‘YOGAVAHINI’ KAMALA CHIRRAVURI
Yoga is often perceived by some, and rather mistakenly, merely as practicing physical asanas (movements and postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises).
While these two physical activity sets are essential components of yoga, true yoga involves the alignment and integration of mind, body and breath. Yoga (yog) means coming together, or unison, and the core goal of yoga is to learn through practise the bringing together of the three dimensions of our existence – in the body, through the mind, with the breath.
The learning of how to align and integrate these three dimensions fosters self-awareness and presence, giving us unimaginable benefits. But doing yoga in today’s fast paced and stressful world can be hard, at least consistently for most part, for most people.
Yoga therapy takes this concept of yoga deeper, offering personalized sessions in a therapy mode to help individuals focus on themselves, rather than their conditions or specific set of traumas or challenges.
By understanding and listening to the person, specialist yoga therapists use breath and appropriate asanas to release emotional and mental blocks, promoting holistic healing and living. This approach helps manage conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and chronic pain, besides mental anxiety or stress or fear or deep-rooted pains, creating a safe space for personal growth. Yoga therapy prepares individuals to ease their inner blocks and progress in their life journey.
Yoga therapy is a versatile practice suitable for anyone seeking holistic healing. Often, individuals turn to yoga therapy after exhausting conventional medical treatments and other healing methods.
We yoga therapists listen attentively, exploring each individual’s dietary habits, sleep patterns, digestion, stress sources and life journey. By tailoring specific practices to their unique needs, significant improvements can be achieved in quick time.
This therapy benefits everyone, including young people facing stress-related issues like gut problems and autoimmune diseases. Yoga therapy is for those who are eager to enhance their well-being and gain deeper self-awareness.
Understanding yourself is crucial in yoga therapy. Often, we only seek help when a condition manifests physically. Until then, we go through life on autopilot. When people visit a yoga therapist, we ask about their diet, lifestyle, and experiences to uncover the root causes of their condition.
By addressing these factors and working on themselves over time, clients start to see positive changes. This harmonious, non-invasive process fosters self-awareness, helping individuals understand their breath, body posture, and habits. This awareness leads to significant personal transformation and healing.
Fundamentals like quality sleep, efficient digestion, and mindful eating—being conscious of your food choices and portions—restore natural rhythms. Incorporating asana, pranayama, and a brief morning walk can transform various health parameters. Many struggle to maintain beneficial routines, often due to irregular sleep, waking, and eating habits, causing bodily imbalances. Yoga therapy guides individuals back to these healthy rhythms, calming the mind and reducing agitation. Though initial changes are subtle, over time, you’ll experience better sleep, improved digestion, sharper focus, and a stable, functional lifestyle.
Sri Krishnamacharya Garu’s gift of yoga therapy, refined by his son Sri Desikachar Garu through Vini Yoga, has profoundly impacted many lives. In Hyderabad, we are fortunate to have many yoga therapists trained by Saraswathi Vasudevan of Yogavahini, Chennai.
These skilled practitioners, following Sri Desikachar Garu’s teachings, bring yoga therapy to various parts of the city. Guided by Saraswathi Vasudevan, a faithful student of Sri Desikachar Garu, we strive to continue this transformative practice, enhancing wellness and personal
connection within our community.
Yoga therapy is one of ancient India’s greatest gifts to humanity, and it is the best way to achieve life, work balance and achieve harmonious living.
(The author, Kamala Chirravuri, a Yogavahini, is one of India's most renowned yoga therapists, and is based in Hyderabad)
