Yoga Therapy
You’ve never tried yoga before, but everyone you know is raving about it. Or, maybe you’re a regular yogi and recognize how the practice of yoga can blend well with psychotherapy. No matter where you lie on that spectrum, integrating yoga and counseling can be hugely beneficial. Yoga and meditation does wonders for the mind and body. Increased mental stability, decreased stress, release from trauma, and allowing space to think are only some of the many benefits of yoga.
Back it up. So, what is yoga therapy?
We are glad you asked! Yoga therapy is the application of yoga to individuals to empower them to progress toward greater health and freedom from disease. More specifically, it is a specialized somatic-based, or body-based, type of counseling. It uses the best of yoga and therapy to improve mental and emotional health. The goal of yoga therapy is to realign your mind, body, and spirit.
In yoga therapy, you can expect things like:
Breathing exercises (pranayama)
Physical postures (asana)
Meditation
Guided imagery
Does yoga therapy really work?
Yes! Yoga therapy is a growing field that has shown its effectiveness in day-to-day counseling and in the academic world. Yoga therapy is a well-established treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, and autism to name a few conditions.
Psychopharmacology, a.k.a. medication, and psychotherapy are the main go-to treatment options when struggling with a mental health. However, there are limitations to these methods. There can be negative side effects with medication or a lack of acknowledgement of spiritual healing in traditional therapy.
Yoga therapy can be a wonderful compliment to traditional approaches to conditions such as anxiety and depression. Integrating yoga therapy into your treatment allows for a more comprehensive healing experience— with no side effects!
“It’s about becoming safe to feel what you feel. When you’re traumatized, you’re afraid of what you’re feeling, because your feeling is always terror, or fear or helplessness. …These body-based techniques help you feel what’s happening in your body, and to breathe into it and not run away from it. So you learn to befriend your experience.”
Reasons to try yoga therapy
Struggling with difficult emotions
Processing trauma (see awesome quote by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk above)
Battling anxiety
Feeling depressed and having trouble making adjustments
Diving deeper into your self-understanding and healing journey
And, of course to learn more about yoga!
Yoga therapy
Whether you live on the west coast or all the way on the east coast, you can meet with a yoga therapist in Northbrook, IL or online sessions. Using an online platform for yoga therapy sessions makes things simple. So, you can be a professional who travels often or take your counseling with you while on vacation.
Yoga therapy will help you gain understanding into your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual needs. These insights can help you feel at peace and find balance in your life. Here at our Chicago, IL-area therapy practice, we provide yoga therapy in one-on-one or small group settings. Further, yoga therapy can be provided as an adjunct therapy to compliment other forms or treatment, such as EMDR. Or, it can be used directly to address a specific issue. The yoga techniques used in yoga therapy range from simple to advanced and can be enjoyed by all ages.
Start yoga therapy in Northbrook, IL today!
If you are ready to begin your holistic journey of healing, our yoga therapist, Ilyssa, is ready to guide you. The therapists at our therapy practice based in Northbrook, IL want to help you connect with yourself internally, so that you can connect with your external world in a healthier way. Our yoga therapy services are also available online in the United States. Take the steps below to get started.
Fill out a consult form here.
Meet with a yoga therapist to see if yoga therapy is a good fit for your needs.
Start connecting with yourself and experience the healing you deserve!
Other Services at Obsidian Counseling and Wellness
When you work with a therapist at our counseling practice in the Northbrook, IL , you will be met with compassion and authenticity. The team at our therapy practice feels honored to help guide folks along their healing process. Specifically, we help people in addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, and work stress. Additionally, we value the unique experiences of highly sensitive people and are happy to help them find balance in their lives. Our therapists are also proud to offer LGBTQIA+ therapy for folx navigating their identities and the implications of those. We hope that you take the leap to begin your healing journey with our team of specialized therapists.