What does yoga mean for you? Is it synonymous with exercise, with meditation, or both? How could yoga be used for healing? What is it that is being healed?

Let’s examine three principles of Yoga Therapy and their benefits to you, and in doing so you may see the answers to those questions.

Principle 1 – Yoga Therapy is the conscious application of the many techniques and concepts of yoga to enhance health and wellness. As we human beings are multidimensional, all our levels are taken into consideration with the philosophy, psychology and techniques: body, mind, and spirit.

Benefit – If you are going through a life change, or a transition, for example, you are probably a bit fearful or anxious. Maybe you are even angry and are resisting the change. As yoga therapy is much more than a prescription for yoga exercises, other techniques are available.

A key theory in yoga is the importance of letting go, to stop the clinging. At a time of major transition understanding how to apply this theory to the best of your ability will make changes easier to handle.

Principle 2 – Yoga Therapy identifies awakening to one’s true self as the key to health and healing. What does that even mean? Yoga philosophy further states that lack of knowledge of the true Self is the source of all dis-ease and illness.

If we identify with our occupation, nationality, or status, for example, things related to our body, if these external factors are threatened, we would fluctuate,  experience imbalance that could lead to disease. When we get a hint or glimpse of our true identity, then even during the most trying of times, we will still maintain an experience of silence within, a balance of body and mind.

Benefit – Whenever there is a feeling of unease, or disquiet in the body and mind, you can see this as a signal that something is off; that there is a disconnect somewhere that needs due attention.

And further, with an understanding that the root cause of an illness or disease may remain even though symptoms have gone or are being alleviated, you know you could always dig deeper for health and healing.

Principle 3 – The uniqueness of each individual is respectfully considered. It really is different strokes for different folks. Yoga techniques of breathing, postures, mudras, etc. must be selected, adapted and modified according to your age, culture, religion, and physical condition.

Benefit – Yoga Therapy is an art as well as science. There are many scientific studies showing the health benefits of yoga exercises, breathing and meditation. If you are suffering with insomnia,for example,  you can experience more peace of mind and improved sleep through the skilful application of yoga techniques. Even if you have never practiced yoga before, the techniques carefully selected for you, will produce beneficial results when practiced with patience and persistence.

Yoga Therapy that includes knowledge of Ayurveda (yoga’s sister science) and kinesiology, offers solutions for functional and structural imbalances,  as well as the proper use of diet, lifestyle, routine, yoga and meditation.

What style of yoga is Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT)?

Rather than a style of yoga, Integrative Yoga Therapy is a process. A graduate from the IYT yoga teacher training program will be able to select and arrange yoga techniques in a way that the yoga classes fulfill a particular aim.

For example, the teacher decides on “Breath, the Heart of the Class” as the theme of the class. Which inspirational poem, mudra, pranayama, relaxation, meditation and affirmation will be selected? And what order will they follow?

I practiced Ashtanga yoga as well as hatha yoga, can I study in this program?

Yes, you can.  The Integrative Yoga Therapy yoga teacher training program will prepare you to teach yoga for total wellness.  Students practicing all styles of yoga have completed this training successfully.

Can I teach regular yoga classes with this training?

Yes. In addition to offering yoga classes to the general public, graduates teach yoga-based wellness programs in hospitals, businesses, universities, clinics, and complimentary health care settings.

How much time is required for home study?

There are 3 parts to the home study: reading and answering at least 2 questions, journalism, and practice.

Reading - One chapter of the manual is covered each month. Chapters include The History of Yoga, Ayurveda and Yoga, Stress Management, and Meditation, Imagery, Relaxation and Yoga Nidra. How quickly you integrate the material and answer questions will depend on how familiar you are with the topic.

Journaling – What prepares you to be an effective yoga teacher is your own personal experience and journey of transformation as a student of yoga. As you explore the topic for the month, you capture and share whatever you are comfortable sharing of that experience. Sharing may include creative drawings.

Practice – The foundation of yoga is practice, practice, practice. For this time is required. The yoga techniques are learned systematically and by actually doing them. Developing a daily practice brings many benefits. As you begin to appreciate the value of this, creating practice time becomes part of your flow. In addition, practice teaching to family and friends starts you on your teaching path.

How much time are you willing to devote to get the most of your teacher training? Some find 4 hours a week adequate.

I have just discovered yoga and got so much benefit  that I want to share it with others. Am I qualified to take the training?

You must know the basics of yoga before you can train to be a teacher.  While in training, you will learn the names of the poses and how to perform the pose correctly. Sometimes students feel they can never teach like their teacher, and are intimidated by this. This program assists teachers in developing their own unique vision and mission, along with the maturity and insight to clarify this vision.

Take the support of family and friends as you can dedicate the time necessary to complete the program thoroughly.

1. Shallow Chest Breathing

Is your breathing shallow? To check, place one hand on the chest, and the other just above the navel. If the hand on the chest moves more, then shallow breathing is your normal breathing pattern.

Shallow breathing, also called paradoxical breathing, creates tension in the shoulders, neck and thoracic spine and increases heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tension and metabolism.

Yoga Breathing Exercise: To correct chest breathing, practice the following exercise 10 – 20 minutes daily for several weeks until breathing from the diaphragm becomes natural and easy.
•    Lie on your back with you knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
•    Place a hard cover book or 10-15 lb sandbag on your abdomen around the area of the navel.
•    As you inhale through the nose, lift the book. As you exhale through the nose, the book lowers.

2.  Rough Breathing

Your breath is jerky. Sit comfortably with the spine lengthened. Notice your incoming and outgoing breath. Is it smooth?

Yoga Breathing Exercise: Place one hand about 4 inches away from your body. Move one finger from navel to chin as you inhale, then back down as you exhale. Practice with awareness of the breath.

3. Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing exacerbates high blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, dry cough and many other medical problems.

Yoga Breathing Exercise: Sit comfortably for 3-5 minutes and practice breathing through the nose. You can also press one nostril closed with a finger or thumb and breathe slowly through the other nostril. Then change sides.

Yoga breathing exercises must be practiced without force.

This is the 7th in a series of interviews with graduates from the Integrative Yoga Therapy teacher training program offered through Body Therapies Yoga Training. If you are thinking of becoming a yoga teacher, you’ll find these of particular interest.

1. What is one thing that every yoga teacher trainee must do?

Be willing to reflect and examine oneself deeply.

2. What is one thing that every yoga teacher trainee must avoid?

Seeking perfection.

3. Is being a yoga teacher just trendy or is it here to stay?

I think becoming a yoga teacher is something that a person does for him/herself so it does not matter if it is a trend or not.

4. Can a yoga teacher still be successful if they are in a crowded niche?

Yes, I think each yoga teacher has his or her own style and there will be students who will be comfortable with that style.

5. What has the yoga teacher training done for you?

Yoga teacher training with Heather Greaves has influenced my life immensely, spiritually and emotionally. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my love for yoga with others. Teaching yoga has added a rich new dimension to my life.

Anju Joshi
Integrative Yoga Therapy
email: yogawithanju@cogeco.ca

We hope you enjoyed reading Anju’s experience. And if you’d like to learn more about our Integrative Yoga Therapy yoga teacher training program, check for information at www.yogatogo.com and send us an email.

This basic pranayama, breath awareness, helped reduce the angst and anxiety that had been my shadow companion.

Meditation had been part of my daily routine for many years. Yet angst and anxiety was my shadow companion. Sure, I was definitely peaceful. Yoga philosophy had answered many of life’s big questions for me. I could accept life’s dramas, and understand that we were all actors. The law of karma and reincarnation I got. This knowledge had brought a great deal of calm.

So how come I was still anxious? The fact that my breath was shallow would have contributed significantly to the angst. I remember once a massage therapist said to me something like, “Your breath is high up. Try to get it down here.” Her hand was resting on my belly and I couldn’t get my breath down there.

In my heart of hearts, I prayed for an answer to this anxiety, which would step out from the shadows every now and then. One day I suddenly realized my prayers had been answered. I couldn’t remember the last time I was anxious. What was it that had changed things for me?

I had begun to practice the basic pranayama breathing exercise – simple breath awareness; being aware of the breath. Breath awareness is vital in yoga therapy. My meditation practice changed and became this basic breath awareness; sitting and following the breath in and out. I don’t remember exactly how long each practice was. I know it was at least 10 minutes. And it was definitely in the morning. Meditation is also important in yoga therapy.

If you have used any no cost pranayama, breathing exercise, to cope with anxiety, or to reduce the number of times you take medication, I’d like to hear your story.  Comment below.