What is Therapeutic Yoga? Beyond the Physical Practice

When you think of yoga, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s a serene image of someone meditating, or a powerful pose like a headstand. Maybe there is no picture, and instead you feel a sense of anxiety, discomfort, or uncertainty.

In Western contexts, yoga is often associated with the physical practice of asana, or postural practice. While there are many benefits to more vigorous or physically demanding styles, yoga offers far more than physical exercise. It is a holistic practice that can be integrated into everyday life in ways that support both body and mind.

Therapeutic yoga, sometimes called therapeutically applied yoga, may look quite different from what you expect. Rather than focusing on performance or appearance, these sessions draw on the eight limbs of yoga to create a personalised, trauma-informed approach that meets you where you are. It is one of the approaches offered at Caspera Wellness, serving clients in North Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, and across BC.

What are the eight limbs of yoga?

The eight limbs offer a framework for living and practising with intention.

The Yamas (ethical restraints) guide how we relate to others and the world, while the Niyamas (personal observances) support how we relate to ourselves. These may include practices such as ahimsa (non-violence) or tapas (discipline), explored in ways that feel relevant and supportive to your life. What this can look like in practice is learning your personal and interpersonal boundaries and noticing when you are pushing past the point of comfort. Yin yoga is one example of where physical boundaries can be explored with therapeutic support.

While Asana (physical postures) is often emphasised in Western yoga, it was traditionally intended to prepare the body for stillness and meditation. Each posture can offer a different perspective, both physically and internally. Different practices hold different intentions. Depending on your needs, we may focus on slowing things down and building a new, and different relationship to your body, moving away from a desire to fix towards a sense of being. Perhaps we are starting at a place where you can begin to notice that you even have a body, and then slowly move towards a sense of safety.

It might be that practices such as Dhyana (meditation) may not initially sound like your cup of tea. Sitting in stillness may not be where we start. Instead we might begin by incorporating mindfulness practices that can support sustained awareness and presence. With time, this can lead you towards Samadhi (absorption or integration), or a deeper sense of connection or wholeness. In learning to be with what is there, space can start to emerge to form a new internal relationship.

Sessions may also incorporate Pranayama (breath regulation) to support nervous system regulation, or Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) to gently turn inward and build awareness of your internal experience. Dharana (concentration) can be used to anchor attention on a single point, such as the breath, a word, or a sensation.

What does a therapeutic yoga session look like?

All of these practices can work together, or separately, to help you reconnect with your body, release tension, and cultivate a greater sense of calm and inner strength.

In session, you may be guided through gentle movement, breathwork, and mindfulness practices that support relaxation, self-awareness, and resilience. Sessions are paced collaboratively, with space to pause, adjust, or shift based on what feels supportive in the moment.

Whether you’re new to yoga or returning to it in a different way, therapeutic yoga offers a supportive and inclusive space. It is not about achieving a pose. It is about building a relationship with yourself, at your own pace.

“It is not about achieving a pose. It is about building a relationship with yourself, at your own pace.”

Therapeutic yoga may be for you if you:

•     Feel anxious, uncertain, or disconnected from your body

•     Find more vigorous or performance-focused yoga classes overwhelming

•     Are healing from trauma and want a gentle, trauma-informed approach

•     Want to build nervous system regulation and a greater sense of calm

•     Are new to yoga, or returning to it in a different way

If you’re curious about exploring therapeutic yoga in North Vancouver in a way that feels supportive, accessible, and grounded in your needs, I’d love to connect. You’re welcome to book a free 20-minute consultation. No pressure, just a conversation.

Book a free 20-minute consult

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Frequently asked questions about therapeutic yoga

What is the difference between therapeutic yoga and regular yoga?

Regular yoga classes often focus on physical postures, fitness, or flexibility in a group setting. Therapeutic yoga is personalised and trauma-informed. Rather than focusing on performance or appearance, it draws on the eight limbs of yoga to support nervous system regulation, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing, paced to meet you where you are.

Do I need to be flexible or experienced to try therapeutic yoga?

No. Therapeutic yoga is not about achieving a pose or being flexible. Whether you are new to yoga or returning to it in a different way, sessions are inclusive and accessible. The focus is on building a relationship with yourself at your own pace, with space to pause, adjust, or shift based on what feels supportive.

Can therapeutic yoga help with anxiety and stress?

Yes. Therapeutic yoga incorporates breath regulation, gentle movement, and mindfulness practices that support nervous system regulation. These can help reduce tension, cultivate calm, and build inner strength. Many people find it supportive for anxiety, stress, and reconnecting with a sense of safety in the body.

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References

Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Anheyer, D., Pilkington, K., de Manincor, M., Dobos, G., & Ward, L. (2018). Yoga for anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Depression and Anxiety, 35(9), 830–843. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22762

Hong, A., Louis, A., & Rioux, J. (2025). Scoping review of trauma-informed yoga (TIY) for survivors of sexual, domestic, and interpersonal violence and development of the WELLNESS mnemonic to characterize TIY outcomes. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 31(9), 620–629. https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2023.0582

Nejadghaderi, S. A., Mousavi, S. E., Fazlollahi, A., Motlagh Asghari, K., & Garfin, D. R. (2024). Efficacy of yoga for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychiatry Research, 340, 116098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116098

Patanjali. (2012). The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (S. Satchidananda, Trans.). Integral Yoga Publications.

van der Kolk, B. A., Stone, L., West, J., Rhodes, A., Emerson, D., Suvak, M., & Spinazzola, J. (2014). Yoga as an adjunctive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 75(6), e559–e565. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.13m08561

Zaccaro, A., Piarulli, A., Laurino, M., Garbella, E., Menicucci, D., Neri, B., & Gemignani, A. (2018). How breath-control can change your life: A systematic review on psycho-physiological correlates of slow breathing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, Article 353. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353