The Origins of Yoga Therapy

What exactly is Yoga therapy, and what are itsstudies continue to reveal the results of a holistic and
origins? Should a Yoga teacher consider becoming apro-active approach to health, standard medicine will
Yoga therapist? Where will Yogic therapy go in theevolve.
future?Yoga, in itself, has always been therapy - in every
If we look at a simplistic definition of what Yogashape and form. If you look at a promising athletic
therapy is, it might be described as: A Yogic practice,child, or a student in a wheel chair, you will clearly see
which uses breathing techniques (pranayama),healthy results, which are mental, physical, emotional,
postures (asanas), hygienic duties (kriyas), properand spiritual, in nature.
diet, meditation, and many more methods, whichAfter observing martial artists, gymnasts, dancers,
treat mental, emotional, and physical ailments.and competitive athletes closely, Yoga practice is
The origin of Yoga is, at least, 5,000 years old, but amuch more than a form of cross training. Many of
contemporary school of therapy can be traced to Srithem learned to work around pre-existing injuries and
Tirumala Krishnamacharya, who is often regarded asailments, as a result of practicing Yoga on a
a teacher of master teachers. Among his studentstherapeutic level.
were T.K.V. Desikachar, T.K. Sribhashyam, K. PattabhiIn the case of children learning proper breathing
Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, Indra Devi, and more.techniques (pranayama), postures (asanas), proper
If a Yoga teacher considers becoming a therapist,diet, meditation, and deep relaxation - Yogic methods
there are a number of requirements to becomebecome a natural form of therapy, and give them
competent. One priority is to develop in-depthvaluable life skills. Children need to have the skills to
knowledge of anatomy. This will require extra trainingdeal with stress, peer pressure, and finding their way
and study. Some physical therapists, and physicians,throughout life.
are also Yoga teachers, so the jump to YogaThe most common form of contemporary Yogic
therapy is a logical one.therapy has been relief from an existing ailment. The
However, the average instructor does not have alist of potential ailments seems to be endless. We
medical background. Continuing education becomesmay naturally think of using a combination of
the next logical step in this case. Another point tostandard medical practices and Yoga therapy for
mention is that therapy, of any kind, requiresneurological disorders, such as: Multiple Sclerosis,
compassion.Stroke, Ataxia, and Parkinson's disease. Yet, there
If compassion is not a natural ingredient built into theare many more neurological disorders, diseases, and
personality of an instructor, why pursue teachingailments.
Yoga as therapy? The truth is: A personality withoutStudents and clients are seeing good results and
compassion should not be teaching classes in anyimprovements in their lives. Yogic therapy and
subject. There are a rare few people, who derivemedicine can work in harmony to treat any ailment.
pleasure from pushing others into pain. They shouldIn the case of postures (asanas): They can be
not be working with the public in any type ofmodified for anyone, even if the student is in a
care-giving capacity.hospital bed.
Where will Yoga therapy go in the future? It is only aThere are so many breathing techniques (pranayama)
matter of time for Yoga to be integrated intoto choose from; they can also be modified for the
standard medical therapies. Being cost efficient, andparticular student. Pranayama and asana are just two
without negative side effects, has made a veryaspects of a huge and evolving therapeutic field.
strong case for proponents of Yoga therapy. As