When we think about our health and fitness, yoga and meditation is the first thing that comes in our mind. According to various studies, yoga and meditation play well to keep us fit, pliable and toned. Now, there are a great number of physicians who know very-well that yoga is helpful for achieving spiritual, psychological and physiological healing.
Still, many people are confused about the difference between yoga and yoga therapy, and which one is best for them. We are here with the top highlights of yoga therapy, its benefits, and how yoga therapy is different from traditional yoga asana.
Basically, in yoga therapy, the ancient science of yoga is used to improve health and wellness, which includes all body levels: physical, spiritual and emotional. Yoga therapy always works on the way of yoga to bring balance to all aspects of life. Yoga therapy is the best option for those who want relief from specific health issues. It is also best for those who want to prevent disease, enjoy good health and slow the ageing progression.
Yoga Therapy can be used to treat:
Mental Health Conditions:
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- PTSD
- Eating Disorders
- ADHD
- Addiction
- Post-Natal Depression
- Autism
Physical Conditions:
- Musculoskeletal problems
- Back Pain
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Parkinson’s
- COPD
- HIV
- Cancer
- Brain Injury
- Alzheimer’s
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Multiple Sclerosis
- IBS
- Heart Disease
- Obesity
- Arthritis
- Insomnia
- Osteoporosis
What Should You Expect?
Once you are prepared to start your yoga therapy, your therapist will start with an initial valuation. The valuation aims to:
- Assess physical and lifestyle capability
- Identify health problems
- Create a course of treatment
- Discuss reasons for joining therapy
Once the therapy plan is established, therapy settings will most likely consist of the following components:
- Physical Postures (Asana): The therapist will use those yoga poses during the treatment, which directly address the problem areas. Let’s take it easy; the pose “legs up the wall” is designed to treat insomnia and anxiety.
- Breathing Exercises (Prayanama): The counsellor will guide you in therapy using a chain of breathing exercises ranging from balancing breaths to energising breaths.
- Meditation: Meditation includes mindfulness and relaxation when meditation is joined with yoga poses.
- Guided Imagery: The yoga therapist will use guided visualisation to calm the mind and body, which is planned to bring inner peace.
Benefits of Yoga therapy
From increasing pain tolerance to lowering blood pressure, you can find the following health benefits when you practice meditation and yoga therapy:
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Blood pressure
With regular yoga practice, we can decrease the blood pressure with better oxygenation and circulation of the body.
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Pulse rate
When your pulse rate is slow, then it indicates that your heart is very strong to supply more blood in a few beats. If you are practising yoga regularly, then you are more likely to have a lower pulse rate.
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Circulation
Yoga and meditation improve blood circulation. Yoga practice supplies oxygen and nutrients throughout your body help to have healthier organs, brain and skin.
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Respiratory
Like the circulation system, a lower breathing rate reveals that the lungs are in more efficient condition. Yoga drops the respiratory rate with a combination of better fitness and controlled breathing exercises.
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Cardiovascular endurance
A mixture of improved oxygenation and lower heart rate to the body results in higher cardiovascular endurance.
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Organs
Yoga therapy massages the inner side of the organs and improves the body’s ability to avoid disease.
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Gastrointestinal:
Yoga therapy is well-known to improve gastrointestinal functions in both men and women.
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Immunity
Yoga therapy has frequently been linked with a healthy immune system.
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Pain
Those who practice yoga or going through yoga therapy are more likely to tolerate pain tolerance as compared to others. Yoga practice also lessens some cases of chronic pain, for example, back pain.
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Metabolism
Yoga practice helps to balance metabolism. A balanced metabolism is well-known to control hunger and maintain a healthy weight.
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Ageing
Yoga and meditation inspire the detoxification procedure within the body. Detoxification is known to delay the ageing process, along with many other health benefits.
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Posture
With the help of yoga therapy, one can be able to learn the way to hold and control the body in a good position. Through constant practice, your pose will get better so that you look healthier and more confident.
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Strength
One of the evidence of yoga is that for overall strength, you are using your own body. Regular yoga practice helps to strengthen your body.
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Energy
If you are regularly going for yoga therapy, then your body can get consistent energy. According to most yogis, correct practice of yoga will not feel tired after your yoga session.
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Weight
Various studies have shown that yoga exercise helps keep your weight in control. Also, muscles stretching help to lessen the amount of fat that can form around muscles.
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Sleep
Various people get different body and mind benefits from yoga. A few of us get better sleep with regular yoga practice.
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Balance
An important part of the daily yoga practice is to control and balance your body. With constant practice, you will discover that your total balance will get better outside the yoga class.
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Body Awareness
Yoga practice will make you more aware of your own body. You are regularly asked to make subtle and small movements to improve your position. With time, it will increase your comfort level in your body. This can guide to greater self-confidence and improved posture.
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Core strength
You can have overall body strength and better posture with a strong body core. Core strength helps to reduce and heal injuries. This is the reason that many athletes practice yoga as cross-training.
If you are also thinking to join yoga therapy, then you are going on, make your body healthy. Go through the benefits mentioned above and other highlights of yoga practice for better understanding. Search for the best yoga therapist so that you can live a healthy and fit life once again!