Looking for a certified yoga therapist?
Want to find a yoga therapist or certified yoga therapist near me? Or see registered yoga therapist classes? See also below for very affordable and effective in-studio and LIVE online yoga therapy classes.
Quite often, I have students in a class, who are over 70 or 80. They’re also often ongoingly managing conditions with the help of yoga therapy.
That’s hardly surprising. But what is a little surprising is that many of these older students, even with the health conditions they have, can often do better yoga than some who are 20-something.
In many cases, the younger people, who are starting yoga, don’t have the strength, flexibility, or inner peace of the older folk.
By the way, the role of inner peace, in this situation, is that it gives the calmness to actually stay in poses, as well as to do things like access your parasympathetic nervous system.
Yoga therapy for all age groups
However, there are still many younger folk in my ongoing classes, ranging in ages from 25 to 55, who are also ongoingly using yoga therapy to manage short or long term conditions, such as:
- trauma recovery
- transitions of life, and pelvic health
- anxiety, moodiness, irritability
- specific injuries like backs, hips, knees, shoulders, heads, and more
- gut health and upsets
- weight management and intermittent fasting
- pregnancy, or recovery from child birth
- fatigue or recovery from surgery
- conditions arising from repeated COVID, or Long COVID
- unsolved or partially solved diseases
- gland malfunction such as in the thyroid.
With all of these folk, I use my yoga therapy skills to get them started in either my
- Gentle Yoga Class, or
- easier yoga in my Yoga For Back Neck and Shoulders class, or
- Restorative Yoga.
See more on these classes below.
I then work with them as they steadily progress into and through my other classes and levels.
So, in short, if you want a find a certified yoga therapist, then come along to my regular yoga classes. I’ll give you yoga therapy solutions as part of the class.
Chris Lalor, Certified Yoga Therapist, & Senior Yoga Teacher
10 HALF price beginner yoga classes, & 2 FREE
Improve individual & business performance with Flametree’s Corporate Yoga Encouragement Program
Yoga classes for all levels. HERE.
What is yoga therapy?
Yoga therapy has many elements. But here are a couple of quick ways to understand more of what it’s about.
Yoga therapy has been defined as:
…the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of Yoga.
Another famous yoga author, Dr Georg Feuerstein, defines it like this:
Whereas traditional Yoga is primarily concerned with personal transcendence on the part of a “normal” or healthy individual, Yoga therapy aims at the holistic treatment of various kinds of psychological or somatic dysfunctions ranging from back problems to emotional distress.
Both approaches, however, share an understanding of the human being as an integrated body-mind system, which can function optimally only when there is a state of dynamic balance.
Before I continue, I certainly do provide one-to-one Certified Yoga Therapist private classes, including for trauma related conditions. But, as you’ll see below, I think in most cases, your best option is to attend my regular yoga classes. I’ll give you registered yoga therapist solutions that you can implement as part of those regular classes.
Ongoing classes are the best implementation of yoga therapy
Doing my ongoing yoga classes, at whatever is the appropriate level for you, is also a very cost effective way to access my skills as a registered yoga therapist.
At a practical level, attending ongoing classes works well because of at least these factors.
- Classes allow me to ongoingly give you adjustments and tips to implement the sequences of yoga poses, or adjustments to regular yoga poses, that are typical of the solutions I provide to people.
- Even once you have a yoga therapy “prescription” of what needs to be done for your condition, it only works if you do regular yoga practice. Flametree’s prices, and especially our packages, let you do that.
- Despite the vast learning involved in yoga therapy, sessions of yoga therapy are not covered at all by Medicare. (It fell victim to the short-term cost cutting of the last Federal Government, and anyway, Medicare was never as generous as it should have been). So, normal yoga classes, online or in-studio, are the most effective and easy way to do regular practice, and get yoga therapy solutions.
- Due to the average of 20 years it takes to develop a yoga therapist, there are very few either practising, or with appointments available.
- With my current teaching schedule, I have very little extra time for many extensive, one-to-one classes, even where people can afford them. More importantly, one to one classes are mostly not needed for the numerous conditions that I or manage for students on a weekly, ongoing basis.
Remember, if you want to find a yoga therapist, or attend registered yoga therapist classes, then my regular yoga classes are an excellent option. That’s because I’m both an accredited Senior Yoga Teacher, and a registered Yoga Therapist.
10 HALF price beginner yoga classes, & 2 FREE
Check out Flametree Yoga retreat. HERE.
Get up to 90% off our yoga teacher training course. HERE.
Poses by Chris Lalor, certified yoga therapist. Yoga healing, or healing with yoga, gives you a wide range of health solutions, all built of thousands of years of testing what works best.
FOUR levels of beginner classes
Across the Flametree timetable, I obviously teach yoga, and ongoingly implement yoga therapy, at several levels.
For those who are beginners, I actually teach at these 4 levels of beginner yoga.
- Gentle Yoga (10.15 Fridays) is the most basic level to start for those with health conditions
- Back, Neck, and Shoulder Yoga (7pm Wednesdays) for those with any of those issues, but who also need something even easier than regular beginner yoga.
- Other regular beginner classes such as 7pm Mondays (Woolner), and 10.15am Saturdays (Casuarina).
- Restorative Yoga Open Level (4pm Saturdays). It’s actually more difficult than the above, but still easy enough once you’ve calmed you mind enough to be able to lie still (with the help of props), and zone into a pose.
I stress that each of these levels is more challenging than those preceding it.
So, if you’ve considering my classes, especially if you have a condition to manage (including stiffness or lack of strength), then at least until you know better, start at the lower two levels.
Beware the ego in all of us! Don’t let your ego drive you to a level that won’t work well for you.
Updog pose is a simple backbend that lifts mood and energy. So, if you want to find a yoga therapist, or attend registered yoga therapist classes, then use the orange links below. Try our in-studio and LIVE online yoga therapy classes.
Certified yoga therapist approaches also used at higher levels
I actually have quite a large number of persons in Experienced level yoga classes who are using yoga therapy approaches that I prescribed even decades ago. Obviously, over that time, I’ve also given them any appropriate, ongoing updates.
Sometimes, they have very complex conditions.
They regularly include some conditions that heath or medical science:
- knows little about;
- has incomplete solutions for (at best); and / or
- only has drugs to reduce the symptoms of (and these often have very unpleasant side effects).
I definitely advise that you should consult use your own health professional as you see fit.
But then at least also use yoga therapy as well. In addition, make your own judgement about what works best for you. If you think appropriate, then further adjust what you do.
Remember, a yoga therapist has spent as much time studying and practising as has any other health professional, and often a lot more.
For instance, yoga is excellent for maintaining or building hip flexibility. If your hips are troublesome, or stiff, then talk with me about yoga solutions, before you head down the path of hip replacement.
Chris Lalor, Certified Yoga Therapist, & Senior Yoga Teacher
Yoga classes for all levels, including LIVE yoga therapy online HERE.
Flametree yoga retreats are suitable for anyone with at least 6 months of yoga. Classes are personalised to whatever level you’re at. So yoga therapy retreats, via our regular Flametree retreats, are an excellent way to get additional yoga therapy solutions, and the practise that makes them work well.
My other yoga classes at higher levels
These days, I also have newer classes like Yoga Flow (5.30pm Wednesdays). It’s especially useful for building strength, flexibility, AND focus.
I also use Yoga Flow to teach new skills, like inversions, for those moving up from Beginner levels. Inverted poses, or suitable variations, offer whole new paths for assisting some conditions, including around the immune system.
My point is that across all levels of my non-beginner classes, there are often quite a number of people in the class who are implementing personal solutions I have prescribed to address their particular mental, emotional, or physical situation.
Of course, in the wake of the ongoing COVID disaster, and the 200 currently known Long Covid conditions, I am also now constantly working with students to manage everything from fatigue to inflammation, and much more.
I quickly see a healing yoga path for you
My skills, and avid learning in all these areas, culminated in my accreditation by the Iyengar Yoga Association of Australia as a Senior Yoga Teacher, and Yoga Therapist.
So, with my knowledge and experience in these two broad areas, I can quickly see what will help most individuals with situations they may have.
I can then use my classes, and formal or informal one-to-one conversations, to guide you towards outcomes that improve any condition you may have.
In the process, students usually get improvements, and often very powerful and positive outcomes, very quickly.
In any of the various ongoing yoga classes, I also still have plenty of time to give whatever additional help or adjustments that students may need.
Because I’ve invested in appropriate technology, I can also see online students very clearly (including even their pets)!.
But it definitely helps if students position themselves so I can see all of them and their postures in the camera, and they have a larger screen where they can see me clearly.
Sufficient yoga props also help a lot (and are essential for Restorative Yoga).
Easy yoga pose to build hip flexibility. So, if you want to find a yoga therapist or certified yoga therapist near me, or see registered yoga therapist classes, then use the orange links below. See below also for the very affordable and effective in-studio and LIVE online yoga therapy classes.
Necessary parts of using yoga therapy for your condition/s
Please remember that the bottom line is attending regular classes, from once a week upwards.
Doing regular yoga is an essential part of any yoga therapy solution. Without it, yoga or breath meditation obviously never give you a solution.
But, in addition to regular classes, there are a few other necessary and essential parts of implementing yoga therapy approaches.
- Getting a sequence or approach from a Registered Yoga Therapist, that is based on whatever short or long term condition you want to manage.
- Using a type of yoga, and sufficiently qualified yoga teacher, where you’re ongoingly given adjustments to your postures, and help with implementing the prescribed approach. (Adjustment don’t have to involve touching, and are most often done verbally).
- Practising a type of high quality yoga, such as Iyengar Yoga, that uses correctly aligned yoga poses that will do all that traditional yoga poses were designed to do.
- Using and having sufficient yoga props, so that you can actually get into poses in a way that lets you get the benefits of the yoga poses.
Very few professional yoga therapists in the NT
As I mentioned, it took me around 20 years of learning and yoga practice to get to be a registered yoga therapist.
Partly as a result, so far as I am aware, there are only a couple of us in the NT. So, its another excellent reason to use Flametree’s classes.
I’ve also explained the other obstacles to accessing what few of us yoga therapists there are.
Given these constraints, in almost all cases, you don’t need any sort of formal, private, yoga therapy class to get started.
Based on the level of your yoga experience, just come along to whatever level of class you think is appropriate.
For beginners, that’s likely to be in one or more of the 3 lowest level beginner classes I’ve outlined above.
Just come along to your first class around 15 minutes early (online or in-studio). Then, initially have a quick, quiet chat to me before the class. We can also chat more after classes, and at future classes.
I am also likely to have more comments as I observe you doing the various poses in each class.
As I have outlined, I’m regularly using my yoga therapy skills for both new yoga starters, and long term students.
In short, if you’ve wondered about whether yoga would suit your situation, then please try a suitable mix of my various classes.
If you have a particular condition, I suggest that you come to one of my own yoga classes first. In other words, get my professional opinion, via one of my classes, before you go to other Flametree classes.
Alternatively, get in touch with us. Once we know more about any condition, then we can let you know if you should attend other Flametree classes, or which of my own classes you would be best to attend.
And last, if you know someone who they may suit, then please also mention these classes to them.
10 HALF price beginner yoga classes, & 2 FREE
Improve performance with Flametree’s Corporate Yoga Encouragement Program
Breath meditation can also be a very important part of yoga therapy solutions, especially for dealing with mental issues like anxiety, moodiness, irritability, stress, and more. So, if you want a find a certified yoga therapist, then come along to my regular yoga classes. I’ll give you yoga therapy solutions as part of the class. Pranayama by Chris Lalor, certified yoga therapist.
Do Flametree’s online yoga classes, or in-studio.
Almost all of Flametree’s classes are online, or at 3 locations across Darwin NT, Australia.
See more at the Flametree timetables.
Flametree’s style of yoga will help you practise better, quieten your minds, and gain inner peace.
For yourself or any organisation with which you’re involved, yoga and meditation will deliver a huge range of powerful benefits.
If you’re an employee of an organisation, please also mention these benefits, and Flametree’s corporate yoga encouragement program, to your employer, and other employees.
Yoga classes for all levels. HERE.
Check out Flametree Yoga retreat. HERE.
Improve performance with Flametree’s Corporate Yoga Encouragement Program
Shoulderstand is one of the most important inversions. Among other things, it soothes your nerves, and gives you better focus. If you want a find a certified yoga therapist, then come along to my regular yoga classes. I’ll give you yoga therapy solutions as part of the class.
Start yoga, & also get any professional yoga therapist solutions you need
Practising yoga and breath meditation is the super highway to everything you want from yoga, including all the certified yoga therapist benefits mentioned above.
Particular types of yoga, like Gentle Yoga, or Back, Neck & Shoulder Yoga, or Easy Restorative Yoga, are also especially good for both de-stressing and stretching.
These are excellent beginner classes when you have not been exercising for a long time, or are stiff. As well as improving flexibility, these classes reduce stress, and fix imbalances.
Ideally, as soon as you’ve done at least 6 months of yoga come to Flametree’s yoga retreat in Bali. It’s also another way to quickly access healing yoga options.
All Flametree classes are both online and in-the-studio, including private classes. There is also a large selection of yoga video courses and classes.
In summary, if you want to find a yoga therapist or certified yoga therapist near me, or see registered yoga therapist classes, then use the orange links below. See below also for the very affordable and effective in-studio and LIVE online yoga therapy classes.
As I mentioned, I certainly do provide one-to-one Certified Yoga Therapist private classes, including for trauma related conditions. But, as you’ll see below, I think in most cases, your best option is to attend my regular yoga classes. I’ll give you registered yoga therapist solutions that you can implement as part of those regular classes.
See our most popular passes at the orange links below.
10 HALF price beginner yoga classes, & 2 FREE
Yoga classes for all levels, including LIVE yoga therapy online HERE.
Check out the Flametree Yoga retreat. HERE.
