The World Is Missing Out On Yoga Therapy

Back in 2017 I became a Master’s level trained Yoga Therapist from a federally accredited graduate institution in the U.S.

From my perspective, the world desperately needs to know about Yoga Therapy.

Recently, I wrote an article entitled, Watch Out for Functional Medicine Practitioners' where I shared briefly about my work as a Yoga Therapist stating, "Prior to Naturopathic medical school, this is what my (yoga therapy) work often centered, helping people navigate their inner world so that their outer world becomes much more healthy, vibrant, and well."

Unfortunately, as it stands currently, much of the world does not know about what Yoga Therapy is and its potential for influencing human health & flourishing. 

Most tend to think that Yoga Therapists are glorified Psychotherapists with extra training in Yoga; however, this is not the case.

Yoga Therapy is a separate and distinct profession from Western Psychotherapy. Though there may be some commonalities and integration, Yoga Therapy has its own unique paradigm of healing that is rooted in the centuries old tradition of Yoga, a mind-body practice that ultimately exists as a path to human liberation.

It is important to understand that Yoga Therapists are not trained Psychotherapists that simply add yoga to their existing psycho-therapeutic toolbox; we are steeped in the practice of Yoga Therapy specifically that pre-dates Western psychology by thousands of years.

Whereas these practices pre-date Western psychology, in our modern world, Yoga Therapists are informed by Western psychology. Incidentally, some of the Western founders of modern psychology have been greatly influenced by Eastern philosophy.  

Carl Jung, for example, was deeply influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism. In his teachings and understandings of psychology he integrated concepts of non-duality and archetypes from Eastern thought into his theories about the collective unconscious and individuation.

Abraham Maslow's concept of self-actualization drew from these same Eastern contemplative traditions. His work later in life influenced the field of transpersonal psychology where they emphasize spiritual/mystical experiences as a pathway toward healing.

Despite not being formally trained as a Psychologist, Alan Watts played a central role in introducing Eastern philosophy into the Western world of psychology where he thoroughly discussed ego dissolution and interconnectedness.

In the context of this centuries old practice of Yoga, Yoga Therapy has its own tools, methods, and philosophy for not only working with the human mind but all of the other layers of the human experience that influence our being in the pursuit of alleviating human suffering; these include, the physical body; the subtle aspect of the body, known as the energetic body; one’s access to wisdom and insight, and how we experience joy, contentment, and bliss throughout our lifespan. 

To sum it up concisely, Yoga Therapy is the individualized application of yoga (as a liberatory framework) that works toward achieving both a specific therapeutic purpose and a specific therapeutic result.

Whereas the point of this writing is not to go into too much philosophy, I do think it is useful to provide some context for Yoga Therapy as a profession since it is still largely unknown to the general public and to healthcare professionals at large.

As a practicing Yoga Therapist, I am often the last resort for a substantial amount of clientele. Many of my clients have already tried conventional Psychotherapy, Physical Therapy, and all of the modern marvels that conventional medicine has to offer; but alas, they are still suffering and something was missing for them to actively seek out some “obscure” practitioner of which they really know nothing about.

In the work that I do, I’ve always reveled in the healing capacity of Yoga Therapy. When we can unite physical practices, mind practices, and more subtle energetic practices; people often find the relief they are seeking whether that means a reduction in physical pain or limited mobility, or whether that means nourishing and rejuvenating their worn out nervous systems and ruminating minds. 

When for the first time, rather than pathologizing them further, a professional treats them as an already whole person and not a conglomeration of separate parts, healing starts to take place.

This is the gift that Yoga Therapy has to offer the world. This healing paradigm can be a true bridge between Physical Therapy & Psychotherapy as Yoga Therapy offers a mind-body centered practice that integrates all layers of human existence into a powerful methodology for human transformation, healing, and ultimately liberation of not only oneself but of the collective. 

Now that is a therapy I can get down with, how about you?

If Yoga Therapy seems like a healing paradigm that would be useful to you as you navigate your own healing and you’re seeking individualized support in this way, don’t hesitate to contact me and schedule your complementary 30-minute holistic health consult for us to get to know one another and learn about how Yoga Therapy may be able to help you along your journey of health and healing.

*This article was originally published on Substack in January 2025 and was updated for publishing on Ghost in May 2025.