Offered By: H. Bennett, The YOGA Workshop in Bellingham, WA

Yoga Therapy is a modality from the ancient science of yoga that is used to promote healing at all levels of the person; mental, physical, and spiritual.

Yoga Therapy is available to groups or to individuals with specific health challenges, life changes, and transitions. It is a healing journey that offers balance to the body and mind. The healing journey is unique to each individual because what may work for one may not be as effective for another. Yoga Therapy adapts to each person and modifies the practices of yoga appropriately for the individual with respect to age, culture, religion, and specific physical challenges to provide optimal health and healing of the body and mind.

Yoga techniques form the basis for treatment in Yoga Therapy. All techniques and methods of Yoga Therapy come mainly from the yoga traditions, supported by other healing modalities within the therapist's knowledge and experience.

Yoga Therapy differs from attending regular yoga classes as it's focus is to develop internal awareness to promote healing. Different techniques are used to achieve this goal.

Most regular yoga studios do not offer pranayama instruction (breathing) which plays a vital role in health, and you may find it difficult to find a yoga class that offers the full savasana (relaxation pose) with guided imagery to reduce stress and promote healing. And don't forget that instruction in meditation which has supportive clinical studies that show those with a consistent practice have increased their immune system function. Most yoga studios focus on the asanas, postures/exercise. This can be effective and enjoyable and one may not know they are missing anything, but realize that it only treats the physical body. It is a great place to start... but full benefits cannot be realized until one adds in the additional parts of the yogic program, i.e. pranayama, meditation, and other relaxation techniques.

Yoga Therapy is yoga with a specific focus. It is student centered, molding the teaching to the needs of the student to treat the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the individual. It teaches the student to know locations of stress held in the body and offers solutions to eliminate stress, tension, and pain.

Yoga Therapy is beneficial to those with health conditions or to health care specialists or businesses who would like yoga classes tailored to their specific needs.

Yoga Therapy can also help those who are out of shape and need a slow and personally designed program to move them toward optimal health.

Yoga Therapy is good for those that would like to use yoga to explore the full spectrum of their being, including feelings and emotions in a safe and non-judgemental environment.

The Yoga Therapist works in the spirit of the original meaning of the word therapy, which means 'caring for the self'. The yoga therapist will serve as a guide or mentor in the student's journey of healing and self discovery. Rather than offering a dianosis or treament for a specific condition, the yoga therapist creates a program for optimal health based on the specific needs of the student.

My reasons are many for becoming a Yoga Therapist, but mainly because it has provided me with 'the joy of living". Without optimal health it is difficult to enjoy doing/being...