ABC’s Medical Series Doctor’s Orders investigates the rising number of doctors who are prescribing yoga as therapy for many pediatric patients. In the video two young girls demonstrate how doing yoga has helped them. One is fighting brain cancer, another living with ADHD. Thanks to Childlight Yoga Blog The Kids Yoga Resource for highlighting this video.
What is Yoga Therapy
Yoga Therapy is using yoga as a means to connect the mind and body to address mental and physical problems. It begins with the understanding that our physical , mental, emotional and spiritual aspects are integrated. It is not a new style of yoga, but an application of the art and practice focusing on the alleviation of many different ailments. Some ailments which have seen success when using Yoga Therapy include, but are not limited to:
- back pain
- hypertension
- heart conditions
- asthma
- diabetes
- depression
- hyperactivity
- cancer
- fibromyalgia
- migraine
- insomnia
- RSI
- stress
How does Yoga Therapy Work
- counselling
- conscious and mindful breathing exercises
- appropriately sequenced and individualized physical movements – poses
- meditative practices
- visualization and affirmations
- use of sound and mantra
- guided relaxation & yoga nidra
The Yoga Therapy Toronto explains another key component to Yoga Therapy’s success.
The other key advantage of yoga is that it empowers people in the healing process. Rather, than being a passive recipient of treatment, the student is actively engaged in the path to well-being and is primarily responsible for their recovery. The role of the teacher is that of guide, directing the student to tools for recovery and teaching the right way to implement these tools. Once this is done, it is then the role of the student to practice it diligently, observe changes, and notify the teacher for any changes. Thus the healing comes from within the student, rather than from the outside. This powerful system has helped many thousands of students who have sought yoga as the solution to their problems.
If you want to find out more about what is Yoga Therapy visit the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Also Linda’s Yoga Journey recounts her experience with Yoga Therapy for back pain in Getting Back to Yoga.
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I recently had an interesting conversation regarding the perception of yoga therapy and very much appreciate the emphasis you have put on the fact that it’s the empowerment of people to guide themselves in their own healing process, rather than a ‘medicine’ to cover up symptoms. For those of us who have experienced the transformational effects of yoga on both psychological and physical levels, we know that true healing comes from looking within to connect with our true self. When mind and body connect, blockages are removed and suffering is reduced. Not a quick fix, to be sure. But a pure healthy one that can help us to reach levels of wellness that go well beyond the physical.
P.S. Also, thanks so much for mentioning our new Kids Yoga Resource Blog at http://www.thekidsyogaresoure.com