I'm in my final year of the Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy. Update - I passed! I'm a certified Yoga Therapist.
In the last 18 months I've studied the therapeutic benefits of the yoga practise in assisting people with dealing with a number of physical and mental ailments including:
cancer
cardiovascular conditions
eating disorders and addiction
chronic pain
depression and anxiety
trauma
pelvic health and menstruation
aged care
Yoga therapists assist the client in living their best life. Using the tools of yoga, yoga therapists, help clients as they recover from or live with chronic or terminal illness, work with a client to improve their mental wellbeing or provide assistance to disease prevention.
We DO NOT offer a cure.
Often we work alongside other health practitioners such as chiropractors, physiotherapists, mental health professionals, specialists, etc.
The benefits of yoga are increasingly being recognised by the medical and scientific community. However as discussed by the Yoga Therapy Institute, traditional yoga practises and classes are NOT for everyone and can present contraindications.
Drawing on instinct, training and growing scientific evidence, yoga therapists modify and personalise a yoga practise to an individual's needs, often yielding significant results.
"This practise has been really beautiful. It's been taking me just where I need to go and helping me feel rested as well as supported." - TE
The difference between a yoga teacher and a yoga therapist
Yoga teachers are not yoga therapists.
A yoga teacher has completed a minimum of 200 hours teacher training, enabling them to provide a series of yoga poses to a group of people in a class. They might modify poses to suit an individual's ability, but the class follows a theme.
A yoga therapist has completed a minimum of 200 hours of yoga teacher training and additional training hours of specific yoga therapy training to total over 1,000 hours of training, giving them the skills to present a personalised program to an individual or small group.
Yoga therapists work with people, not poses.
They individualise a practise and continue to work with the client to measure the effectiveness and modify as needed.
A yoga therapist empowers the client to heal themselves.
Who can benefit from yoga therapy?
Everyone ... Is this you?
Recent injury or surgery
Diagnosed with diabetes, stroke or cardiovascular disease
Can't do yoga because you struggle to touch your toes
Can't sleep and or feel stressed and slightly out of control
Received a diagnosis of a serious or terminal illness
Wanting to restore or gain strength, flexibility and balance
Recently suffered a trauma, feeling anxious or diagnosed with PTSD
In pain or dealing with pain with no physical diagnosis
Wondering if yoga therapy can help you? Feel free to message me.
Is someone you love dealing with any of the above? Feel free to share this blog with them.
What to expect from yoga therapy sessions with me
After completing an intake form, we'll meet for the initial consult (allow up to 1.5hrs). If you and your health professional are happy to share medical reports, feel free to bring them along.
I'll design an at-home practise specifically for you, that fits into your lifestyle, of about 10-15 minutes duration.
Then we'll have follow up meetings every week or fortnight to discuss how it's going and tweak or evolve the practise, depending on how you feel.
This is about you and your needs.
I recommend at least 3 sessions and up to 6 sessions. Meetings can be in person or online via Whatsapp, Facebook or Zoom.
"I loved that Angela really listened to my experience and my needs and provided a yoga session that gradually built on my existing capability. She was empathetic and caring of what I needed each session. Thank you Angela, I love the progress in movement I have made through the yoga postures you provided. They have helped me to improve my physical abilities in other areas, like my gym sessions with the exercise physiologist. Much appreciated." - SA
Cost: FREE in 2024
I need to fulfill 150 practicum hours to complete my Graduate Diploma.
So if you're interested in participating in sessions for free, let me know.
You'll need to complete a Student Consent Form and agree to allow your details to be used in my final assessment. Confidentiality will be guaranteed.
Once I'm fully-qualified, I'll let you know my fees.
"After experiencing a stroke earlier in the year (2024) I embarked on my recovery with the aid of yoga therapy with Angela. Angela customised my sessions focusing on what was needed to enhance my recovery. She listened to the direction that I wanted my recovery to go both physically and emotionally. After only a few sessions with Angela, I was already finding my co-ordination and strength improving. Prior to my stroke I had a holiday already booked and with Angela's support I managed to improve in my fitness and strength to the point where I could continue with my plans. I don't believe that I would have been able to undertake as much as I did during my holiday if it wasn't for the support that I had during my recovery. For that, Angela, I will be always grateful." - KK
Interesting reads
Got a question?
Feel free to message me with any question, no matter how small. I'm here to help you.
Be free to live your best life.
Angela xx
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