Yoga as Therapy

If you were to ask someone who practices yoga on a regular basis why they do yoga, you’re likely to get the answer “because it makes me feel good.” If you were to ask someone why they started going to yoga in the first place, it was often about the “fitness,” the activity aspect of the practice. For most who practice, and continue to practice, it quickly becomes something much more.

Yoga can be a form of physical and mental therapy. It is not uncommon when a student is in a class in which they feel completely safe and supported and they cry. It could happen because of opening up a physical space in the body, feeling comforted and safe, or feeling something in their body or mind that they haven’t felt before.

For me, yoga has benefitted me in both ways - mentally and physically. When I practice regularly, I feel better. Yoga has been my constant through loss, struggle, happiness, and constant change. My practice has changed, it started in a hot room, doing only power practices, if I didn’t sweat and move the entire class, I didn’t like it. Now, it is much more of a therapeutic practice, sometimes is one pose, sometimes it’s a full hour, sometimes it’s flow, sometimes slow. Everything that it is, is exactly what I need it to be in that moment.

For many, yoga is like therapy. It’s a place to get out of your head and onto your mat. To tune into your mind, body, and spirit. It’s a place to be with community, to connect, and surround yourself with like minded people. It’s a place of no judgement, where the teacher holds space for you to come as you are and move and breath exactly how you need to. Every day is different. Sometimes we need more, sometimes we need less, but your mat is always there when you’re ready.