How does yoga therapy work?
Before you begin yoga therapy, you’ll meet with your yoga therapist. They’ll learn more about your health concerns, medical history and your desired outcomes. Then, the therapist will create a yoga therapy practice plan that considers your:
- Physical needs and abilities.
- Overall health.
- Your age.
- Your goals.
Following your session, your yoga therapist will give you a home practice plan based on your needs and goals. This home practice can support you in making progress and it encourages you to build a daily self-care routine.
What happens during yoga therapy?
Your yoga therapy session will include a variety of movements and stretches that increase your strength, flexibility and balance. Your yoga therapist may recommend that you wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely.
Typically, your practice will be done while seated in a chair and/or while standing with the chair nearby for extra support. Some examples of movements during a yoga therapy session include:
- Guidance on how to sit and stand properly with awareness and best position for safety and function.
- Movements for increasing range of motion and ease of movement in your joints.
- Side bends to open the mid-body and to support better breathing.
- A cat-cow pose, where you’ll inhale while lifting your heart, arching your back and lifting your tailbone. Then, you’ll exhale while rounding your back, tucking your tailbone and gazing at your belly. This stretch can help improve your posture. It also supports flexibility in your spine.
- A spinal twist, where you’ll sit and gently turn your body to the right. You’ll relax your hands down, turn and look over your right shoulder while breathing. You’ll repeat these steps on the left side. Spinal twists support healthy digestion. They also tone and strengthen your core muscles, and may relieve some lower back pain.
While you’re moving, your yoga therapist will guide you in different breathing exercises. These breath practices can help you to de-stress and manage pain. Your session will end with a relaxation practice, which helps you settle your body and mind in order to find a place of peace and calm.
How long is a yoga therapy session?
An initial yoga therapy session takes between 30 minutes to 90 minutes. For the best results, your therapist will recommend you do yoga at home in between yoga therapy sessions. Sessions at home are usually shorter, averaging about 15 minutes each.
How often should I do yoga therapy?
Your yoga therapist and your healthcare provider will recommend how long and how often you should do yoga. The amount of time you practice yoga depends on your goals and lifestyle.
