How is Yoga Therapy Used?

According to one of the great masters of yoga therapy from the 1900s, TVK Desikachar:

 “Yoga therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalized and evolving
Yoga practice, that not only addresses the illness in a multi-dimensional manner, but also aims to alleviate his/her suffering in a progressive, non-
invasive and complementary manner.  Depending upon the nature of the illness, Yoga therapy can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve
a means to manage the illness, or facilitate healing in the person at all levels.”

Yoga therapy aligns the unique and precise health needs of the client with yoga practices which the yoga tradition and also medical science find to
have particular curative effects.  For example, with lower back pain, there are very specific yoga positions and postures for strengthening and
supporting the back and even soothing the symptoms of a herniated disc. Likewise, with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), there are gentle,
specialised ways of regulating the nervous system and fostering the return of an awareness of the body. In Autism Spectrum Disorders, specific yoga
postures can be used to reduce heightened sensory arousal and promote emotional regulation.

Sessions may include breathing techniques, postures, meditation, relaxation techniques, or the promotion of behavioural changes.

Yoga as therapy is the use of yoga as exercise, consisting mainly of postures called asanas, as a gentle form of exercise and relaxation applied
specifically with the intention of improving health.
Yoga therapists prescribe specific regimens of postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques to suit individual needs. ... Yoga
comprises a wide range of mind/body practices, from postural and breathing exercises to deep relaxation and meditation. Yoga therapy tailors these to
the health needs of the individual.

Yoga Therapy can be used to treat:

Mental Health Conditions
 Stress
 Depression
 Anxiety
 PTSD
 Schizophrenia
 ADHD
 Eating Disorders
 Addiction
 Autism ( repeat things again and again) = swaleenta
 Post-Natal Depression

Physical Conditions
 Back Pain
 Musculaskeletal problems
 Diabetes
 High Blood Pressure
  Parkinson’s
 Asthma
 COPD
 Cancer
 HIV
 Alzheimer’s
 Brain Injury
 Multiple Sclerosis
 Autoimmune Diseases
 IBS
 Obesity
 Heart Disease
 Insomnia
 Arthritis
 Osteoporosis

ARTHRITIS ------

Arthritis is more than just wear and tear or an old person’s disease. Arthritis is very common but is not well understood. Actually, “arthritis” is
not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related
conditions. People of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50
million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get
older.

Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms may come and go. They can be
mild, moderate or severe. They may stay about the same for years but can progress or get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in
chronic pain, inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. 

Arthritis can cause permanent joint changes. These changes may be visible, such as knobby finger joints, but often the damage can only be
seen on X-ray. Some types of arthritis also affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin as well as the joints.

TYPE OF ARTHRITIS -
Degenerative Arthritis
Inflammatory Arthritis
Infectious Arthritis

Metabolic Arthritis

rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoarthritis etc………….

NOTE = chronic = long lasting, Acute= sudden

YOGA FOR ARTHIRITIS –
Surya namaskra 6-10 rounds (normal speed)
(Virabhadrasana), Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Tree Pose (Vrikshasana), Bridge Posture (SetuBandhasana), Cat Stretch (Marjariasana), and Corpse
Pose (Shavasana).

Pawanmulktasana series one – important

ASANAS PRACTICE =

STANDING ASANAS-
Tadasana , triyaktadasna, katichakrasna, hip rotations, knee rotations, neck rotations, shoulder . ( basic stretchings)

DFD, Triangle pose, Extended Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), Warrior 1( veerbhadrasana 1 ) and warrior 2 (veerbhadrasana 2) ,warrior
3( veerbhadra asana 3), tree pose , nataraj asana ( nutral),
Prighasana ,

SUPINE POSTURES- Setubandhasana, markatasana A,B,C , ardh halasana, ardh cycling, holding 30, 60, 90 etc, pawanmukasana,
noukasna , Side plank( elbow down), leg abbuduction and adduction, flextion and extension.

PRONE POSTURES-
Cobra, makrasana, dhanurasana, triyakbhujangasana , vipreet noukasana, sarpasana, puppy pose , salabhasana ( supported),

SITTING POSTURES- Jaunsirasna, bakrasna, mandukasana,

PRANAYAMS= BHASTRIKA, KAPAL-BHATI, ANULOM – VILOM, SURYABHEDI, SURYA-ANULOMVILOM PRANAYAMS, BHRAMRI

(MAXIMUM) ,UDGEET , GAYRImantra shadhan.

Yog nidra