Difference between Yoga Therapy and Physical Therapy or Psychotherapy?

Yoga therapy can be complementary to these western modalities. The biggest difference is that yoga therapists are trained to understand how an individual’s physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual spheres are interconnected. Whereas a physical therapist might only focus on your spine or hamstrings if you have back pain, a yoga therapist may also explore how the way you breathe might be leading to your discomfort. Whereas a psychotherapist may be invaluable in supporting you with a particularly painful or traumatic experience, a yoga therapist may also explore how these experiences may be contributing to physical imbalances such as frequent headaches and digestive issues. Lastly, because western practitioners are often working within the healthcare system, they may not be available or have the energy to offer a significant amount of time or follow-up support in which case a yoga therapist can be a wonderful supplement resource.