Yoga Therapy is a complimentary, alternative modality defined by the International Association of Yoga Therapists as the act of, “empowering individuals towards improved health and well-being through the philosophy and practice of Yoga.” From the Yogic perspective, humans exist on five levels of being (the five koshas), which are the annamayakosha (the physical body), the pranamayakosha (the energetic body), the manomayakosha (the psycho-emotional body), the vijyanamayakosha (the wisdom body) and the anandamayakosha (the bliss body). Yoga Therapy is holistic in its nature, addressing health at each of these five levels of being.  It uses techniques which include asana (physical postures), pranayama (breath practices),mudras (therapeutic hand gestures), meditation, body awareness and relaxation exercises. Yoga Therapy has been proven effective used on its own, or in conjunction with traditional allopathic modalities, to address a wide range of conditions – from chronic pain, stress and cardiac rehabilitation to mental illness and addictions.