Iyengar Yoga Therapy Case Studies Archive
purpose
The Iyengar Yoga Therapy Case Studies Archive (the Archive) is a collection of case studies written by Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers (CIYTs) to document yoga therapy sessions with their students. The Archive’s purpose is multifaceted: to standardize, collect, and make available yoga therapy case studies for use by CIYTs; to encourage a research-mindset among those teachers that study and practice yoga therapeutics; and to connect a community of yoga teachers interested in this approach to yoga therapeutics.
background
Each year Iyengar Yoga Champaign Urbana (IYCU) hosts the 7-day International Iyengar Yoga Therapy Intensive, a course designed to give CIYTs experience facilitating therapeutic yoga sessions for students with health conditions that may prevent them from attending regular yoga classes. Teacher participants learn from the guidance provided by Lois Steinberg, PhD., CIYT 4, C-IAYT, her colleague Hermann Traitteur, MD, CIYT 3, and other highly experienced CIYTs.
Prior to the intensive, the student volunteers complete an Intake Questionnaire and submit postural photos. On the first day of the Intensive, the CIYT groups meet and conduct intake assessments with their assigned students. The intake assessment includes an interview regarding the student’s health conditions/concerns, the Adam’s test, walking gait, and postural observation. The CIYTs in groups of three work together to create a sequence appropriate for the student to practice for the following six days. Before and after each therapy session the student fills out a pre- and post-session survey; teachers then use these survey responses to modify the student’s sequence as needed. Read more about the program’s syllabus on our upcoming local workshops page.
After the Intensive ends, teachers are given some time to complete their case studies using a standardized template and methodology. Once the case studies undergo a final review by Lois and Hermann, they are sent to the students for review. At that time, students may grant permission for upload in the Archive.
The case study process encourages teachers to take a deeper, more thorough look at their students enabling both a ‘bigger picture’ via the comprehensive intake survey and interview, and a ‘closer look’ via the day to day documentation, e.g. encouraging a detailed observation of the student’s position in the pose and the effective use of props. By maintaining and providing access to the Archive, we intend to collect and preserve this valuable research for educational use by CIYTs.
Join the Archive!
Annual Membership Options
Archive Access Membership: $40
Includes access to view-only case study files for one year from purchase date.
Therapy Forum + Archive Access Membership: $120
Four times per year (January, April, July, October with the specific day to be announced) a two-hour interactive online Therapy Forum (the Forum) will be conducted by Lois and Hermann. The Forum will be driven by members who submit a case they are working on to be shared with the group for feedback and questions.
Teachers may seek feedback on case studies that are not yet complete, or even before they begin therapy sessions with their students; especially if there are questions about how to approach their student’s problems. However, at a minimum the teacher should submit the intake questionnaire, recorded intake interview, background write-up, student goals, and postural photos.
How to Use the Archive
The archive is intended for general study regarding: 1) How to interpret students’ often complex conditions, and 2) How to approach guiding students through a therapeutic yoga practice. The case studies describe in detail the application of Iyengar Yoga techniques to the specific cases presented by the volunteer students, but the data provided by this archive is for informational purposes, not diagnostic. Students’ programs of practice as described in the case studies are not to be used as ‘prescriptions’ to be copied. Every student has their own level of practice, medical history, body type, age, capacity, mental well-being, and other important considerations. The Archive’s Table of Contents, listing the multiple conditions presenting in each student, indicates the complexity inherent in each student’s case.
Submission of Case Studies to the Archive
All of the case studies in the archive presently were submitted by way of the Annual Therapy Intensives as described above. In the future, Archive + Therapy Forum Member CIYTs, using the Case Study Methodology, may submit their own case studies for review/addition to the Archive. Lois and Hermann may add footnotes to the case study with their perspective.
Archive Access Application
Use the button below to submit an application to access the archive. Please indicate your membership type (Archive Access Only or Therapy Forum + Archive Access. We will follow up with you and send you an invoice via Paypal for the membership fee.