The purpose of yoga therapy is to aid the body, mind and spirit in maintaining overall health, reconciling the effects of trauma, resolving or reconditioning injury and navigating illness. The process involves the application of mind-body practices focusing on physical, emotional and mental well-being. Whether one is a child, adult, elder, athlete, office worker or medical patient, yoga therapy offers techniques that meet individuals where they are and provides meaningful benefits. 

Yoga therapy benefits everyone, not just those that are sick or injured. For example, regular visits to a yoga therapist can help athletes avoid injuries and perform more optimally. Couples can learn to establish healthier communication, and children can adopt practices that support healthy self-esteem and emotional regulation.

One obstacle to well-being that yoga therapy uniquely addresses is stress. Stress is a major factor in illness, disease and a decreased quality of life. Elevated stress levels can increase vulnerability to injury, illness and disease, as well as lead to unhappiness, impatience, anger, hopelessness, loneliness, fatigue and lethargy. When stress and its effects are managed, reduced, or in some instances alleviated all together, quality of life improves. 

Adults Suffer from Stress
People that experience high levels of constant stress are more likely to suffer from biological illnesses. A large portion of the adult population deals with elevated stress and anxiety due to busy lives, unresolved trauma, relationship or workplace difficulties, or recurring illness or injury. Research as recent as 2023 and 2024 indicates that yoga therapy improves well-being and supports coping skills that reduce the experience and impact of stress. Additionally, yoga therapy has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and improve sleep. Davies, Faschinger, Galante and Van Dam found that meditation, relaxation and guided imagery have significantly increased over the last 20 years as methods to address stress and anxiety.

Children Suffer from Stress
Today’s children face health challenges due to violence, bullying, excessive computer use, poor diet, lack of sleep and busy lifestyles. These factors contribute to increased anxiety, stress and depression. Research has found that yoga-based interventions have become quite popular and are effective in teaching children skills to mitigate the physical, mental and emotional effects of stress. Yoga therapy studies involving children consistently show increased positivity and improved well-being, when included as an adjunct to medical care for those with psychiatric conditions. 

Elders Suffer from Stress
Elders face stressors related to aging, such as losing friends and loved ones, reduced independence, loneliness, social isolation, financial instability and limited access to preventive medical care. Studies have shown that yoga therapy is statistically significant in reducing the impact of stress and elevating overall mood and sense of wellness in the elder population and is generally considered a low-cost intervention compared to healthcare costs. Because yoga therapy can be tailored to gentle or more energetic practices, it is well-suited for the varied needs of older individuals.

Practices that Alleviate Stress
Yoga therapy includes techniques such as meditation, concentration, breathing exercises, postural practices, visualization, relaxation, mantra and mudra, as well as scriptural study, digestive cleansing and lifestyle practices. A yoga therapist has specialized training in the application of one or more of these techniques and should, therefore, be able to relate the benefits and contraindications of any technique they instruct. 

Because each person’s needs are unique, yoga therapy is more individualized than uniform. Even in a class of 10 students, a skillful yoga therapist addresses each student’s needs individually. This approach helps practitioners feel cared for and can alleviate the sense of isolation and fear of unimportance that often accompany stress. 

Students, especially those with complex health concerns, should initially avoid strenuous, complicated yoga practices and focus on slower, gentler techniques that allow them to learn mindfully. The effectiveness of yoga therapy is related to a student’s awareness of how they feel and their beliefs about their feelings. Students benefit from yoga therapy the most when they possess a sincere desire for change toward greater health and happiness and are willing to do the necessary work.

Yoga therapy is meant to complement, not replace, medical care. Individuals should consult their doctor before starting any physical practices.