Many highly respected yoga teachers have created books and videos which focus on the use of yoga as therapy, such as the book Back Care Basics (shown left) which explains the use of Iyengar yoga (a style of alignment-focused yoga) to treat and prevent back problems.  Yoga guru Rodney Yee has created two videos (shown right) that specifically address back pain and back care issues.

Gary Kraftsow, a well known teacher of Viniyoga, has written a classic text called Yoga for Wellness: Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga.  “Vini” can be translated as “special”, “individual” or “step-by-step.”  Kraftsow states, “the whole movement of asana [posture] practice should be one toward understanding more deeply the mechanisms that are responsible for our present condition.”  Thus, yoga therapy should provide the practitioner with information about physical and thought patterns that have contributed to a medical condition and help to restructure these patterns into ones that are healthier.  Kraftsow states that the vigorous ashtanga yoga was initially developed for adolescent boys, and that its aging practitioners are developing injuries and turning to Viniyoga for relief. Kraftsow summarizes Viniyoga: “We can change habitual patterns at a neuromuscular level, develop new patterns that decrease physical stress and promote skeletal alignment, mechanical freedom, and organic unity, and lead ourselves toward optimum wellness.”  

Integrative Yoga Therapy is also a personalized yoga therapy program, which was founded by Joseph LePage, M.A.  Courses and instructors can be found at their website www.iytyogatherapy.com.  Courses include teacher’s training and a yoga therapist’s training program which qualifies for the Yoga Alliance’s 500-hour advanced certification program.

Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy defines their focus as “a combination of classical yoga and elements of contemporary mind-body psychology that facilitates a powerful release of physical and emotional tension.”  The one-on-one session lasts one-and-a-half hours during which practitioners guide clients to experience the connection of their physical and emotional selves through the use of sixteen assisted yoga postures and non-directive dialogue.  Phoenix Rising instructors and information on teacher’s training can be found on their website at www.pryt.com.  Michael Lee, founder of  Phoenix Rising Yoga, has written an acclaimed book, entitled Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy: A Bridge from Body to Soul.  Joan Budilovsky, author of the The Complete Idiot's Guide to YOGA, commented on it, “he gives really GREAT awareness exercises to try at the end of each chapter. Anyone, yogi or not, would benefit from these thoughtful exercises.”  

Structural Yoga Therapy: Adapting to the Individual by Mukunda Stiles is a book that is geared toward yoga instructors or serious students.  This book includes 123 illustrations and a comprehensive discussion of the anatomy and kinesiology of yoga, as well a selection of movements to increase strength and mobility.  This book also has a package of laminated charts to charts (shown above, left) to go with it.  Also, Recovery Yoga  (shown left) by Sam Dworkis is a basic book on yoga poses which can be used by people who are chronically ill, injured, post-operatively or for those who have lost mobility.  Dworkis, a twenty-year practioner of yoga, developed an extensive base of clients who were ill or injured after he successfully used yoga to treat his multiple sclerosis.