Routledge Understanding Yoga Therapy: Applied Philosophy and Science for Health and Well-Being

Understanding Yoga Therapy offers a comprehensive and accessible perspective on yoga therapy as a complementary, integrative route to promoting whole-person well-being. Readers will come away from the book understanding how the philosophy, texts, and teachings of yoga benefit a wide range of health conditions. The book is split into three helpful sections: Part I discusses foundational texts and their interpretations; Part II outlines the biopsychosocial-spiritual and neurophysiological model of integrative health pertinent to yoga therapy; and Part III focuses on practical applications separate from the more familiar diagnosis-driven models. Experiential activities and case studies throughout the text illuminate how yogic practices can be incorporated for optimal health. Bridging the ancient and modern, philosophical and scientific, Understanding Yoga Therapy offers a clear explanatory framework for yoga therapists, physicians, allied and complementary healthcare providers, and their patients and students. Review "Understanding Yoga Therapy is an impressive, well-integrated, and scholarly volume. Marlysa Sullivan leads the reader through an intellectual journey exploring the interesting philosophical roots and health benefits of yoga. We learn that yoga is not merely a collection of physical postures and movements, but a system of instruction that leads to a deeper understanding of the human experience with the capacity to expand human potential." ― Stephen W. Porges, PhD, Distinguished University Scientist, Indiana University; Professor of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina; and author of The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe "It is rare indeed to find a book that seamlessly blends the science, philosophy, and spirituality of yoga in a reader-friendly manner. This book integrates the best of the healing wisdom of Eastern traditions with the empirical approach of modern medical science, enhancing our perception of health, healing, life, and beyond. An especially admirable quality is the way Marlysa Sullivan has interwoven relevant stories from Indian culture into various chapters, thus enabling us to somatically "feel" the experiential aspects of yoga therapy. She is indeed one of the brightest minds in modern yoga therapy, and this work is a substantial contribution to the field, indispensable to anyone wishing for a comprehensive understanding of yoga’s transformative nature." ―Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, MBBS, MD (AM), DSc (Yoga), C-IAYT, director, CYTER of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth "Understanding Yoga Therapy is about personal transformation. This unique book demonstrates how the ancient teachings of yoga can be used clinically to help alleviate suffering. Yoga therapy is a new field of study, and there are many misunderstandings about how it is similar to or different from professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and even psychotherapy. Once you read this book, you will understand how yoga therapy is uniquely positioned to help each of us heal our deepest spiritual wounds, as well as create balance on our mental, emotional, and physical layers. Yoga therapy is person-centered and focuses on improving function and also creating well-being―this book clearly explains how it works." ―Amy Wheeler, PhD, C-IAYT, president, International Association of Yoga Therapists, and founder, Optimal State Yoga Therapy "Marlysa Sullivan takes her readers through an engrossing journey in Understanding Yoga Therapy. The journey begins with the yoga texts―the Upanishads, the epics, and of course, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The concepts relevant to yoga therapy are explained in a way which makes them easy to understand and apply in daily life. Concepts essential to understanding yoga, such as dharma, the trigunas, the pancha koshas, and the kleshas, are explained with clarity, with well-designed diagrams and appropriate referen