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Yoga Psychotherapy
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Yoga therapy is a mind-body practice that focuses on your physical, emotional and mental
health. The practice uses movement, mindfulness, meditation, relaxation and breathing
exercises to help you relax, relieve stress and manage underlying conditions or symptoms in
addition to treatment by a healthcare provider.

Overview
What is yoga therapy?
Yoga therapy is a process to empower you to improve your health and well-being through
the practice of yoga.
In other words, yoga therapy is a whole-body approach to better health by using the tools of
yoga to meet your specific physical, mental and emotional needs and goals. You’re an active
participant on your path to wellness.
The tools of yoga include:
• Physical postures and movements (asanas).
• Breathing exercises (pranayama).
• Meditation/relaxation (dhyana).
A certified yoga therapist will meet with you one-on-one to create a safe practice
specifically for you. They will:
• Review your medical file and speak with you about any health concerns.

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• Determine movements that would be safe for you.
• Show you how to use proper form and technique to prevent injury.
• Explain how each pose affects your body.
• Guide you in relaxation and stress management.
• Help you reach your personal wellness goals.
Yoga therapy is a recommended practice in addition to treatment or management from a
healthcare provider for any underlying health conditions. The effects of yoga therapy vary
based on each person’s experience. You don’t need to have any experience with yoga before
starting yoga therapy.
What does yoga therapy treat or manage?
Some of the health benefits of yoga therapy include:
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• Reducing physical discomfort and improving management of pain.

• Helping neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), fibromyalgia, epilepsy and
stroke.
• Easing joint pain from arthritis.
• Reducing tension and stress and relieving headaches.
• Helping you lose weight.
• Boosting your mood and reducing depression.
• Lessening anxiety and stress.
• Easing symptoms of menopause.
• Helping calm those with trauma.
While research is ongoing to learn more about the effects of yoga therapy on the body and
mind, current studies are limited. There’s promise in the practice but it isn’t proven to treat
any underlying conditions.

Procedure Details
How does yoga therapy work?
Before you begin yoga therapy, you’ll meet with your yoga therapist. They’ll learn more
about your health concerns, medical history and your desired outcomes. Then, the therapist
will create a yoga therapy practice plan that considers your:
• Physical needs and abilities.
• Overall health.
• Your age.
• Your goals.

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Following your session, your yoga therapist will give you a home practice plan based on your
needs and goals. This home practice can support you in making progress and it encourages
you to build a daily self-care routine.
What happens during yoga therapy?
Your yoga therapy session will include a variety of movements and stretches that increase
your strength, flexibility and balance. Your yoga therapist may recommend that you wear
comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely.
Typically, your practice will be done while seated in a chair and/or while standing with the
chair nearby for extra support. Some examples of movements during a yoga therapy session
include:
• Guidance on how to sit and stand properly with awareness and best position for safety and
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function.
• Movements for increasing range of motion and ease of movement in your joints.
• Side bends to open the mid-body and to support better breathing.
• A cat-cow pose, where you’ll inhale while lifting your heart, arching your back and lifting
your tailbone. Then, you’ll exhale while rounding your back, tucking your tailbone and gazing
at your belly. This stretch can help improve your posture. It also supports flexibility in your
spine.
• A spinal twist, where you’ll sit and gently turn your body to the right. You’ll relax your hands
down, turn and look over your right shoulder while breathing. You’ll repeat these steps on
the left side. Spinal twists support healthy digestion. They also tone and strengthen your
core muscles, and may relieve some lower back pain.
While you’re moving, your yoga therapist will guide you in different breathing exercises.
These breath practices can help you to de-stress and manage pain. Your session will end
with a relaxation practice, which will help you settle your body and mind to find a place of
peace and calm.

How long is a yoga therapy session?

An initial yoga therapy session takes between 30 minutes to 90 minutes. For the best results,
your therapist will recommend you do yoga at home in between yoga therapy sessions.
Sessions at home are usually shorter, averaging about 15 minutes each.

How often should I do yoga therapy?

Your yoga therapist and your healthcare provider will recommend how long and how often
you should do yoga. The amount of time you practice yoga depends on your goals and
lifestyle.

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Risks / Benefits
What are the overall benefits of yoga therapy?
The benefits of yoga therapy include, but aren’t limited to, the following:
• Stress relief.
• Mental clarity.
• Stronger muscles.
• Reducing pain and pressure.
• Increasing balance.
• Helping you sleep.
• Aligning your body for best function.

What are the risks of yoga therapy?

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The risks of yoga therapy are minimal. The first rule of yoga is “do no harm.” Your therapist
will make sure the poses are safe and accessible for you. You may feel a deep stretch during
yoga therapy, but there should never be any pain.
The risk of injury while performing yoga is lower than your risk of performing other physical
activities like running or strength training.

Recovery and Outlook

How long will it take for me to feel better after yoga therapy?
There’s no specified amount of time as to when you’ll start feeling better or seeing results
after yoga therapy. You may feel more relaxed immediately following a session. It may take
weeks to months before you see improvement in your strength and balance.
Is there anything I can do to make doing yoga therapy easier?
Yoga takes training and practice. Your first session will be very different from your 10th
session. When you start yoga therapy, your yoga therapist will determine what exercises are
right for you to start your practice safely. As you get more experience doing yoga, it’ll feel
easier. You can slowly increase the difficulty of your movements under your therapist’s
supervision. If a movement or stretch isn’t comfortable or causes pain, stop and ask for
assistance. Your therapist can help you modify the movement or offer another that uses the
same muscles but in a different form.

When To Call the Doctor

When should I call my healthcare provider?
Talk to your healthcare provider before beginning yoga therapy or any other physical
activities to make sure they’re safe for you. They may also make recommendations on what

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areas of your body to focus on, which you can relay to your yoga therapist. Always contact
your healthcare provider if you experience ongoing pain or have new symptoms.

Additional Common Questions

Is yoga therapy covered by insurance?
Talk to your insurance provider to see whether yoga therapy is covered. In many cases, yoga
therapy sessions aren’t covered by insurance.
What’s the difference between yoga and yoga therapy?
Many people think of yoga as exercise. You may join a local yoga studio or fitness centre
with the goal of improving your strength and flexibility as well as getting a good workout.
A yoga instructor will guide a group class through different yoga poses and practices, often
at a fast pace in what’s known as a “flow.” The emphasis is on correct yoga techniques.
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Students usually come to class two to three times per week.

Yoga instructors have a minimum of 200 hours of training.
Someone coming to yoga therapy is looking for help or relief from symptoms or health
conditions that are troubling them. A yoga therapist will guide you in an individual practice
and focus on using various tools of yoga to improve function and reduce stress.
A session will include breathing exercises, physical postures, mindfulness and meditation
with an emphasis on relieving symptoms, avoiding injury and restoring wellness. Your yoga
therapist will provide home practice instructions designed specifically to build a safe and
effective self-care routine. The number of sessions you have will depend on your health
goals and progress, and it’s usually once or twice a month for a few months.
Yoga therapists have a minimum of 1,000 hours of training.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Yoga therapy is a method that balances your body and mind through movement,
mindfulness, meditation, relaxation and breathing exercises. This ancient practice can help
you reach your personal goals to be more relaxed and find relief if you have an underlying
medical condition. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if yoga therapy is right for you.

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