What Is Yoga Therapy — And Where to Find It on the Big Island of Hawaii
The International Association of Yoga Therapists defines Yoga Therapy as "the professional application of the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personal assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and yoga practices for individuals or small groups."
That's the clinical definition. Here's how I'd put it: Yoga Therapy is a personalized, specialized healing approach that focuses on empowering each person to remember their innate wholeness. The very practice of yoga is a practice of remembering that at the very essence of who we are, we are all already whole and complete…and nothing can change that wholeness. Yoga Therapy takes that truth and applies it therapeutically through yoga practices, meeting you exactly where you are.
What Does a Yoga Therapy Session Look Like?
If any of that still feels a little vague, no worries! This post was made for you. Yoga therapy can look many ways, and before we go any further, it's important to know that no yoga therapy treatment plan will look the same, because we are all unique beings on our own paths. We all resonate with different yoga practices at different times in our lives. Listening to the feedback from your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies will help you (and your Yoga Therapist) determine which practices are right for you.
Yoga Therapy is rooted in and inspired by the traditions of yoga, which trace back thousands of years to South Asia. As mentioned earlier, it is the therapeutic application of yoga practices to promote health and well-being. In a Yoga Therapy session, practices could include gentle movement (asana), breathing techniques to increase the flow of prana (pranayama), mantra and sound, mudra, meditation, and visualization.
There are many ways to receive Yoga Therapy, the most popular method being a 1:1 session with a Yoga Therapist. Typically, if you are meeting 1:1, you'll start by completing an intake form, then go over your goals together during your introduction session. From there, you may move into some practices, and when you leave, your therapist will give you a protocol or "treatment plan" so you can implement these practices into your routine. Sessions are usually around an hour, and most people meet with their therapist anywhere from a few sessions to a few months, depending on what they're working through. There will typically be multiple sessions, but the goal of the Yoga Therapist is not to keep seeing you forever. The goal is that you feel empowered to carry these practices on your own and adjust as needed. By meeting 1:1, you receive more personalized guidance that empowers you to return to yourself and remember the wholeness that is within.
There are also group yoga therapy classes, workshops, and retreats. All of these offerings are growing in popularity as the field of Yoga Therapy itself gains recognition.
Who Is Yoga Therapy For?
Yoga Therapy can be for everyone. A person may seek out a Yoga Therapist for a variety of reasons, including:
anxiety, stress, overwhelm
grief
chronic pain
addiction recovery
overcoming a life obstacle
navigating a life change
sleep disorders
structural imbalances
neurological conditions
As a Yoga Therapist-in-Training based on the Big Island of Hawaii, I meet with clients both virtually and in person out of a studio in Kailua-Kona. My clients have varying levels of comfort and familiarity with yoga. I specialize in working with clients who are navigating anxiety, stress, life changes, and/or chronic pain. My sessions are individualized to meet each client's needs and are collaborative. My goal is to meet you exactly where you are, guide you in the therapeutic application of yoga, and support you in your journey back to a more grounded and empowered state of being.
What Is the Difference Between a Yoga Class and a Yoga Therapy Session?
This is a common question! Typically, a group yoga class in the West in modern times will focus primarily on asana, with some breathing and meditation woven in. Sometimes a group class will be built around a theme that may be physical, spiritual, or emotional - and sometimes there won't be a theme at all. A Yoga Therapy session, by contrast, is typically 1:1 and is built around the client's intention: you seek out a Yoga Therapist for a specific reason or goal, and the session uses the therapeutic application of yoga practices to address that goal. Because the sessions are 1:1, the treatment protocol becomes a genuine collaboration between Therapist and Client, rather than something handed to you or something you experience in a one hour group class.
Where Can I Find a Yoga Therapist on the Big Island of Hawaii?
If you are on the Big Island and interested in meeting with a Yoga Therapist, please click here to book a Connection Call with me. I am a Yoga Therapist-in-Training and a registered 500-hr yoga teacher. I currently offer 1:1 yoga therapy sessions virtually and in person, as well as small group classes based in Kailua-Kona on the west side of the Big Island. You can also visit the IAYT website to search for Yoga Therapy professionals across Hawaii.
More About Me
I have been a dedicated yoga student for 20 years, starting in high school with group yoga classes. Over time, my own practice began to naturally become more therapeutic. I found myself turning to yoga in times of hardship, uncertainty, physical pain, stress, anxiety, and through major life changes. I noticed the unwavering ability yoga had to help me return to the peace of my own being, and with that peace, I experienced the embodied feeling of "being whole" completely on my own. By then, I had completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training and found a lot of joy in sharing yoga with others, while still feeling very much like a student myself, right alongside everyone else in the room.
I decided to pursue my Yoga Therapist certification so I could share the impactful ability yoga has in a therapeutic setting - especially in our modern world, where we're often moving at 100 miles an hour. Yoga Therapy is one of the first forms of healing I've found that truly meets you where you are. The ability to share this practice with others is the greatest gift.
I have completed my 300-hour Foundations in Yoga Therapy with Inner Peace Yoga Therapy, the first step toward the full 800-hour certification. The training dove deep into the ancient teachings and philosophies of the yoga tradition. It introduced the many ways these practices can be applied therapeutically to help heal and return to the self. I am now enrolled in the advanced training, which focuses on Applied Yoga Therapy and Mentorship.
