CALGARY, Alberta, Canada - Susi Hately Aldous is a renowned yoga teacher, kinesiologist and author of several international best-selling yoga books including Advancing Your Yoga Practice: the Art of Slowing Down, Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips, Yoga for the Desk Jockey and the Anatomy and Asana: Preventing Yoga Injuries Series. Her yoga skills are combined with her B.Sc. in kinesiology, post-graduate training in mind-body medicine and ergonomics and practical field experience assisting companies with disability management and workplace safety issues. Susi is currently working with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) setting the standards for yoga therapy in North America among yoga teachers, yoga therapists, healthcare professionals and yoga researchers.
Here Susi responds to questions addressing yoga therapy and how it differs from other forms of yoga:
What is yoga therapy?
Susi: Yoga therapy, as a technique, combines the art of traditional Hatha yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation with the modern scientific understanding of kinesiology, anatomy and physiology. It is a balanced and mindful approach to health and healing which enables you to develop awareness and a sense of ease.
Yoga therapy is a personalized approach to relieving your pain, improving your flexibility, enhancing your strength and developing the ability to become relaxed and connected to what is important to you. Based on my clients’ current state of wellness, we design a program of yoga postures, meditation and breathing techniques that are specific to the needs and goals. During a session, I will guide clients through a program, that results in progress at the most appropriate pace.
How is it different from other types of yoga?
Susi: Yoga therapy caters to people with pain or injury. While it is true that people with pain also benefit from regular yoga classes, many people with pain and injury are unable to handle the strenuous nature of a regular class. One of the tenants that I share is that if you feel your level of stress, pain, fatigue, tightness, or injury or there is an illness that is standing between you and the rest of your life, then yoga therapy is for you.
