Yoga therapy is a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach to health care. George L. Engel, M.D. was an internist, psychiatrist, scholar, researcher, and teacher who created the biopsychosocial model. In the 1970s, Engel wrote articles describing this model, stipulating that all three levels must be considered in every healthcare situation to provide the most complete diagnoses and treatment plan. He criticized that the current medical system was 1-dimensional and failed to provide adequate care.

In 1989, Larry Payne, PhD, and Richard Miller, PhD founded the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) to promote yoga as and complementary healing art and science. Yoga therapy is an adjunctive treatment protocol that bridges the biomedical and integrative healthcare gap.

Wright, Watson, & Bell added a spiritual component to Engels’s model in 1996, which IAYT has also incorporated. While the definition of spirituality is broad, the concept focuses on the importance of having meaning, purpose, and value in one’s life. Without it, health and well-being diminish.

The scientific background coincides with the ancient yogic philosophy of Taittiriya Upanishad. In the second chapter, the Taittiriya Upanishad describes a way of considering the human system that incorporates five interconnected “sheaths”— the panchamaya kosha model. Each sheath is vital to one’s health and well-being. The sheaths move from gross, starting with the body, to more subtle layers, addressing all levels of human existence. They are intertwined and dependent on one another—an issue in one will impact all the other layers.

Who are yoga therapists?

Yoga therapists work with clients to improve their health and well-being while considering how biology, psychology, spirituality, and social factors interact and impact the client’s health. Yoga therapists draw from all tools in & related scientific research, complete personalized assessments, and curate care plans that address illness, disease, health, and well-being on all levels while empowering clients through active participation. Additionally, yoga therapists can collaborate with the existing medical team to ensure a whole-person healing approach is in place.

IAYT stipulates that all certified yoga therapists spend a minimum of 1000 hours of education over two years, learning the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and yoga practices for individuals or small groups. Yoga therapist’s education includes principles and practices of yoga, assessment skills, and an understanding of biomedical and psychological foundational principles. Training includes how to eliminate, reduce, and manage symptoms that cause suffering, as well as how to improve function, prevent the occurrence or re-occurrence of underlying causes of illness, and move clients toward improved health and well-being.

Is Yoga different from Yoga Therapy?

Yes! Education and intention are the main differences despite overlapping principles, tools, and benefits. Yoga classes are for those looking to build a mind-body connection under the guidance of teachers who can support healthy individuals. Yoga therapy is for those seeking healing support for an illness, disease, injury, condition, or anything diminishing one’s quality of life.