Shambhala Mountain Center Blog

There is an emerging field called yoga therapy where psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers incorporate yoga and meditative breathing into their clients’ sessions.

While there may be some emotional release in a group yoga class, individual sessions with trained mental professionals can really unlock stored emotional memories. Within such a personal setting there is attention given to both the physical and emotional experiences.

Many studies have proven the connection between mental health and physical exercise. However, it is now becoming clear that such health concerns as stress, anxiety and depression are all linked to physical activity. It only makes sense that yoga and therapy would be a beneficial combination.

With new found popularity, the number of schools offering yoga-therapy training now reaches close to 50 and the International Association of Yoga Therapists has more than tripled its membership from 2003 to 2009, to about 2,500 members.

There are some that are concerned about the safety of the patients in this combination therapy. But Bo Forbes, a clinical psychologist, yoga teacher and found and director of the Center for Integrative Yoga Therapeutics in Boston says that it is perfectly safe for a medical professional to teach yoga as long as he or she has gone through extensive yoga training. She believes that psychotherapists should have in-depth study of yoga and a strong background in anatomy and alignment to limit client injuries.

Join Bo Forbes and she teaches Yoga for the Emotional Body: Healing Anxiety, Insomnia & Depression through Yoga. Using Integrative Yoga Therapeutics (therapeutic vinyasa, restorative yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises), Forbes will help you log in to your innate healing power and create the blueprint for emotional freedom. Contact the Shambhala Mountain Center to learn more.