Yoga therapy continues to grow in popularity as doctors and patients continue to discover the wide range of health benefits yoga provides. A growing number of yoga teachers and other health care professionals are seeking certification in yoga therapy.
If you have considered participating in a yoga therapy program, you may be confused about the type of certification you should seek. There are some things to consider in order to help you find the program that is best suited to you.
As with yoga, there are different approaches to yoga therapy. Some forms focus more on the physical aspects of yoga and less on the spiritual aspects. If this sounds like you, Integrative yoga therapy is based on the structural aspects of yoga and has components of Ayurveda philosophy built into the training program.
If you like the focus on the spiritual aspect of yoga, you may want a program that incorporates the spiritual healing and emotional issues. There are several types of training programs that focus on physical, mental and spiritual issues along with the physical benefits of yoga.
Where will you work when you complete your program? Yoga therapists can be found in doctor’s practices, physical therapy facilities and a growing number of hospitals are beginning to employ yoga therapists. Urban Zen Yoga Therapy and Yoga Therapy RX are two examples of programs that are designed to train yoga therapists for a hospital setting.
The first step is to think about the type of yoga therapy that you want to practice. Do you want to act as a physical therapist and focus on the structural and technical aspects of yoga to help patients heal? Do you want to help patients find spiritual and emotional healing, as well as physical healing? Answering these questions is a good way to determine your goals and choose a program that fits.
Depending on where you live, you may be limited to programs available in your local area. The International Association of Yoga Therapists is a professional organization dedicated to yoga therapy. Visit their website at iayt.org to learn more about the many types of yoga therapy programs and to find training programs in your area.