The International Association of Yoga Therapy defines yoga therapy as: "The process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of Yoga."

TKV Desikachar expands on this: “Yoga therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalized and evolving Yoga practice, that not only addresses the illness in a multi-dimensional manner, but also aims to alleviate his/her suffering in a progressive, non-invasive and complementary manner.  Depending upon the nature of the illness, Yoga therapy can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve as a means to manage the illness, or facilitate healing in the person at all levels.”