending a regular Mindfulness Meditation<\/a> is the perfect remedy for soothing and quieting that âmonkey mind.â <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For as long as Yoga has existed, it has always lent itself to every individualâs healing and well-being. It is a way of life, a philosophy, an exercise, and some would even call it therapy. It not only results in changing the physical body but also shifts the intellectual and emotional mind in many ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is even a yoga style called Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga<\/a>, also known as Yoga Chikitsa (Cheh-keet-SAH). When translated, the phrase means âYoga Therapy.â Ashtanga<\/a> is a system of Yoga comprised of established postures and sequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It unites breath and movement in a uniquely deliberate fashion. When practiced regularly, it is said to dissolve physical and mental afflictions; it generates vibrant health and a keen sense of self-awareness<\/a>. It is organized into six evolving series. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although this style of Yoga has been called âyoga therapy,â you wouldnât be able to pull out your health insurance<\/a> card to pay for an Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga session. But why not? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Established in 1999, Yoga Alliance<\/a> is an organization that created and standardized the principles and ethics for yoga teachers and yoga studios. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what about things like trauma, addiction, depression<\/a>, anxiety, and other mental illness? These are genuine issues for many people today. Can Yoga help with these conditions, too? Yes, it certainly can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To maximize the therapeutic benefits of Yoga, another organization needed to be formed. The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)<\/a> was that organization. It was established in 1989: yes, ten years BEFORE Yoga Alliance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mission of the association is to legitimize the therapeutic value of Yoga. It supports Yogaâs professional research and education and a reliable resource for yoga teachers and certified yoga therapists worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although there is plenty of science to support the positive outcomes of engaging in a yoga practice, it is not recognized (yet) as a formal medical treatment for specific conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the main goals of IAYT is to create the necessary standards that resemble those of becoming a licensed psychologist, pediatrician, or another form of therapist. Currently, one cannot become a Licensed Yoga Therapist, but that may change very soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Association of Yoga Therapists has its eyes set on the following: a person having the opportunity to receive a referral from their primary health care provider to see a Yoga Therapist for complimentary treatment of emotional and mental conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Doesnât that sound pretty remarkable?) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is the main reason IAYT exists; to create and regulate the structure to promote yoga therapyâs legitimacy. It will only expand the idea of Yoga as we already know it. We KNOW that it works. We KNOW that it is valuable. We KNOW that it promotes health and healing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This also opens the door for those wanting to pursue a career in the healing arts. Yoga Therapy will be seen as a comprehensive and legitimate field for therapy clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government entities will also know the importance of this area of service. Yoga Therapy can be added to the list of potential modes of treatment, self-development, and improved healthcare for many people in need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proper funding for yoga therapy treatment centers is another goal of the association. And yes, your health insurance will be able to pay for these types of treatment. (Another goal of IAYT.) It will ultimately broaden the healthcare industry providing many more holistic options for individuals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you visit the Yoga Alliance website, you can search for yoga studios and schools worldwide that offer yoga teacher training. The minimum set of hours needed to become a teacher is 200 hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The aspiring yoga teacher will learn the general components of Yoga: history, philosophy, ethics, anatomy, styles of Yoga, and how to teach Yoga to individuals and groups. Once training is complete from a Yoga Alliance accredited school, you can call yourself a Certified Registered Yoga Teacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will now have the ability to teach the concepts of Yoga to your students. But remember, you will not be able to call yourself a Yoga Therapist. To remain certified as a yoga teacher, a registered instructor must partake in continuing education to stay up to date with the styles, standards, and ethics of Yoga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One can even participate in additional training programs to become certified in more specialized areas of yoga instruction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you have learned the foundation of becoming a yoga teacher, you can further your training to become a Yoga Therapist. This takes additional formal training in a school that has been accredited by IAYT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a rigorous accreditation process<\/a> for a yoga school to offer such a program. This is highly specialized training. It takes what you have learned in your general education as a yoga teacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Yoga Therapy formula results in a practice that focuses on asana (yoga postures), Pranayama (yoga breathing), meditation, and a yoga concept called Vihara. This refers to personal lifestyle modifications, like your diet, for example. A particular part of the Vihara spectrum is called Ayurveda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ayurveda is an alternative medical system<\/a> with its roots in India, much like the origins of Yoga. In its earliest forms, Ayurvedic practitioners developed compounds using herbs, minerals, and other plant-based materials to create medicines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This may be an ideal mode of treatment for someone searching for something less intellectual and more holistic. Not only is the mind stimulated in a yoga therapy session, but the physical body is also, too. Just like the brain, the body can learn, perceive, and remember. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is why Tantra became a critical part of the yoga evolution. Up until the third and fourth centuries, Yoga did not incorporate movement and yoga postures. In the development of the Post-Classical Era of Yoga, critics, called the Tantricas, claimed that Yoga was too intellectual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They offered notions that awareness of the physical body was also essential to acknowledge along the path toward mental clarity and self-actualization. Tantra Yoga, as a result, involved dynamic breathwork and physical movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It introduced the notion that your body is a temple and must be cared for profoundly as your intellectual mind. (Does this sound familiar?) When the idea of movement was presented along with the philosophical standards, the process of healing became much more accessible; more people could take advantage of the fundamentals and teachings of Yoga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is what may happen in a yoga therapy session. First, instead of sitting on comfortable couches or office chairs, youâll most likely sit on yoga cushions and yoga mats<\/a> in a furniture-less space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yoga classes continue to be a reliable source of health for many people around the globe. Yoga Therapy adds to that reliability. One can use both as a means to a positive end: a positive sense of self and a more fantastic outlook on life. Support the efforts of Yoga Alliance and the Association of Yoga Therapists; they only strive to bring health and healing to all who seek it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Does Yoga Affect The Vagus Nerve? <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n