Yoga therapy is a personalized, goal-oriented application of yoga principles to support physical and emotional health. Unlike traditional yoga, which focuses on self-enlightenment and may be taught in group settings without certification, yoga therapy tailors evidence-based practices to individual needs. It is especially beneficial for those managing chronic pain, mental health concerns, or medical conditions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Yoga Therapy Definition – A personalized, goal-oriented application of yoga to support health and well-being, requiring IAYT certification.

• Traditional Yoga vs. Yoga Therapy – Traditional yoga focuses on self-enlightenment and general practice, while yoga therapy is tailored to specific health needs.

• Personalization & Application – Yoga therapy uses evidence-based techniques to address physical, mental, and emotional concerns with measurable goals.

• Who Benefits Most? – Ideal for individuals managing chronic pain, mental health issues, neurological conditions, or serious illnesses.

• Finding a Yoga Therapist – Certified yoga therapists can be found through IAYT directories, and professional coverage like beYogi supports practitioners

Defining Yoga Therapy: What You Should Know

According to the International Association of Yoga Therapists, “Yoga therapy is the professional application of 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 therapists usually work one-on-one with clients/students or with a small group where they work towards the client’s goal. The goals of yoga therapy typically include eliminating, reducing, or managing symptoms of illness and generally moving toward improved health and well-being. These can be physical, such as recovering from surgery or undergoing cancer treatment, or emotional, such as depression management. 

Yoga therapy also helps clients/students change their relationship to and identification with their condition. Yoga therapists draw from the principles of yoga and the full range of yogic practices and assessment skills, as well as familiarity with biomedical and psychological foundational knowledge. For this reason, yoga therapists have 800+ hours of training and an IAYT certification in order to best serve their clients and to align their scope of practice.

Understanding Traditional Yoga

Traditional yoga, on the other hand, is an individual system of self-enlightenment. Yogic study is grounded in the Vedas, yoga philosophy, the developing science of asana, and lessons passed down from teachers. Through these and the eight limbs of yoga, practitioners are provided the tools for the very personal journey towards actualization and unity with all.

The eight limbs of yoga described by Patanjali - yamas, niyamas, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi - are the foundation for many yoga practices. The eightfold path aims to help the practitioner develop and discover self-awareness, freedom, and liberation. 

A yoga teacher may share their yoga practice and teachings to individuals or groups in classes or workshops or books or truly any format in which people can learn. Many yoga teachers choose to register with Yoga Alliance and take teacher trainings of various lengths and specialties but there are few regulations for teachers. Some studios require you to register and be trained formally, but some do not. 

Key Differences Between Yoga Therapy & Traditional Yoga

Neither yoga therapists nor traditional yoga teachers may make diagnoses or prescribe medicines (unless they are also separately qualified to do so). And, while many of the tools in yoga are used in yoga therapy, there are several differences between the two.

Personalization

While a public yoga class may help to heal aches and reduce pain, yoga therapy goes deeper into personalization and healing towards a specific ailment. Yoga therapists develop and “prescribe” a therapeutic plan for each client using the integrative tools of their yoga specialties to help their clients make progress toward their personal goals.

Application

In yoga therapy, tools of yoga are applied to create a specific result or change in the client. Though the philosophy of yoga and ayurveda is included in yoga therapy, science-backed and evidence-based practices are primarily used to address the client’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. In traditional yoga, tools may be used continuously without any specific goals or changes, where you must trust the process instead.

Goal-Based

Traditional yoga and yoga practitioners may not have a specific goal for their yoga practice or they may have many lifetime goals that they spend their practice working towards. Yoga therapy works on specific goals with achievable metrics each yoga session.

Certification

The practice of yoga therapy requires specialized training and skill development to support the relationship between the client/student and therapist and to effect positive change for the individual. In order to claim yoga therapy in your yoga business, you must qualify and be certified through the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).

Who Can Benefit from Yoga Therapy?

The result is that, though everyone can benefit from yoga, people with concrete goals in relation to their health or a health condition would benefit most from yoga therapy. This is especially the case for folks with chronic pain, mental health concerns, neurological issues, and illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.

How To Choose the Right Practice for You

How do you find the right yoga therapist for you? The International Association of Yoga Therapists keeps a database for certified yoga therapists as well as yoga therapy schools, which you can search by location or by name.

Just like finding a favorite yoga teacher or studio, you have to find a yoga therapist that feels right for you. Many yoga therapists have additional certifications that may make them more qualified for specific populations or conditions. 

Get Covered

If you are considering becoming a yoga therapist, rest assured that beYogi has you covered. Take the coverage and comfort that you’ve learned to depend on through beYogi with you, no matter where your professional life takes you. beYogi covers over 500 different modalities for full-time and part-time yoga professionals.