Yoga vs. Yoga Therapy

By: Mindy Eisenberg, MHSA, C-IAYT, ERYT-500 with Bettyanne Hodges, Director of Marketing, YMMS

Yoga is known for its ability to improve physical health, mental clarity, and overall well-being. In recent years, a more specialized branch of this ancient practice has emerged: yoga therapy. While both yoga and yoga therapy share common roots, they differ in approach, intent, and application.

Yoga: A Holistic Practice for Everyone

Yoga is a broad discipline that encompasses physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation, and ethical guidelines. It aims at unifying the mind, body, and spirit, promoting balance and harmony. Traditional yoga classes are designed for the general population, offering a variety of styles and intensity levels, from vigorous Vinyasa to gentle Hatha.

In a typical yoga class, the teacher guides students through a series of poses and sequences designed to improve flexibility, strength, and balance while encouraging relaxation and mindfulness. These classes are usually structured around a one-size-fits-all approach; modifications are offered, not the focus. The goal is to encourage overall health and wellness, reducing stress, improving physical fitness, and enhancing mental clarity.

Yoga Therapy: A Tailored Approach to Healing

Yoga therapy takes a more individualized and clinical approach beginning with a thorough assessment by a certified yoga therapist. Rooted in the same principles as traditional yoga, yoga therapy is designed to address the whole-person and needs of individuals dealing with health challenges, such as chronic illness, injury, or disability. Yoga therapy integrates yoga philosophy with an in-depth understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and psychology. Yoga therapy allows individuals who might not be able to participate in a conventional yoga class to experience the benefits of yoga. Specific applications of yoga tools such as poses, breath work, meditation, and guided relaxation are offered to address an individual’s physical, mental and emotional needs.

Key Differences Between Yoga and Yoga Therapy:

• Intention and Focus:
  • Yoga: Aims at general well-being, fitness, and relaxation.
  • Yoga Therapy: Focuses on healing, rehabilitation, and managing specific health conditions with a holistic approach.
• Personalization:
  • Yoga: Offers generalized guidance with some modifications for different levels of practice.
  • Yoga Therapy: Provides highly individualized instruction tailored to the person’s health status, motivation, and interest, with specific adaptations and therapeutic interventions.
• Instructor Training:
  • Yoga: Instructors are trained to lead group classes and promote overall wellness.
  • Yoga Therapy: Professional yoga therapists undergo significant additional training in fascial anatomy, physiology, pathology, and Ayurveda (the ancient Indian science of medicine and sister science to yoga) enabling them to work safely with individuals with medical conditions. Yoga therapists are certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and often specialize in a certain area.
• Application:
  • Yoga: Typically practiced in a group setting, focusing on physical postures and mindfulness.
  • Yoga Therapy: Often involves one-on-one or small groups sessions, with a focus on specific therapeutic goals, such as pain management, improving mobility, or reducing symptoms of a particular condition. With a movement to merge yoga therapy and healthcare, sessions and classes are often in healthcare settings including hospitals, clinics, and integrative medical centers.

While traditional yoga and yoga therapy share a common foundation, their applications are quite different. Yoga Moves MS aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with neuromuscular conditions, in a supportive environment. Classes offer a therapeutic approach, enhancing physical function, helping alleviate or lessen symptoms, and supporting emotional well-being. A typical class might involve gentle stretches, breathing exercises, and guided relaxation. One powerful benefit of small group classes is that students become a member of a supportive community facing similar challenges and with similar interests. To learn more about our specialized classes for students with MS, Parkinson’s Disease, and related conditions visit our website or YouTube channel.