A Yoga Therapist is an experienced Yoga Teacher with qualifications, specialised skills in the application of Yoga within a therapeutic setting.

A Yoga Therapist 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 client.  Together, the therapist and client will develop a self-empowering therapeutic program appropriate to the client’s needs.

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Yoga Therapists registered by AAYT have undertaken additional training beyond that of a yoga teaching qualification and adhere to professional ethics, guidelines and codes relating to the practice of Yoga Therapy in Australia.

Yoga Therapy may occur in the following settings; Individualised yoga therapeutic consultations that occur in a one to one setting.

 

However, as the therapeutic value of the sanga (group) is widely understood and supported by evidence-based research, Yoga Therapy can also take the following forms:

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• Specialised ground, such as Yoga for Fertility and Yoga for post-traumatic stress syndrome.  In this setting, the Yoga Therapist recognises that, while there are similarities within the group, individual differences need to be taken into account and that a “one size fits all” approach is not Yoga Therapy.  In this situation, individual assessment will occur prior to class entry.

• A group therapeutic yoga class consisting of people with a variety of illnesses and/or conditions.  Again, individual modifications will be given and individual assessment provided prior to class entry.

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The general long-term goals of Yoga Therapy include:

• reducing the symptoms of suffering that can be reduced

• managing the symptoms that cannot be reduced

• rooting out causes wherever possible

• improving life function, and

• shifting attitude and perspective in relationship to life’s challenges.