Teaching Yoga as Therapy

By Paul Jerard

Yoga, in itself, has always been therapy - in every shape and form. If you look at a promising athletic child, or a student in a wheel chair, you will clearly see healthy results, which are mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual, in nature.

After observing martial artists, gymnasts, dancers, and competitive athletes closely, Yoga practice is much more than a form of cross training. Many of them learned to work around pre-existing injuries and ailments, as a result of practicing Yoga on a therapeutic level.

In the case of children learning proper breathing techniques (pranayama), postures (asanas), proper diet, meditation, and deep relaxation - Yogic methods become a natural form of therapy, and give them valuable life skills. Children need to have the skills to deal with stress, peer pressure, and finding their way throughout life.

The most common form of contemporary Yogic therapy has been relief from an existing ailment. The list of potential ailments seems to be endless. We may naturally think of using a combination of standard medical practices and Yoga therapy for neurological disorders, such as: Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Ataxia, and Parkinson's disease. Yet, there are many more neurological disorders, diseases, and ailments.

Students and clients are seeing good results and improvements in their lives. Yogic therapy and medicine can work in harmony to treat any ailment. In the case of postures (asanas): They can be modified for anyone, even if the student is in a hospital bed.

There are so many breathing techniques (pranayama) to choose from; they can also be modified for the particular student. Pranayama and asana are just two aspects of a huge and evolving therapeutic field.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA - http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com - He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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