What is yoga therapy or medical yoga all about?
Dr. Lalit Kishore, 04 August, 2018, merinews.com....Reproduced [1]
In many special education schools, yoga exercises are being done in whole school setting just as a fad in the name yoga therapy ever since yoga has been popularised by the government through the country-wide celebration of the International Day of Yoga and its co-curricular prescription for the schools.
There is a need to understanding the difference between traditional yoga for a normal person and yoga therapy or medical yoga as an adapted application of yogic practices including regulated breathing practices meant to prevent, cure, and/or mitigate disease or disorder.
After assessment and diagnosis; the therapist, medical yoga practitioner or trained provider such as a special educator considers and adapts the traditional or conventional yogic practice and prescribes it with a protocol and a demonstration on 1:1 basis, guided practice in front of a mirror (more so for individuals with special needs) and writing out the prescription as a regimen or protocol.
At least seven sessions of half-hour each should be done under the supervision of the therapist or medical yoga practitioner to acquire new behaviour correctly and progress made for further treatment with some change of prescription with home support that includes family members, friends or support groups.
It is essential that along with prescription in the form of protocol, nourishing diet, avoidance of substance use or intoxicants, rules of sleep hygiene and sound daily life habits should be prescribed and changed to include psychotherapy in the regimen to make yoga therapy more effective. Yoga therapy is a complementary therapy and should not be considered as a replacement or substitute of normal medical treatment.
It needs to be understood that all type of yoga in group setting is inappropriate for patients and people with special needs. Yoga therapy should never be equated with a yoga class since the instructor is not aware of an individual clients health concerns, disorders, difficulties or problems.
To become a yoga therapists, certification is required with sound knowledge of yoga, anatomy and physiology; therapeutic procedures that include case history, identification, assessment of the individuals health and well-being problem first.
Thus, yoga therapy or medical yoga practice is entirely different from a yoga class. It is done by a certified therapist and starts with a detailed history and physical examination along with an assessment from the health practitioner with a sound knowledge of yoga and aptness in skill of adaption of yogasanas as per the assessed individualized needs.
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