Iyengar Yoga has Therapeutic Benefits Too!

YOGA– When encountered with this word, the first thought that comes to the mind is the path to a fit and healthy body. However, did you know that this popular form of exercise has benefits beyond fitness too?

Yes, Yoga has therapeutic benefits too. When practiced daily with the right teacher, it can improve the quality of life of people living with different health conditions, ailments, and diseases.

In the words of the famous B.K.S Iyengar, "Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured, and endure what cannot be cured."

What’s more; true to its words, the Iyengar Yoga has indeed improved the quality of life of many.

Yoga = Therapy

Yoga therapy classes are often misunderstood by people as medical classes specially designed for those who are unable to or restricted from going for the regular Iyengar yoga practice classes. However, this is not true. The therapeutic classes introduce the students to regular yoga asanas and pranayama; similar to what everyone else does. However, the same is tweaked as per the practitioner’s health condition and requirement.

For instance: A person with a knee problem is advised to rest while others do Surya Namaskar. Some others may practice Yoga on the chair and not on the floor.

Therefore, everyone takes the first steps to yoga in a similar fashion. However, this is merely the beginning to a long journey that leads to a happy, fit and healthy life; both physically and mentally.

Yoga Therapy and Yoga

Therapeutics in yoga is not a separate identity. It is yoga practiced in a way that benefits the body and mind in a variety of ways. There is no specifically prescribed yoga for an ailment.

However, therapeutics is an integral part of an Iyengar Yoga practice class. Here, the yoga teachers do not merely instruct the practitioners to do the pranayama and asanas skillfully and correctly. They are trained to guide the students and patients on the path of yoga in a way to awaken their breath, organs, body, and mind. Their primary objective is to put the patients and students on the path of yoga and practice it to their benefit.

Therapeutics in Iyengar Yoga

The therapeutic benefits in an Iyengar Yoga class are derived through a series of asanas and pranayamas. Due importance is given to the alignment and technique used in attaining the right posture of the asana. This is the reason why a Yoga therapy class has a variety of props to help the student along the path of Iyengar Yoga. Often, yoga postures that are the most beneficial for patients and students are difficult to do due to the patient’s physical restrictions or lack of fitness. Iyengar Yoga teachers help the students to attain this through various props used for support. Gradually, the students gain the ability to do the posture right, which in turn leads them to physical and mental well-being.

Iyengar Yoga has a host of physical, mental, and therapeutic benefits.

So, practice Iyengar Yoga for a healthy life.

The author is a yoga instructor in a Yoga workshops Los Angeles. He is involved in writing articles to highlight the things that you need to consider when you participating in yoga for beginners, Iyengar Yoga Practice, yoga therapy.