Yoga Therapy

Yoga in the Indian tradition dates back over 2,500 years ago with its origins in the Vedas, India’s most ancient sacred text. Yoga is considered one of six darsanas or systems of Indian thought and is explained in detail in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, widely considered the most authoritative text on Yoga, its aims, means and purpose.
Yoga as Patanjali taught, improves our relationships with ourselves, others and the environment, enables us to transform our samskaras (patterns) and change our behavior consciously while stabilizing our health, breath, and mind state. Yoga teaches us to master the body, breath and mind experientially and live a sattvic (harmonious) life for the betterment of the world.

The term Yoga Therapy evolved from Tirumalai Krishnamacharya a yogic master, Vedic scholar and Ayurvedic practitioner born in 1888. He spent over seven years with his teacher in the Himalayas before being directed by him to heal others and spread the message of yoga. He was the teacher of BKS Iyengar, Indra Devi and Pattabhi Jois, all of whom helped propagate Yoga in the West.

T. Krishnamacharya treated students holistically with Ayurveda and yoga and utilized these tools as a holistic therapy to heal all manners of disease and illness. The Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India functions as a clinic where people from all walks of life come to heal themselves through yoga and learn from their teachers on a one-to-one basis, just as in ancient times. Fundamentally, yoga teaches us about relationship, to self, to others and the world around us and through cultivating these intimate connections, healing begins.

Sanskrit being a highly evolved language has numerous meanings for Yoga however, these few stand out: “to unite,” “to tie the strands of the mind together,” to attain what was previously unattainable,” “to be one with the Divine.” Yoga is the means through which we become present moment to moment and are able to maintain a steadfast focus of mind in order to achieve our goals. Through diligent practice whether it be through studying the yoga sutras, chanting, bhavana (intention), visualization, meditation, asana or pranayama, all tools of yoga, we become attentive and aware of our every action. It is a practice of looking inward rather than outward to discover who we truly are as human beings.

Individualized Instruction

Sessions begin with an initial consultation to assess and discuss the student's intentions and capabilities. Following the consultation, the student generally attends a minimum of three follow-up classes. This enables the student to cultivate a dedicated home practice, evolve with it and experience the beneficial results therein while deepening their conviction in the process itself. It allows a relationship to develop whereby the student feels supported and empowered as they progress toward a specific goal(s) be it health, healing or spiritual transformation. Refining the home practice over time, facilitates the student's progress and allows them to experientially feel the efficacy of the practice as they evolve toward their goal(s). Students commonly notice a greater sense of ease, relaxed awareness and well-being which promotes health and healing, improved ability to handle stress, better mastery and capacity of the breath, and improved relationships in all areas of life.

Private practice is suitable for novice to long-time yogic practitioners and may be used for the practical goals of building strength and flexibility, increasing breath capacity and awareness, reducing stress, maintaining or promoting health or to address various stages and transitions in life. Other "intangible," qualitative goals may include fostering introspection and personal or spiritual transformation. It is also suitable for creating a personal home practice simply to manage daily life.

Allowing the student to use the tools of Yoga in an individualized way for an extended period of time, promotes greater self-dcovery, transformation and healing at all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. As appropriate to the student, the following tools may be utilized: conscious breathing, asana (postures), sound, self-inquiry, intention, visualization, and meditation. The chosen tools (which may vary over time as the student progresses), are integrated to move the student in the direction of their healing and/or personal transformation goals. Each practice addresses the student's current needs, health condition, capacity, age, and lifestyle.

Yoga philosophy reminds us that reaching a state of Yoga or any specific goal in life, requires committed effort, sustained over a period of time without interruptions, combined with a positive attitude, motivation and conviction that we will succeed in our journey. Even amidst the hectic pace of modern life, the student who creates time to practice and commits to healing or transforming themselves, will reach their full human potential.

Group Instruction

These can be arranged upon request and in accordance with a particular group's needs. While Yoga Therapy is classically taught one-on-one, group classes can be an effective, communal way to introduce the holistic healing aspect of yoga or to provide support for a group with similar needs, goals or intentions.

Classes can be based upon specific themes such as: general relaxation, stress reduction, breath awareness, meditation, basic introduction to Yoga or to facilitate management or improvement of a particular condition or issue. We will mutually decide how best to suit the needs of your group.