What is Yoga in the Context of Therapy?
Many people get confused (even yoga teachers) of the difference between Yoga Therapy and Physical Therapy. These two models may use similar assessment tools and even some similar physical tools to alleviate physical and structural deficiencies. Nevertheless, yoga is looking at the human system from a much different lens.
Treating yoga as a form of therapy from this model means we are looking at the body, mind, and emotions as a whole. We look at the person’s lifestyle, patterns, and habits to assess the best approach for the individual. We recognize that the physical body is only one layer of a very complex system.
Yoga (and other modalities such as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine) teaches that we are inherently balanced and healthy. Our goal is to use the tools yoga has to offer to encourage the human system to realign to its natural homeostasis. These tools may include but are not limited to physical exercises, breathing techniques, meditation techniques, food and lifestyle choices, and even using sound as a way to affect the system.
Potential Benefits may include but are not limited to:
- Pain management
- Stress reduction
- Alleviating anxiety
- Reducing symptoms of depression
- Structural realignment
- Diminishing symptoms from disorders such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.
- Mitigating severe emotional responses
- Overall wellness
Nathan’s Background in Yoga as Therapy
Nathan’s experience of Yoga as Therapy has grown through many years of personal healing in his own body, through continued study of Yoga as Therapy from different schools of thought, and from working with individuals in his private practice.
In addition to the many teachers who helped Nathan as a young man on his path, he has also had the pleasure of studying extensively with several teachers of Yoga Therapy in the Desikachar lineage as well as with Doug Keller.
Nathan used breath, meditation practices, and diet to overcome a severe and debilitating panic and depression disorder he formed in late adolescence without the use of medication.
In his own body, Nathan has also used yoga to assist rehabilitating and healing after:
- Being born with his right leg over 3 inches shorter than the left (continual process of reevaluating patterns and adjusting postural habits after surgery and throughout aging)
- Dealing with the challenges of being born without a kidney and compromised adrenals
- Stabilizing his right knee back to full function after tearing his ACL in martial arts (non-surgically)
- Healing two severe tears in both rotator cuffs after injuring them on a trapeze (non-surgically)
- Stabilizing his left knee after a severe meniscus tear (non-surgically)
Please be sure to read our Appointment Policies before scheduling your session.
See what past participants have said about working with Nathan:
Timely and genuine encouragement
I came to this practice with no yoga or martial arts in my background. The journey has been one of patience, perseverance and humility as I learn to accept the immense value of small steps and small beginnings. One of the things I’ve learned to deeply appreciate about working with Nathan is his keen awareness for timely encouragement while at the same time challenging me to new heights. His refusal to settle for empty flattery that misses the goal and doesn’t lay any lasting roots is refreshing. I count myself blessed to be learning under someone of his character and integrity and look forward to many more hours of mat time.
Releasing old patterns
Nathan has been working with me one-on-one with massage and yoga therapy for close to a year. He guides me through certain yoga poses to target areas of my body where I feel pain, tightness, stress, or old trauma and gives my body feedback with his massage techniques. After our yoga session, we move to the massage table where he delves deeper into my tissues to release old patterns. This process has been transformative. My body is able to explore a broader spectrum of movement, and I have been able to release emotions that have held back both my physical yoga practice and more importantly my interactions with the present. I cannot recommend Nathan enough for people who are looking to explore deeper realms of their body and their mind. Thank you so much Nathan!!