IFYT Group Therapy for Professionals
Integration Focused Yoga Therapy for Professionals is designed for individuals those who are seeking to improve their emotional wellbeing. This therapy is intended to assist participants to process stressful experiences in their life and achieve better personal integration, mind-body connection, and inner harmony. This group is specifically designed for professionals working in the medical and mental health fields but other professionals are also welcome.
We all know that, while working with our clients, there is a higher possibility of experiencing stress symptoms, vicarious trauma, and disrupted beliefs about ourselves and others. This IFYT group Therapy is specially designed for professionals to help them to manage their work-related stress, balance their personal and professional life, learn self-care, and build resilience.
Yoga Therapy and Its Effects
Yoga therapy is an evidence-informed approach that adapts the principles and practices of yoga to support physical, mental, and emotional well-being in a therapeutic context. Unlike general yoga classes, yoga therapy is individualized, integrating breathwork, mindful movement, postures, and meditation techniques to address specific health concerns and promote holistic healing.
For professionals working in demanding fields—whether in healthcare, education, corporate, or mental health—yoga therapy offers practical tools to reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance resilience. The practice not only supports self-care and burnout prevention but also cultivates focus, clarity, and balanced energy, which are essential for sustaining professional effectiveness. By embracing yoga therapy, professionals can enrich both their personal well-being and their professional capacity to serve others with greater presence, compassion, and effectiveness.
Integration Focused Yoga Therapy (IFYT)
Integration Focused Yoga Therapy (IFYT) is a form of yoga therapy that focuses on the psychological aspects of yoga, based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. IFYT aims to help individuals manage stress and address their emotional wellbeing. The therapy is structured to support participants in developing personal integration, enhancing better mind-body connection, and cultivating inner harmony. Additionally, Integration Focused Yoga Group Therapy facilitates the reprocessing of traumatic life experiences, contributing to overall wellbeing of the person.
Confidentiality and Privacy in IFYT Group Therapy
Within our IFYT group therapy sessions, strict confidentiality is maintained at all times. Participants are not required to discuss or disclose any details of their distressing experiences or past traumas during group interactions. Throughout the therapy process, clients do not share personal trauma histories with other group members, ensuring a safe and supportive environment focused on individual healing and emotional regulation.
What does the IFYT group therapy look like?
The Integration Focused Yoga Therapy group functions within a structured framework, comprising up to ten participants and two clinicians. IFYT Level 1 and Level 2 groups convene weekly over a five-week period, with each session lasting two hours. The IFYT Level 3 group meets from Tuesday to Thursday within one week, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
The Integration Focused Yoga Group Therapy runs through four different levels with a different focus on each levels. At the initial session, participants will receive guidance to connect with their inner self (Calm, Collected Self), fostering a sense of centring, calmness, and safety, while enhancing awareness of the body-mind connection. Subsequently, based on their level of participation in IFYT, individuals will either further develop their understanding of the concept of “Calm, Collected Self,” or participate in the reprocessing of a stressful experience without sharing any specific details with other group members. A clinician will provide assistance to any participant who may have difficulty managing the session, offering support for emotional regulation as necessary.
When:
IFYT Level 1
Group 1: April 2nd to April 30th,
every Thursdays from 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm.
Group 2: August 6th to September 3rd,
every Thursdays from 5.45 pm to 7:45 pm.
IFYT Level 2
Group 1: February 5th to March 5th,
every Thursdays from 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm.
Group 2: June 4th to July 2nd, every
Thursdays from 5.45 pm to 7:45 pm.
Group 3: October 1st to October 29th,
every Thursdays from 5.45 pm to 7.45 pm.
IFYT Level 3
Group 1: July 21st to July 23rd,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 pm to 8
pm.
Group 2: November 10th to November 12th,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30
pm to 8 pm.
Venue:
Te Manawa Atawhai Catherine McAuley Centre 31 Peer Street, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch.
Fees for Yoga Group programs:
Individuals: $600; Business: $900 (partially funded by Aura Health).
Research participant’s rate: Individuals: $300; Business: $450 (Research
participants needs to complete questionnaires assessing their wellbeing before and after the program,
funded by Aura Health).
Our Facilitators
Dr Jain Joseph, PhD
Dr Jain Joseph is an experienced clinical psychologist with 24 years of professional practice. He is an accredited EMDR therapist and EMDR Case Consultant in Training. He is currently working towards advanced accreditation in Schema Therapy. His academic qualifications include a Master of Arts in Applied Psychology (Industrial Psychology), a Master of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (M.Phil), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology.
Dr Joseph began his yoga practice in 1995 during his undergraduate studies in Philosophy. He completed his Bachelor of Philosophy (BPh) and Bachelor of Art in Philosophy (BA) in 1998. He earned Certificates in Basic Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga in 1999. In the same year, he was initiated into Babaji Kriya Yoga by the late Yogiar S. A. A. Ramaiah. He further advanced his expertise by completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Yoga in 2005. Since 1999, Dr Joseph has been teaching yoga and integrating Yoga therapy to address psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and trauma. He conducted Yoga Therapy group sessions for individuals with complex mental illnesses at Princess Margaret Hospital for several years.
Ambily M Joseph
Ambily M Joseph is a registered social worker who will be co-facilitating this group. She holds a Masters in Applied Psychology (M.Sc.) and a Masters in Social Work (MSW). She is trained in EMDR therapy and undergoing training in Integration Focused Yoga Therapy.
Please fill out this registration form or email us to aurahealthnz@gmail.com to register yourself. Once we have received your registration form a confirmation email and an invoice will be sent out. You need to make full payment before the start of the program.