Difference between Yoga classes and Yoga Therapy

When we look at the history of Yoga, how it used to be taught in India, it actually looks a lot like what we now call Yoga Therapy. A teacher and student working together to find physical, emotional and spiritual homeostasis. In short, this is what Yoga Therapy is all about. Therapists (certified ones) have had extensive training on both Western and Eastern medicine and Yogic philosophy to help their students come back to this homeostasis. We look at how students talk, how they walk, how they breathe & move. We listen to their stories, their relationships, their worries & joys. We use Yogic models like the Kosha’s and the Vayus to deepen our understanding of our students and the medical issues they are suffering from. All of this plays a part when we start to work together, completely tailor made practices to make sure we always work safely and without pain. As you can see, this is quite different from the Yoga class you may take occasionally in your neighborhood gym or studio. This doesn’t mean you cannot reap any benefits from going to regular Yoga classes. When I started practicing Yoga those group classes gave me many insights into my own being, which helped me deal with a lot of my suffering. But I do believe there are times in our lives when those group classes could actually do us more harm than good. Especially when safety, physically and/or mentally, cannot be guaranteed. Usually these times also demand a more skilled and trained professional. That’s when Yoga Therapy can give you all the goodness Yoga has to offer. The work a Yoga Therapist and student do together will end at some point, but hopefully the practice of Yoga will be everlasting whether in private or returning back to class.