![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Look for someone who has sought additional training in your specific condition or who has a background in a health care profession, like nursing or physical therapy.ĮXPERIENCE Ask potential therapists how long they’ve been practicing yoga therapy and how often they have worked with people who have your condition. If you have a more serious medical conditionsuch as cancer, heart disease, or lupusyou’ll need a therapist who understands the disease, the effects of medications, and contraindications to practicing. Here are some specific qualities to look for.ĪPPROPRIATE TRAINING If you have a condition that requires knowledge of the physical body, like back pain or arthritis, find someone with substantial anatomy training. For this reason, word of mouth is still an effective way to find the right yoga therapistask around or call yoga studios for leads. So, the type of training and number of hours a therapist has studied varies from person to person. If you’re looking for a yoga therapist, it’s important to be aware that there are many different kinds from a wide variety of yoga traditions and, as of yet, there is no universally accepted certification system. In fact, when someone is gravely ill, a therapist may suggest that the entire practice consist only of breath awareness and relaxation until the patient is ready to tackle more. Another difference is the emphasis on relaxation. What sets this healing modality apart from others is the focus on linking movement to deep, rhythmic breathing. Often, a session more closely resembles an appointment with a physical therapist or rehabilitation specialist than it does a typical yoga class. Yoga therapy is typically conducted one-on-one or in small groups. ![]() There are exceptions, but for the most part, this kind of personalization is rarely possible in a class setting. In the JAMA< study, one of the key components that led to the positive results is that senior Iyengar teacher Marian Garfinkel carefully designed a therapeutic yoga program tailored to the specific needs of carpal tunnel patients and, when necessary, adapted it to the individuals in the group. So, while such studies help raise awareness about yoga, it’s crucial that we discern the difference between a typical yoga class and yoga therapy. But the fact is, if someone with carpal tunnel syndrome shows up at a hatha yoga class that includes poses that are weight-bearing on the hands and wrists (think Plank, Upward-Facing Dog, and Handstand), they could easily wind up worse than when they started. After hearing about such a study, many peopleincluding doctorsmight believe they can walk into any yoga class with a medical malady and be healed. These promising results got a lot of publicity, sparking interest among the general public and health care professionals about yoga’s potential as a therapeutic modality. In 1998, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that an eight-week yoga program had positive results for people with carpal tunnel syndrome. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! ![]()
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