If you have not heard of yoga therapy before you have probably heard about the healing benefits of yoga. Yoga Therapy serves to treat illnesses, disease and ailments, it is an alternative to Western medicine. However, in India, it is often considered a mainstream path of healing in conjuction with Ayurvedic Medicine.
The International Association of Yoga Therapy has defined it as: "...derived from the Yoga tradition of Patanjali and the Ayurvedic system of healthcare, it is the adaptation and application of Yoga techniques and practices to help individuals facing health challenges at any level manage their condition, reduce symptoms, restore balance, increase vitality and improve attitude".
The fact that an International Association of Yoga Therapy even exists speaks to the fact that Yoga Therapy is starting to make its way into our modern lives.
While we are at the Ashram Melissa is specialising in Yoga Therapy. Today, a little girl named Kutta from the village visited us. She is suffering from muscular dystrophy, this is a disease that is screened for at birth in North America. If a baby is found to have it the diet is changed so that the symptoms can be avoided. In India, the babies are not screened and when Kutta was born she displayed no symptoms. Around 6 months old her parents noticed that her eyes would wander and she could not properly control them, a doctor diagnosed her with dystrophy and she is now 3 years old. Her parents have brought her to the Ashram in the hopes that Yoga Therapy will work for her, but also because medicine is not an option. We all had the oppurtunity to play with her and surround her with love. We put her into a head stand to increase the space in her body and allow her energy to spread. We then put her into plough pose which she loved. Her parents have been prescribed to do these poses every day including cat and cow to strengthen her spine and movement. Yoga Therapy combined with Ayurvedic Medicine can be very powerful and although it is natural to be skeptical we expect to see some results before we leave. If anything, she was definately smiling and overjoyed at all the love she received from us and the positive energy surrounding her.
Here is to hoping this special little girl lives a long fulfilling life
Namaste.
Candice and Melissa
The International Association of Yoga Therapy has defined it as: "...derived from the Yoga tradition of Patanjali and the Ayurvedic system of healthcare, it is the adaptation and application of Yoga techniques and practices to help individuals facing health challenges at any level manage their condition, reduce symptoms, restore balance, increase vitality and improve attitude".
The fact that an International Association of Yoga Therapy even exists speaks to the fact that Yoga Therapy is starting to make its way into our modern lives.
Here is to hoping this special little girl lives a long fulfilling life
Namaste.
Candice and Melissa
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