Structural Yoga Therapy
When health is at an optimum, natural range of motion and muscle strength will be found. Any illness, injury or unsuitable routine will change that harmonious relationship. Yoga Therapy adapts exercises to suit the individual, so that pain and limited mobility can be eliminated. SYT can greatly help both chronic, longstanding conditions and new injuries. It requires a personal commitment to helping yourself feel better over time.
The technique can be used to help alleviate the pain and discomfort of back or neck problems, whiplash, aches and pains in shoulders or hips and just about any thing else you can think of in terms of a physical injury or problem. The Therapy works from the gross to the subtle; by starting out working to understand our body and bring it back to balance, we ultimately change our emotional and mental well being for the better too. Another way of saying this is that when we move out of pain we become more happy and integrated within not just our physical body but also emotionally and mentally.
How does it work?
The Yoga Therapist performs a set of measurements and tests to gain insight into the clients body and understand which muscles are weak and which are tight. Through this understanding a personal practice is prescribed to either stretch or strengthen certain muscles or groups of muscles. This seemingly simple technique becomes profound. Often, pain in the body is related to muscle weakness and/or tightness and by working in this way we start to move out of pain and into Sattva or balance. Due to the nature of this work it is really aimed at the dedicated student. This is not a quick fix and it requires dedicated practice over time and regular interaction with the therapist.
Each session addresses problems that cause pain or discomfort, and range of motion and muscle tests are done to give a detailed assessment of a client's flexibility and strength. From that information a personalised Structural Yoga Therapy™ (SYT) program is adapted to the individual's unique needs. This individual yoga program is then polished over later sessions. One or two sessions are often enough to keep you going for a few months. SYT is great even for people who have never done yoga, especially older people in pain.
Why Structural Yoga Therapy?
The most fundamental reason for choosing such a therapy is that it gives you total control over your well being. Unlike working with chiropractic or osteopathic treatments, Yoga Therapy encourages you away from a dependant relationship and into your own understanding of how to fix yourself. The results are largely dependant on your own motivation. This is for the student who has strong motivation - often pain can be a highly motivating factor, as can the desire to understand ones self.
Want To Know More?
Email or call James to discuss your symptoms and initiate a dialogue about working with this type of Therapy.
Read James' qualifying paper on treatment of a herniated Lumbar Disc (warning - it's technical!)
What people say about Yoga Therapy's results
"My back is already much better. I really notice a difference and plan to stick with it - overall I already feel a great improvement" Emily
"I have just completed three months of therapeutic yoga with James after suffering a slip disc a year ago. I'm so glad that I discovered Bliss Divine Yoga as not only has my lower back pain almost disappeared, I feel that I have made a valuable discovery. The yoga experience has taught me to listen to my body, work within its limits, enjoy the challenge of different exercises & enable me to manage stress levels in a better way. I also feel happier and more alert and that I am on a journey to a healthier lifestyle. I would describe James as inspiring & uplifting & thank him very much for his patience, understanding & guidance through my recovery. I will, of course, be continuing his classes to learn more!" Sue
James has completed a 500 hour Yoga Alliance Diploma in Structural Yoga Therapy with Mukunda Stiles, Yogi, Teacher Trainer and Author. For more information on Mukunda visit www.yogatherapycenter.org
