What Is Yoga Therapy?
Therapy, Not Exercise
Yoga therapy — or Yoga Chikitsa — is the traditional application of yoga to a person's specific health goals, rather than a general fitness curriculum. It differs from a regular yoga class the way individualized coaching differs from a group workout: the practice is shaped around the person in front of the teacher, not a fixed sequence everyone follows.
This individualized thinking — understanding a student's goals, condition, and history before shaping their practice — is the same thinking behind Setu's current approach, Personalized Asana Practice. What follows on this page explains the traditional concept and its techniques; for the current, bookable offering, see Personalized Asana Practice and Individual Sessions.
Regular Yoga Class
- General curriculum for the group
- Posture-focused fitness orientation
- Minimal intake or goal-setting conversation
- Progress measured by flexibility or strength
Individualized (Therapeutic) Yoga
- Practice shaped around your specific goals
- Adapted to ability, mobility, and lifestyle
- A conversation about your goals comes first
- Practice evolves as you progress
Where This Fits Today
Delivered Through Personalized Asana Practice
Setu Yoga Studio does not offer Yoga Therapy as a separately priced consultation product. The individualized approach it represents is built into how every current format is taught — by Suresh Bantupalli, Setu's current teacher:
Not sure which format fits your goals? Message us and we'll recommend one — free, no commitment.
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Related Reading
Yoga for Specific Goals
These pages go into more detail on how individualized practice can support specific goals. They are general educational reading, not a list of separately sold programmes — yoga is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment.
Yogic Kriyas
The Five Classical Shatkarmas
Kriyas are classical yogic cleansing practices — systematic techniques that purify specific systems of the body: the respiratory tract, digestive organs, eyes, and nervous system. They form a core part of traditional yoga therapy and are taught progressively based on the student's readiness and health status.
At Setu Yoga Studio™, kriyas are introduced only under direct guidance — never as self-practice until your teacher confirms readiness. Each practice below is genuine educational content about the technique, not a claim about a specific outcome.
Warm saline water is poured through one nostril and exits through the other, flushing the nasal passages and sinuses. It is widely used in traditional practice to support clear breathing, which in turn supports the quality of pranayama.
May support
- Nasal congestion and sinus comfort
- Seasonal allergy comfort
- Deepening pranayama quality
Use caution / avoid if
- Active ear infection or perforated eardrum
- Recent nasal surgery
- Severe nasal polyps (until assessed)
Technique matters — head angle, water temperature, and salt concentration all affect comfort and effectiveness. Always learn from a qualified teacher before practising independently.
Kapalabhati involves rapid, forceful exhalations driven by sharp abdominal contractions, with passive inhalation. It activates the abdominal muscles, massages the digestive organs, and generates internal heat — one of the most widely taught breathing techniques in traditional practice.
May support
- General digestive comfort
- Core activation
- Morning alertness
Use caution / avoid if
- High blood pressure (uncontrolled)
- Heart conditions
- Hernia or recent abdominal surgery
- Epilepsy or history of stroke
- Pregnancy
Pace and duration must be calibrated to the individual. Students with BP or cardiac history should be assessed before this practice is introduced — never self-prescribe the pace or duration.
Trataka is the practice of sustained, unblinking gaze at a fixed point — traditionally a flame, though a dark dot or object may be used. It trains concentrated attention and is associated with a calming effect on the mind.
May support
- Mental restlessness — anchors a wandering mind
- Focus and concentration
- Preparation for deeper meditation
Use caution / avoid if
- Active eye infections or conditions
- Epilepsy (photosensitive)
- Severe myopia or glaucoma (consult teacher)
Duration must be built gradually — over-extension in early practice can cause eye fatigue. Your teacher determines appropriate duration based on your experience.
Agnisara involves rhythmic, rapid contraction and release of the abdominal muscles while breath is held. It massages the abdominal organs and is traditionally associated with supporting digestive function.
May support
- General digestive comfort
- Core and abdominal engagement
- Energy levels
Use caution / avoid if
- High blood pressure
- Heart conditions
- Hernia or recent abdominal surgery
- Pregnancy
- Menstruation (modify or avoid)
Agnisara requires breath retention (Bahya Kumbhaka) and must be taught correctly with contraindications assessed first. Not suitable as independent self-practice until well established under guidance.
Nauli is the advanced development of Agnisara — the ability to isolate and rotate the central column of abdominal muscles in a churning motion while breath is held out. It requires significant training and is not appropriate for beginners.
May support
- Deep abdominal strength and tone
- Digestive comfort (advanced practitioners)
Use caution / avoid if
- Heart or BP conditions
- Hernia of any type
- Pregnancy
- Colitis or acute digestive inflammation
- Post abdominal surgery
- Gastric or duodenal ulcers
Nauli is taught only after Kapalabhati and Agnisara are well established, and only with direct, in-person guidance. Readiness is assessed individually — it is never introduced in early stages of practice.
A Common Mistake
A pattern we see: students who have attempted Kapalabhati from online videos at aggressive speeds in their first week, arriving with worsened acid reflux, elevated BP episodes, or dizziness. Kriyas are powerful precisely because they act on the body directly — which is exactly why they require staged, supervised introduction rather than self-prescription from a tutorial. A teacher watching in person can observe your breath quality and BP response in a way a video cannot.
Want to learn which kriyas suit you? Your teacher introduces practices in the right order based on your experience — never as unsupervised self-practice.
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Why Personalisation Matters
One Size Does Not Fit One Body
The same pose taught the same way can suit one student and not another. What distinguishes an individualized approach is recognizing that every body arrives with a unique history — and that practice should reflect that, not override it. Here is how practice is adapted at Setu:
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Age & Physical Capacity
A 70-year-old and a 30-year-old may attend the same session but follow different variations. Pace, range, and duration are calibrated to current physical capacity, not age alone.
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Blood Pressure & Cardiac Considerations
Students with high blood pressure avoid inversions, extended breath retention, and high-intensity sequences. Slow pranayama, supine postures, and Yoga Nidra are emphasised instead.
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Injury & Surgical History
A knee replacement, disc issue, or shoulder surgery changes which postures are appropriate. Your teacher takes a history of past injuries and identifies modifications before the first session.
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Stress Level & Nervous System State
A student in acute burnout needs a different approach than one in early-stage stress. Practice is read and adjusted session by session rather than following a fixed plan.
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Flexibility & Mobility Range
Props (blankets, blocks, chairs) and modified forms let every student access the benefit of a posture within their actual range — not a textbook ideal.
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Medication & Lifestyle
Certain medications affect heart rate, blood pressure, and energy in ways that shape how a session is paced. Students are asked about medications so practice can be adapted sensibly.
Who This Can Support
A Practice for Where You Are
Individualized yoga practice can be a helpful complement for people in many different situations. It works alongside conventional medical treatment, never as a replacement.
Recently Diagnosed
A gentle, structured way to build a supportive lifestyle practice alongside your doctor's care.
Managing a Chronic Condition
Long-term back pain, diabetes, or thyroid management alongside existing treatment.
Post-Treatment Recovery
A supervised, graduated return to movement after surgery, injury, or illness.
Stress & Burnout
Working professionals managing sustained stress, sleep disruption, or anxiety.
Hormonal Wellness Goals
Support alongside medical care for PCOD/PCOS or thyroid-related goals.
General Wellbeing
Building a sustainable, individualized practice as part of everyday life.
Common Questions by Goal
Answers by Goal
General educational answers, grouped by common goals people bring to practice. None of this is medical advice — always consult your doctor about your specific condition and treatment.
High Blood Pressure
Is yoga safe if I have high blood pressure?
Yoga can be adapted for high blood pressure. General yoga classes sometimes include inversions and intense breath retention that aren't ideal for high BP; an individualized approach defers inversions, keeps breath retention brief, and emphasises slow pranayama, supine postures, and Yoga Nidra instead.
Full guide to yoga for blood pressure →
Can yoga replace my BP medication?
No. Yoga is a complement to medical treatment, never a replacement. Any change to medication is a decision for you and your doctor, based on your BP readings — not something a yoga practice can determine.
Type 2 Diabetes
Can yoga help support blood sugar management?
Yoga may support blood sugar management as part of an overall healthy lifestyle — through movement, stress reduction, and supporting muscular glucose uptake. These are supportive effects alongside medication and diet, not a substitute for either.
Full guide to yoga for diabetes →
When should someone with diabetes practise — before or after meals?
This varies by person and is worth discussing with your teacher and doctor, especially if you're on insulin, since intense practice can affect blood sugar. Timing relative to meals and medication is discussed as part of getting started.
Stress & Anxiety
Can yoga help with stress and anxiety?
Yoga Nidra, Bhramari pranayama, and Nadi Shodhana are commonly used for their calming effect on the nervous system, and some students notice a difference from early sessions. Consistency matters more than any fixed timeline. Yoga is a complement to, not a replacement for, professional mental health care or medication where these are needed.
Full guide to yoga for stress relief →
I feel too exhausted to exercise. Is this still for me?
Yes — this is exactly when a gentler approach helps. A session for stress or burnout isn't vigorous exercise; it may consist mainly of Yoga Nidra, slow pranayama, and gentle floor postures, adapted to how you're feeling that day.
Back & Neck Pain
Is yoga safe for a herniated disc or chronic back pain?
Yoga can be helpful for back pain when properly adapted — some standard postures (deep forward bends, twists, intense backbends) can aggravate a disc issue without guidance. An individualized approach is built around your specific pain pattern, and your teacher identifies which movements to include and which to avoid. As with any condition, follow your doctor's guidance on your specific diagnosis.
Full guide to yoga for back & neck pain →
Can yoga replace physiotherapy for back pain?
They're not substitutes — they work differently and often complement each other. Physiotherapy focuses on structural correction and targeted rehabilitation; yoga adds breathing patterns and nervous-system awareness. Many people find the combination useful, and your teacher can coordinate with your physiotherapist's guidance.
PCOD & PCOS
Can yoga support hormonal wellness in PCOD/PCOS?
Yoga may support PCOD/PCOS goals through stress reduction, supporting insulin sensitivity, and gentle abdominal/pelvic work — alongside your medical care, not instead of it. Results and timelines vary by person; there's no guaranteed outcome.
Full guide to yoga for PCOD/PCOS →
Is yoga still worth trying for more severe PCOD?
Yoga can still be a meaningful supportive practice for more significant hormonal imbalance, but expectations should be grounded — it works as an adjunct to medical treatment, and the practice is typically more conservative at first, building gradually.
Have a question about your specific goal? Ask us honestly, including whether an individualized practice can help in your case.
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Getting Started
How to Begin
There's no complex booking system. Message us on WhatsApp describing your goals, current condition (if relevant), and whether you're based in Hafeezpet, Miyapur, or prefer online — we'll recommend the right format and arrange your first free class or consultation.
Mon–Sat · Morning 6–11 AM & Evening 5–8 PM · Studio: Hafeezpet & Miyapur, Hyderabad · Online sessions available · FitPass accepted