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Yoga therapy
(Yoga cikitsa) is an individualized approach to Yoga
for individualized, therapeutic needs. It comes from
the classical Yoga of Patanjali and the traditional
Indian medicinal system called Ayurveda. According to
Ayurveda, a healthy balance in the system can be restored
through ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle – daily
activities), and ausadhi (medicine). These methods are
used to transform the physical, vital, and mental dimensions
of the system. Diet and lifestyle should be modified
before medicine is used as a last resort. Yoga therapy
deals with diet and lifestyle modifications, a daily
Yoga practice being one of them.
Traditionally, Yoga is taught one-on-one to maximize
its therapeutic benefits. The father of modern day Yoga,
Sri T. Krishnamacharya emphasized that Yoga must be
adapted to the individual rather than the individual
to a particular Yoga practice. With this individualized
approach, practices must be continually adapted to suit
each person’s ever-changing needs. In Yoga therapy,
personal Yoga practices are designed to affect a change
in the student’s lifestyle (vihara) which in turn
affects her body, speech, and mind (actions, words,
and thoughts).
To see an example of a modified Yoga sequence,
click here |
The
Ganges of Rishikesh, North India
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| Using an individualized
and therapeutic approach, Maggie designs Personal Yoga
Practices for students that can be practiced at home daily.
Maggie encourages her students to get a medical diagnosis
from their healthcare practitioners and/or doctors before
coming to see her for a Personal Yoga Practice if there
are therapeutic concerns. This medical diagnosis will
help her better assess the root cause of the problem so
that she can more easily determine the course of action
for the Yoga practice. The practice will take a developmental
(shiksana), therapeutic (cikitsa), and/or spiritual (adhyatmika)
approach depending on the student’s individual needs. |
| Please see Maggie's
article on Lower Back Pain |
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Myth
of Patanjali, South India
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According
to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Yoga is defined as
the clear state of mind through which our true natures
can shine without the blinding obscurations of ignorance.
In the final stage of Yoga, kaivalyam (freedom), our
thoughts, words, and actions are continuously directed
by the source of consciousness, the Self.
Asanas (postures) prepare the body, breath, and mind
for pranayama (breathing exercises). Pranayama prepares
the breath and mind for pratyahara (withdrawal of the
senses), dharana (concentration), and dhyana (meditation).
Finally, meditation leads the mind towards experiencing
a continuous state of samadhi, union with God or Self.
In such a state of kaivalyam (freedom), the mind becomes
the servant of the true Self, the Perceiver.
To see an example of a classical Yoga sequence,
click here |
| In group classes,
the mind, body and spirit are nourished through a flowing
style of Yoga postures with a focus on long breathing
and adapting postures for individual needs. The chanting
of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and Vedic Mantras adds
to this experience. While minor therapeutic needs can
also be addressed in groups, private classes are recommended
for best results. See your healthcare practitioner before
practicing Yoga in groups or privately. |
Viniyoga (Yoga Sutras: III,
6) describes an individualized step by step approach
to Yoga. For many years, this term has been used in
the West to denote the essential philosophy of Sri T.
Krishnamacharya and his son, Sri T.K.V. Desikachar of
Chennai, India. However, in April 2003 Desikachar disassociated
himself and his teacher's teaching from the name Viniyoga
because of the current embracing of the word around
the world as a style or brand name which he felt had
replaced the word Yoga - and to brand T Krishnamacharya’s
teachings as a particular "style" is unfair,
unhelpful and confusing. Desikachar is concerned to
make it clear that he and his students are Yoga teachers,
rather than Viniyoga teachers. Because of her deep love
and respect for TKV Desikachar, Maggie is no longer
using the term Viniyoga to denote her work.
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Sri
T.K.V. Desikachar and Maggie at the
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram,
Chennai, India, 2001 |
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