Therapeutic Yoga
With the popularity that yoga has achieved in recent years, yoga instructors find themselves faced with an array of students requiring special attention for a variety of structural and physiological limitations. Therapeutic yoga is yoga with the intent of giving relief from physical pain and improving joint and organ functions. This perspective on yoga is related to, yet different from a yoga practice that stretches, opens and relaxes a person in general.
Understanding proper alignment in the poses can help balance joint instability as well as decompress the organ systems, leading to improved function and an increase in life force, or prana. Knowledge of various disease processes will also be helpful. With spinal injuries or disorders, an understanding of the difference between a pinched nerve, a ruptured disk, spondylolysis or osteoporosis will help to guide the yoga poses recommended and the details of their execution. For example, with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) there is a tendency for the nervous system to overwork, generating heat and fatigue. Depending on the progression of the disease, challenges with balance and joint pain may also need to be considered when helping the student develop an effective yoga practice.
In order to meet the needs of yoga students, it is important to have an understanding of the anatomy of muscles, joints, and organs, as well as of human physiology, and how all these things are affected by the yoga poses. Additionally, the teacher needs to assist the student in addressing their pain thresholds. Learning to work with the pain, not against it, is an important factor in the healing process.
Private sessions are appropriate for:
Students requiring special attention:
Private therapeutic sessions can have a strong impact on the quality of life when dealing with structural and physiological limitations.
Students that are new to yoga:
Private Yoga sessions allow you to learn proper alignment and fundamental poses.
Advanced students:
Private Yoga can help deepen your practice in specific areas to further develop and progress.
Students interested in becoming teachers:
Private Yoga sessions assist you in applying teaching principles to your practice.
Please contact one of our staff members at (760) 720-YOGA (9642) or via email if you have additional questions or to schedule an appointment.
|
