Question 1

What is the difference between yoga and yoga therapy?

Accepted Answer

When the philosophy and practice of yoga were developing thousands of years ago, people were seeking to understand the mind and consciousness, wellness, and liberation from suffering.

Within yoga’s eight limbs, you would learn how to treat yourself and others, and how to clear and unburden the mind.  You might find some of that in a yoga class today, with a few comments sprinkled throughout your 60-minute class, and you are just as likely to encounter only the movement and breathwork (two of the eight limbs).

The yoga instruction offered in most studios, gyms, classrooms, and other environments is a small but very important piece of the more comprehensive approach to wellness and life that yoga promises.  It’s still important because for many people, it’s a warm and welcoming entry point, and there are many benefits while staying right there.

However, there’s much more to learn and gain by engaging with the whole system, including directed and effective approaches to mental and emotional health that partner with the body and the nervous system to create lasting change.  And since yoga therapy is most often offered to clients in individual sessions, it can be tailored to each individual’s needs and goals and meet them right where they are.

Not everyone may enjoy asana (postures), but everybody can participate and grow from yoga therapy.  The way that clients learn how to partner with their body can be vastly different from one person to the next.  This means that someone who is not interested in doing a yoga class can enjoy the benefits of embodiment and nervous system regulation in a way that works for them.

Most yoga therapists (this one) are also educated in other philosophies and, like Buddhism, Ayurveda, positive psychology, neuroscience, and more, so sessions are rich and dynamic!

This is not a complete explanation of the difference between yoga and yoga therapy.(https://www.oggibe.com/yoga-therapy)  If you have specific questions, you should consider scheduling a free 15-minute consultation (https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)with Christine.

Question 2

What is the difference between yoga therapy and talk therapy?

Accepted Answer

The books and the movement!

The philosophy underpinning yoga therapy comes from several texts that were written thousands of years ago in India.  Some of the methods of talk therapy you might recognize, psychoanalysis was created in the late 1800s by Sigmund Freud in Austria, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was developed in the 1960s by Dr. Aaron Beck at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, Internal Family Systems (IFS) was created by Richard Schwartz, PhD, in the 1990s.  These different theories and practices have different foundational texts from yoga therapy.

Yoga therapy engages the body and works directly and intentionally with the nervous system.  Clients may start by sitting on a couch, but eventually most can expect to get up and explore movement.

Yoga therapy is holistic and acknowledges and engages all layers of human being: the mind, emotions, energy, physical body, and witness Self.  For interested clients, yoga therapy can also address and incorporate spirituality.

Yoga therapy is preventive and proactive, as well as reactive.  Some clients find a yoga therapist to work with a condition they’re experiencing, a life change, or a poor relationship with themselves or their body.  Others seek out a yoga therapist to uplift their relationship and self-image, transcend limitations, develop professionally, and/or develop spiritually; they want the knowledge and skills to continuously uplevel.

This is not a complete explanation of the difference between yoga therapy (https://www.oggibe.com/yoga-therapy)and talk therapy.  If you have specific questions, you should consider scheduling a free 15-minute consultation (https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)with Christine.

https://vimeo.com/1039144797/8cc6e5318a
This video may help show what the difference looks like.

Question 3

What is a yoga therapy session like?

Accepted Answer

Yoga therapy (https://www.oggibe.com/yoga-therapy)sessions are tailored to the individual client and what would be most effective at the time of their session.  Below is a generic template for a session.

• Sessions start with the client kicking back on a couch and checking in about what’s been going on and anything relevant that day.  
 • When it’s meaningful, the client will engage the body.  That could take place right on the couch, or the client might come onto a yoga mat (or even head outdoors).  Typically, movement is fluid to begin; this gets blood flowing, warms up the body, and can quiet the noise in the cognitive mind.
 • Clients will explore shapes or movement to learn about their reactions and patterns of mind and behavior.  They identify practices that support their self-regulation, which they can incorporate into their lives.  Downregulating the nervous system begins here as well, so that by the end of the session, clients feel calm, connected, and safe within themselves.  
 • Clients will usually make their way onto a cushioned mat on the ground for shapes or movement that encourage softness and surrender.  
 • Breathwork may be incorporated anywhere in a session, but sessions typically round out with thoughtfully chosen practices, as well as meditation or visualization.  
 • Sessions end with an integration where the client identifies a takeaway and something to implement in their lives.

The yoga therapist cues a dual process of the client mindfully moving their body and witnessing their inner experience at the same time.  The yoga therapist will often ask what is happening to learn how best to guide and support the client.  The whole session is a partnership with open, easy communication, where the client is encouraged to take ownership of their process and is empowered to make choices that best serve them.  All guidance from the yoga therapist is an offering, and the client is ultimately in charge of what they will try and where they will go physically, mentally, emotionally, etc.

This is just a generic session.  The first session may be all talking as the client and therapist get to know one another.  People with different needs may have vastly different experiences from the one described above.  If you have more questions, you should consider scheduling a free 15-minute consultation (https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)with Christine.

Question 4

How do you become a yoga therapist?

Accepted Answer

Different schools educate and graduate yoga therapists.  Some schools provide a master’s degree, but most offer certifications.  This is because yoga therapy is relatively new in our system of healthcare and is in the process of becoming established as a recognized healthcare profession.

The International Association for Yoga Therapists (IAYT) accredits schools to teach yoga therapy and has its own standards to certify individual yoga therapists.  Prior to acceptance, most yoga therapy schools require or provide yoga teacher training as a prerequisite.  Some schools also provide bridge programs for existing talk therapists.

C-IAYT Yoga Therapists (certified by IAYT) have done a minimum of 800 hours of training (approximately two years of education) and observed/mentored practicum hours working with clients and/or groups and must routinely participate in continuing education to maintain their certification.*

*These standards change, and this website is not updating this page to reflect the newest requirements.  For the most accurate data, please visit IAYT.org.(https://www.iayt.org)

Question 5

How do I get started working with a yoga therapist?

Accepted Answer

If you think partnering with your body to support your mental health (yoga therapy)(https://www.oggibe.com/yoga-therapy) could be the right next step to move you toward the life you desire, then you’re ready to schedule a free consultation.  It’s ok if you’re not sure, if you have loads of questions, even if you're skeptical!

During your free consultation, you’ll get the chance to learn more about the process and the therapist with whom you’ll be working!  It’s important that you feel comfortable with the person as well as the approach.

If you or the yoga therapist thinks it might not be a fit, they can recommend other yoga therapists or other therapies that might fit better.

At OGGI BE, we offer two kinds of free consultations.  The 15-minute chat is for someone who feels confident in the approach, doesn’t have a lot of questions, and just wants to make sure that we would make a good team.  The 45-minute consultation is for someone who has a lot of questions, has a complex situation, and wants to have more time to parse through it all before committing.  Pick the one that feels right to you!(https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)

Question 6

Is yoga therapy for children or young adults?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Yoga therapy (https://www.oggibe.com/youth-yoga-therapy)is incredibly effective for young people.

Younger children tend to connect naturally with their body and take to listening to and partnering with the body to take care of themselves and develop skills for self-advocacy and empowerment.

Older children and young adults may have started the process of isolating themselves from their body; they may have had experiences that cause them to disassociate or have negative associations with their body, and this can be a critical moment of reconciliation and integration for them.  Often, issues with the body and relationship with the Self are what bring this age group to yoga therapy.  Even if a person this age is working on something else, like managing anger, grief, stress, or anxiety, this approach will be as effective for them as it is for adults.

Yoga Therapy helps young people to:
​
 • Cultivate and sustain self-esteem and a trusting relationship with self and body.
 • Learn how to intentionally engage their nervous system to manage their state of being, stress, and reactivity.
 • Improve focus.
 • Develop communication skills, self-advocacy, and autonomy.

If you, as a guardian, think yoga therapy might be right for a young person in your life, you are encouraged to schedule a consultation (https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)to learn more.

If you’re a person under 18 years old, you will need to connect with a guardian to schedule your initial consultation and session.

Question 7

Is yoga therapy for couples?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Yoga therapy (https://www.oggibe.com/couples-yoga-therapy)is fabulous for couples looking to improve their connection.  It’s not just for romantic couples either, it’s great for a parent and child, for siblings, and more!  If there’s a person in your life you’re struggling to connect with, you might consider engaging in yoga therapy with them.

Yoga therapy invites individuals to learn how to partner with their body and nervous system to understand their thought patterns and behavior, to self-regulate, and to develop the ability to create safety within themselves.  This was they can show up as the most authentic and sovereign version of themselves in their connection with their partner.

Both partners then bring the knowledge and approach to self-regulation to the relationship as they navigate honest, effective communication, self-advocacy, and support.

You can schedule a free consultation (https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)to learn more and determine if this approach could work for you and your person.

Question 8

Do yoga therapists work with groups?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Group therapy is an effective model for sharing yoga therapy (https://www.oggibe.com/yoga-therapy)with people and providing them with knowledge and skills that they can integrate into their lives.

The group therapy model typically contains four parts: education, embodiment, self-reflection, and community.

• During the education portion of group therapy, participants come to understand the philosophy and process of yoga therapy as it relates to whatever theme or topic the session may be about.      
 • During embodiment, participants get to discover and feel in real time how the philosophy and process work.  They begin to embed this approach into their ‘muscle memory’ so they can easily call upon the tools and skills to support them in the future.  
 • During self-reflection, participants deepen their connection to and understanding of themselves and integrate the philosophy and process so that it is woven into this deep understanding.  
 • During the closing community circle, participants get to be seen and validated by others, they get to offer reciprocal support to others, and they get to learn and expand from others’ shares.  Community and connection are an important part of mental health and a life that feels full.  Going through this experience with others can be supportive and healing, even if it can also be challenging and reveal resistance and growth edges!

Group yoga therapy is sometimes offered as pop-up workshops, or it can be offered as a series where the education and experiences build week to week.  Group therapy workshops and series often have a theme or leading topic, like Finding Peace in Uncertain Times.

Sometimes individuals, businesses, or organizations will contract with a yoga therapist to provide a single or a series of group therapy sessions for their group.  These can be perfectly tailored to the needs of your group and are a fun way to explore all the ways yoga therapy can support people and communities!

If you represent a business or organization, you can learn more on our corporate and nonprofit wellness page,(https://www.oggibe.com/workplace-wellness) and you are welcome to schedule a consultation.(https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)

If you’re an individual looking to create a group experience for others, you can email christine@oggibe.com (mailto:christine@oggibe.com)or schedule a consultation.(https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)

If you’re looking to join a pop-up workshop or series, keep checking our workshops page (https://www.oggibe.com/workshops)and make sure you sign up for our newsletter (https://www.oggibe.com/join-the-yoga-oggi-community)to learn what’s coming up!

Question 9

Is yoga therapy appropriate for corporate wellness?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Yoga therapy is a powerful tool for corporate wellness.(https://www.oggibe.com/workplace-wellness)

A yoga therapy program or stand-alone experience is an investment in your team that centers their mental health and wellness and their ability to show up authentically.  It acknowledges and uplifts their neurodiversity and complexity and makes room for their unique self-expression.  This leads to team members who feel valued, supported, and empowered to be themselves and execute their jobs at the highest level.

Yoga therapy for corporate wellness isn’t just coaching or education (although it contains both elements), it’s a rewiring and reintegration of the mind and body, and a thoughtful partnership with the nervous system.  It not only leads to momentary inspiration but also to lasting change.

Businesses and organizations who have partnered with OGGI BE for workshops, series, or retreats have said these experiences were the most unique, memorable, and relevant they’ve had as a team!

Common topics for workshops or series include:   
 • Stress Management
 • Self-Regulation & Communication 
 • Support in Uncertain Times
 • Life Balance & Harmony 
 • Busting Burnout
 • Building Trust

To learn more about our corporate wellness offerings, you can visit our page about it,(https://www.oggibe.com/workplace-wellness) request a proposal,(mailto:christine@oggibe.com) and/or schedule a consultation.(https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)

https://vimeo.com/1095689515/ea78c46a3e
This is a brief video about our approach to wellness at work.

Question 10

What are the different ways to work with a yoga therapist?

Accepted Answer

There are two primary ways I work with individuals.(https://www.oggibe.com/partner-with-christine)

Some clients come in for yoga therapy (https://www.oggibe.com/yoga-therapy)weekly, bi-weekly, or on a rhythm we determine together.  They may have sought out yoga therapy to work with a condition they’re struggling with, like anxiety or disordered eating, a life circumstance like a loss, a toxic work environment, or burnout, their relationship with their Self or their body, and more.  After we begin working on what brought them in, many clients continue to work with me because they’ve discovered that it’s unlocked greater potential for growth, vibrance, and purpose in their lives.  Yoga therapy can be reactive, preventive, and proactive.  These clients often work with me for an undefined amount of time, anywhere from 6 months to years, often with breaks.  Clients may pay for these sessions one at a time, but most will purchase packages of sessions at a discounted rate to ensure space on my schedule.

For clients working on something acute, something that’s been stuck for a long time, or who seek to have definable results within a smaller container of time, I offer a Three-Month Intensive.(https://www.oggibe.com/three-month-intensive)  This program offers additional support in between therapy sessions, resources, recordings, and a dedicated app to keep clients consistent, on track, and moving toward their goals.  Some people and conditions benefit from more consistent support throughout the week.  It’s great for people who are busy, have high-pressure jobs or lives, are determined to create lasting change, and are ready to commit to that change.

Common areas of focus for the Three-Month Intensive are:
 • Anxiety
 • Poor relationship with the body, body image, disordered eating 
 • Self-worth, value outside of ascribed roles like career or parenthood 
 • Burnout, life harmony 
 • Self-actualization, empowerment, living authentically

Learn more about the Three-Month Intensive (https://www.oggibe.com/three-month-intensive)and/or schedule a consultation (https://www.oggibe.com/consultation)to learn which approach to yoga therapy would be most effective for you.

You can learn more about the why behind the design of this program in Christine's blog, Anxiety, Overwhelm & Exhaustion: Turning private pain into healing service.()

https://vimeo.com/1095678757/860b3d81a7
This brief video talks a little bit about the Three-Month Intensive (3MI).

Question 11

What is yoga therapy good for?

Accepted Answer

Yoga therapy (https://www.oggibe.com/yoga-therapy)is therapy informed by yoga philosophy and practice; it’s not a yoga class.  That means that most anything that would inspire someone to schedule an appointment with a traditional talk therapist would be appropriate for yoga therapy.  The key element is that someone seeking support is interested in engaging with their body and their nervous system and is open to a holistic approach that will address all aspects of their being.  It doesn’t mean that a person must be interested in asana or doing the yoga postures.  Yoga didn’t begin as an asana practice; it began with the seat.  Slowing down enough to connect to the body and be fully present.  There are myriad ways clients can tap into presence and embodiment, and it looks different for each person.  Some people love yoga shapes, and we incorporate those as appropriate.

Finding a therapist is like picking out a loaf of bread.  Some of us are whole wheat all the way, others are sourdough or multigrain, and some like it all!  The best way to determine if yoga therapy is appropriate for what you’re trying to achieve is to schedule a consultation.

Like choosing bread, you probably wouldn’t reach for rye for your peanut butter and jelly sandwich, unless you really like that combination!  So, it’s true that yoga therapy may not work the same for every person, condition, or situation.  Some of the conditions, situations, and/or goals for which yoga therapy has been shown to be especially effective are:

• Anxiety – Yoga therapy is commonly very effective at supporting people with anxiety.  Anxiety is something that most people experience and observe in all layers of their being, their mind, physical body, energy, and emotions.  An example could be someone experiencing ruminating thoughts, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath, frenetic energy that feels out of control, accompanied by feelings of worry or fear.  Yoga therapy addresses all of these.  And, because yoga therapy starts with the body, it invites you to start by feeling differently rather than trying to think yourself into a different state of being.  Anxiety is often best supported by consistent engagement, so someone who has been struggling with anxiety for a long time or who has a newly acute experience of anxiety relating to some life change might find the three-month intensive (https://www.oggibe.com/three-month-intensive)for anxiety can be a great place to start!  
 • Burnout/Work-Life Harmony – As a yoga therapist, I’ve worked with many business owners, solopreneurs, and executives who have struggled with burnout, creating harmony among the important parts of their lives, feeling their value and self-worth outside of their career, the isolation of leadership, and more.  In positions like these, people tend to rely heavily on the cognitive mind.  They also tend to experience the driving force of time, deadlines, and deliverables.  Yoga therapy invites us to disrupt these cycles that keep us in holding patterns rather than engaging lasting change, and it does this by partnering with the body and the nervous system and recalibrating the balance of power between the cognitive mind and other layers of being.  Clients develop the ability to negotiate their needs with greater ease and less internal resistance.  If you’re someone who’s been sacrificing your wellness for your work for a long time, or you haven’t yet been able to make a shift in harmonizing work and life to feel fully alive in all areas of your life, then the three-month intensive for leaders (https://www.oggibe.com/three-month-intensive)might be right for you.  For time-sensitive leaders, the program does require a commitment and significant time investment up front, but just within a container of three months!  Lasting change is possible, and previous clients can tell you, three months goes by quick!
 • Grief – Yoga therapy can be very effective at supporting people experiencing grief and loss.  For some, the feelings, physical sensations, and thoughts can be overwhelming; others may struggle to allow themselves to experience those feelings and sensations in the first place.  Some people may not give themselves enough time with their grief, while others may worry that they’ve spent too much time there.  There’s no one right way to grieve, but we know that the yoga therapy model of pausing to give enough space, listening to all layers of being, and working mindfully with the nervous system to manage the state of being can help!  Grief can feel heavy, and the idea that there’s a right way to grieve can be an additional burden.  We start by letting the latter go right away and meeting our client where they are with acceptance.  
 • Transitions – Change, acceptance, and discernment are key elements of the yoga therapy model that make it particularly supportive to people going through life transitions.  Depending on where you are in your transition, there are opportunities for developing presence and awareness without imposing unnecessary limitations on yourself, listening to all layers of your being, and aligning with your Truth and values.  Transitions are a special time in life.  Unfortunately, many of us tend to feel overwhelmed, out of control, burdened, confused, uncertain, afraid, and more!  Transitions can sometimes feel like something happening to us in which we have little or no agency.  Yoga therapy can provide space to engage with a life transition with intention, and clients may even find their way to a sense of ease… even appreciation.  A life transition is an excellent opportunity to partner with your body for guidance and support!  Some people find the added connection, support, and resources in the three-month intensive (https://www.oggibe.com/three-month-intensive)helpful during their transition, but others may not have the capacity or interest in that – it just depends!
 • Body Acceptance/Connection – Yoga therapy is a system that asks us to partner with our bodies to understand our minds and behavior and create change.  What happens when there is not only a disconnect but an antagonistic or painful relationship with the body?  This is when a holistic, embodied approach to therapy can be most transformative!  Yoga therapy invites us into different kinds of conversations with the body, including non-verbal communication and lighthearted, playful interactions.  For everything from an inability to connect with the body, to issues with body image to disordered eating, yoga therapy can be a powerful ally.  Ideally, we are asked to be in relationship with our body all the time.  For those of us for whom that’s a challenge, the support and resources clients receive in between sessions in the three-month intensive (https://www.oggibe.com/three-month-intensive)can be instrumental in building a supportive, reciprocal relationship with the body.

Question 12

Do I need to do yoga to work with a yoga therapist?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no.  It depends on how you define the word “yoga.”  If by “yoga” you mean moving into traditional yoga shapes and mastering your alignment, then no, you don’t have to do that!  If by “yoga” you mean partnering with your body in a way that works for you to develop presence, awareness, and acceptance to live your truth free from unnecessary suffering and limitation, then yes, you can expect to do that!

The key element is that someone seeking support is interested in engaging with their body and their nervous system and is open to a holistic approach that will address all aspects of their being.  It doesn’t mean that a person must be interested in asana or doing the yoga postures.  Yoga didn’t begin as an asana practice; it began with the seat.  Slowing down enough to connect to the body and be fully present.  There are myriad ways clients can tap into presence and embodiment, and it looks different for each person.  Some people love yoga shapes, and we incorporate those as appropriate.

Each session is a conversation between the client and the yoga therapist where the client is invited and encouraged to share what is working for them and what isn’t.

If you have further questions about this, please email christine@oggibe.com (mailto:christine@oggibe.com)or schedule a free consultation.

Question 13

Can I pay with insurance for yoga therapy?

Accepted Answer

Some insurance companies will reimburse all or a portion of the cost of yoga therapy sessions and/or packages.  
​
Some FSA or HSA programs may pay for or reimburse investment in yoga therapy. 
​
Individuals are encouraged to contact their provider insurance company, HSA, and/or FSA provider to understand their coverage.

Schedule a consultation with Christine!

Frequently Asked Questions