Systems: Integrative Yoga Therapy

Founded in Kripalu by Joseph Le Page, IYT is grounded in a 10-step therapeutic process forming a complete healing program

Principles:

• students learn to integrate indepth information through the creative process while using a wide variety of yoga tools
• tool and techniques are used to design yoga programs for specific groups and one on one yoga therapy sessions
• based on the model of the 5 koshas
• serves as a map of the human being for guiding the spiritual journey and as a guide to global health and healing
• exploration and understanding of the five koshas guided by the therapist naturally leads to the recognition of our own true being, whose nature is freedom and unity.
• this recognition has to be integrated into all healing methodologies for yoga therapy to be effective

Qualities of the yoga therapist: 

earned through exploration of a wide range of spiritual states as expressions of our authentic being as core beliefs are relaesed. This creates an understanding of how love and compassion influence physical health and healing.

• creativity: vitality, gratitude, lightness & ease, surrender
• personal practice: study of the self and texts, simplicity, generosity, compassion
• equanimity: integrity, integral vision, witness consciousness, sensitivity & intuition
• tools and techniques: careful listening, skillful speech, patience, enthusiasm
• selfless service: grounding, self healing, body awareness, conscious presence

10-Step Process:

• check-in
• educational theme
• awareness exercise
• sharing
• mudra and affirmation
• breathing exercises
• warm-ups and yoga postures
• yoga nidra (guided rtelaxation)
• meditation
• closing

10-week long therapeutic group programs:

• week 1: visualizing optimal health
• "I visualize a new dawn of perfect health"
• core quality: new possibilities
• week 2: Stress reduction
• "I am completely relaxed and at ease"
• core quality: relaxation
• week 3: Body awareness
• "I trust and honor my body"
• core quality: healthy embodiment
• week 4: correct postural alignment
• "my body and spine are naturally aligned"
• Core quality:optimal alignment
• week 5: optimal breathing
• "my my breath flows freely and easily"
• core quality: breathing completely
• week 6: self nourishment
• "I awaken to my own spring of inner energy"
• core quality: self-nourishment
• week 7: awakening senses
• "I awaken my senses to live each day vibrantly"
• core quality: living more fully
• week 8: gratitude 
• "I treasure each moment of my life as a precious gift"
• core quality: gratitude
• week 9: opening the heart
• "my heart beats in synchrony with the heart of all beings"
• core quality: compassion
• week 10: life's deeper meaning
• "I align with life's deeper meaning"
• core quality: purpose and meaning

Healing: 25 essential principles

• Anan-maya-kosha

1. enhanced body awareness
2. experiential understanding of the systems of the body
3. optimization of posture and release of chronic muscular contraction
4. supporting optimal physiological functioning
5. balance of 5 elements

• prana-maya-kosha

1. experiential knowlwdge of breath
2. balance with subtle body: prana vayus and nadis
3. balance in Chakras
4. integration of body and mind through breath
5. pranic healing

• mano-maya-kosha

1. learning to relax
2. sense of community
3. expression of feelings
4. increased self-confidence
5. reduction of symptoms of anxiety and depression

• vijnana-maya-kosha

1. clearly defined goals for healing
2. releasing core beliefs
3. redefining challenges
4. learning at all levels of being
5. exploring life's deeper meaning

• ananda-maya-kosha

1. cultivating values
2. the body as a source of positive sensations rather than pain
3. integration of all facets of being
4. living in the present
5. awakening spirituality

Mudra and Yoga Therapy:

• allow therapists to sense and explore experientially all facets of yoga philosophy
• in one-on-one yoga sessions allow for infinite range of possibilities for health and healing by directing breath awareness and energy specific areas and systems of the body
• in group sessions: awaken and support the main theme or core quality of the week. mudra used with affirmations repeated throughout class.
• ideal for homework because they can be practiced anywhere
• hand mudras are traditionally prescribed for a wide range of health conditions. 

JOSEPH LEPAGE