Yoga Therapy: What It Is and How It Can Help | Integrative Healing
Yoga therapy is a holistic approach to healing that blends movement, breathwork, and mindfulness to support emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Unlike a regular yoga class, yoga therapy is personalized to meet the individual’s needs. A trained yoga therapist understands how to adapt practices to address issues such as chronic illness, trauma, nervous system dysregulation, or emotional overwhelm.
What Makes Yoga Therapy Different
Traditional yoga focuses on general strength, flexibility, and balance. Yoga therapy takes this deeper by using movement and breath as tools for self-regulation. The goal is not to perfect a pose but to reconnect with your body in a safe, supportive way. When you slow down and bring awareness to your breath, your nervous system begins to sense safety again.
This sense of safety helps move the body out of survival mode. Over time, chronic stress, anxiety, or trauma can keep your body alert even when there is no real threat. Yoga therapy helps retrain these patterns. Through gentle movement and mindful breathing, the body learns that it can release tension and return to balance.
How Yoga Therapy Regulates the Nervous System
A yoga therapist might use gentle poses (asana), guided rest (Yoga Nidra), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation to restore balance in both body and mind. These practices help bring awareness back to the body and teach the brain how to interpret signals of safety.
As the breath slows and the body softens, the parasympathetic nervous system activates. This is the part of the body responsible for rest and healing. Over time, the mind quiets, the muscles release, and a deeper sense of calm becomes accessible.
Many people notice improvements in mood, sleep, and overall resilience after incorporating yoga therapy into their healing routine. The practice can also complement traditional talk therapy by helping you process emotions that may be hard to express verbally.
How to Begin
If you are new to yoga therapy, start with simple breath awareness or gentle stretching. Even a few minutes of slow breathing each day can begin to shift the body out of a stress response. Over time, these small moments of mindfulness create meaningful changes in how you feel and relate to your body.
To learn more about the science and practice of yoga therapy, visit Harvard Health Publishing.
To explore how yoga therapy supports nervous system regulation, read Nervous System Dysregulation: Why You Feel Stuck in Survival Mode.
