Yoga Therapy

Yoga Therapy Pricing

Initial Consultation – 90 minutes $150
(includes first prescribed practice and 30 minute follow up within seven days of initial consult)

Ongoing Sessions - 6O minutes $100

A Yoga Therapist is accredited at the highest industry standard as compiled and maintained by the AAYT, they must be a Yoga Teacher (minimum of 350hr Yoga Teacher Training Certification) who has completed a further minimum of 2 years additional study, practical mentoring and internship with ongoing requirements for professional development. These extensive studies are to enable a Yoga Therapist to work at the deeper level required for vulnerable or fragile students in a therapeutic setting. Yoga Therapy draws from the principles of Yoga and the full range of Yoga practices, bio-medical knowledge and assessment skills to establish a professional relationship with the student, generally in a clinic setting. Together, the therapist and student develop a self-empowering therapeutic program appropriate to the student’s individual needs.  As a student walks their own specific path in the opposite direction of their problem, they are guided by the Yoga Therapist with ongoing review, progress and assessment until the student is ready, with a good understanding of the tools at hand, to walk the path on their own. 

Sutra 2:15 Parinama-Tapa-Samskara-Duhkaih-Gunavritti-Virodhat-Ca-Dukham-Eva-Sarvam-Vivekinah - Sri Patanjali  What are the cause of unpleasant or painful effects?

Ill health and chronic injury are often compounded by multiple contributing factors.  For this reason, Yoga Therapy engages in a holistic approach, encompassing the wellbeing of the whole person including the psychological impact of any condition. In other words, Yoga Therapy targets the problem, as well as the problems of the problem. The Yoga Therapy assessment is multifaceted and encompasses all areas of the individual. It is with this assessment that the Yoga Therapist seeks to ascertain the core issue/s and causes that seed the presenting conditions including belief systems, lifestyle and other personal challenges to create highly individualized practices that work hand in hand with the student’s own goals.

The techniques that a Yoga Therapist may utilize include asana (postures), pranayama (breath awareness and techniques), mudra (gestures), visualisations, chanting, relaxation, meditation, dietary advice, lifestyle counselling and self-development guidance. These practices are applied to ensure increased functional efficiency and strengthening (where appropriate) at all levels: physical, pranic (vayus, nadis and cakras) as well as psychological and deeper. Due to its comprehensive nature, Yoga Therapy works as a supportive and complimentary modality across the broadest spectrum of ailments from addiction recovery to spinal injuries, diabetes to insomnia, chronic pain to cardiac conditions.

A Yoga Therapist guides the process of self-study (svadhyaya) so that the student can reach a deep place of self-understanding. In knowing themselves, the student can become more empowered, more refined in the maintenance and management of their own daily health needs moving forward.

Yoga Therapy sits within the complete spiritual system of Yoga as a professionally-assisted modality, utilizing the tools of yoga, for self-empowered redirection out of presenting problems. Yoga Therapy is within the parameters of science, whereas Yoga is to go beyond science and come to that which cannot be measured. Yoga Therapy is to treat problems - in the form of any injury or illness at the physical, physiological or psychological levels - presenting at that moment in time.

Yoga Therapy Sessions: What To Expect

Yoga Therapy empowers and supports individuals to manage their own health using the principles of Yoga and applying a range of Yoga tools developed within the professional therapeutic relationship.  Yoga Therapy is most commonly provided by way of an individual consultation, although small therapeutic groups may be offered for those working toward a common goal such as a couple working toward overcoming fertility issues.  Yoga therapy is an adjunct to other healthcare supports and a Yoga Therapist is qualified to work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support your wellness. 

The four steps of progression:

1) Rest and Release
2) Functional Restoration
3) Strength Building
4) Empowerment of the Person

No prior yoga experience is necessary to benefit from Yoga Therapy, it is the role of the Therapist to support and instruct the student/client to employ the techniques at their level of knowledge, capacity and wellbeing. Yoga Therapy by nature is to meet everybody - regardless of age, fitness, state of health, belief system or prior experience of yoga - where they are at. In this, Yoga Therapy is suitable for all people.

A Yoga Therapy session usually runs for 60 to 90 minutes. A student should expect to attend more than one session over several months to ensure a) that the techniques of practice are being executed in the best possible way, b) to confirm they are working in the direction of the goal and c) to ensure that as the student progresses out of the problem, the practice progresses with the student.

To put simply, Yoga is for daily maintenance and spiritual progression, Yoga Therapy is for direct dissolution of present problems and progression toward new levels of health.

Co-Authored by Lissie Turner C-AAYT and Ellen Nash C-IAYT / C-AAYT. Acknowledgement to the writings and teachings of Sri Krishnamacharya as the founder of Yoga Therapy and to TKV Desikachar, Dr Natesan Chandrasekaran, Saraswathi Vasudevan and Gary Kraftsow from whom inspiration on themes and references are contained within this explanation.