Despite being a certified yoga therapist through IAYT, completing an 800-hour structured yoga therapy program at Ajna Yoga Therapy, another 500 hours of various yoga trainings, and having two years of experience, I felt called to go deeper. I wanted to move closer to the source of yoga tradition, expanding my understanding of yoga therapy and Ayurveda through direct experience.
This led me to India, where I joined the Samagra Yoga Chikitsa Program, a collaboration between Arsha Yoga Gurukulam and Sivananda Ashram, Neyyar Dam, under the guidance of Yogacharya Harilalji and Meera Karanath.
The intensive daily schedule for weeks—from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
—offered something structured Western programs could not: the lived experience of yoga as a way of being.
Through this journey, I came to appreciate the profound differences between studying yoga therapy in India and the West, and why both perspectives are essentialfor a well-rounded, integrative practice.
1. Traditional Wisdom vs. Scientific Validation
India: A Holistic and Spiritual Approach
In India, yoga therapy is deeply interwoven with Ayurveda, philosophy, and spiritual traditions, drawing from classical texts such as:
- Yoga Sutras
- Bhagavad Gita
- Yoga Vasishta
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika
The approach extends beyond physical healing to include:
✔ Sadhana (daily spiritual practice)
✔ Purification techniques (kriyas)
✔ Mind-body-spirit integration
✔ Lifestyle and diet adjustments based on Ayurvedic principles
✔ Yoga counseling rooted in yoga psychology and philosophy
✔ Spiritual growth, karma, and dharma alongside physical well-beingYoga is traditionally taught through the guru-shishya (teacher-disciple) model in ashrams or gurukulams, where knowledge is transmitted experientially rather than academically. The focus is not just on healing but on deep transformation.
West: A Scientific and Evidence-Based Approach
Western yoga therapy is studied through the lens of:
✔ Neuroscience
✔ Psychophysiology
✔ Biomechanics
It is frequently integrated into clinical and rehabilitation settings, with scientific research validating its effectivenessfor mental health, chronic pain, and nervous system regulation (Büssing et al., 2012).
✔ More secular and scientific, emphasizing evidence-based benefits for mental and physical health
✔ Less focus on Vedic philosophy, unless in specialized programs
✔ Adapted to modern wellness trends, such as stress reduction, vagus nerve stimulation, myofascial release, and pain management
My Experience
At Sivananda Ashram, yoga was a lived tradition, where teachings extended beyond techniques to embodying yoga as a state of being. Meanwhile, my training at Ajna Yoga
Therapy provided structured methodologies backed by research, allowing me to integrate yoga therapy into clinical and professional settings.
Both perspectives are essential—one fosters personal transformation, while the other ensures accessibility in healthcare settings.
2. Curriculum & Approach
Common Ground: Holistic Integration
Regardless of location, yoga therapy training integrates:
✔ Pranayama, asana, meditation, mantra, and Ayurvedic principles
✔ A whole-person approach to healing (pancha kosha model)
India: Deep Exploration of Subtle Body Concepts✔ Emphasis on nadis, Panchakarma, koshas, and energy balance
✔ Focus on individualized, long-term healing rather than standardized protocols
Assessments consider energetic imbalances, lifestyle, and karmic influences, rather than preset models.
West: A Biomedical and Psychological Approach
✔ Focus on medical conditions, such as PTSD, chronic pain, and cardiac rehab
✔ Rooted in Western anatomy, physiology, and physiotherapy principles
✔ Includes research methodology, clinical studies, and outcome-based therapy
Western training is structured around evidence-based frameworks, ensuring alignment with modern healthcare practices (Evans et al., 2021).
My Experience
At Sivananda Ashram, I was immersed in subtle body concepts and traditional healing, while my Western training focused on case studies, research, physiological assessments, and internship experience.
Each approach complements the other—one honors the roots of yoga, while the other ensures its credibility in modern healthcare.
3. Immersion vs. Structured Certification
India: A Transformative, Experiential Approach
✔ Immersive learning, prioritizing self-discipline, devotion, and direct experience
✔ Emphasis on daily ritual, energetic shifts, and personal transformation
✔ Less focus on formal certification, as knowledge is traditionally passed from guru to student
West: A Professional and Standardized Approach
✔ Structured certification, ensuring credibility in healthcare and wellness industries
✔ Includes ethical and professional guidelines, standardized client assessments, and clinical protocols
✔ Aligns with modern education systems, focusing on research-backed therapeutic models
My Experience
Starting the day with silent meditation, chanting, and purification practices at Sivananda Ashram was a stark contrast to my Western training, where coursework focused on clinical applications and research analysis.
Both are valuable—one provides spiritual depth, while the other ensures professionalism in healthcare settings.
Final Reflections: The Value of Studying in Both
To practice yoga therapy effectively in the West, you need the structure and methodology that Western training provides.
However, when you integrate the Indian approach, you practice from a place of reverence and respect for yoga’s tradition—bringing authenticity and depth to your work.
My journey through both traditional Indian training and Western clinical programs has given me a more integrative, adaptable, and effective approach:
✔ India instilled discipline, experiential learning, and deep immersion in traditional yoga therapy
✔ The West provided scientific validation, structured methodology, and professional tools to integrate yoga therapy into mainstream healthcare
✔ This combination allows for a flexible, client-centered approach, whether for chronic disease management or trauma recovery
✔ I can bridge the gap between tradition and science, making yoga therapy both authentic and accessible
For those seeking to deepen their yoga therapy practice, I highly recommend experiencing both perspectives.
One provides the heart of yoga; the other, the hands to share it with the world.