SARANAC?LAKE -Inner Quest Yoga and Wellness Center is now offering a new type of therapy called structural yoga therapy, which helps with chronic conditions, pain management and spiritual growth.

Yoga means to "yoke" or "unite," an ancient practice for maintaining or bringing oneself into balance to create a union of body, mind and spirit. Individuals with chronic pain or stress, for example, typically experience a disconnect at some level of their being. According to the teachings of structural yoga, an adaptive, therapeutic form of yoga, health is not merely a condition of the human body, nor is it maintained solely by physical exercise. Yogis (highly trained practitioners of yoga) have long known the importance of cultivating deep awareness and sensitivity to create union and peace within oneself.

Structural yoga therapists work one-on-one with clients. After an indepth consultation to reveal the root of one's concerns, a physical evaluation is performed to determine an individual's specific needs and prescribe a personal home practice. This practice may include any one or some combination of the following: yoga exercises for strength and/or increased range of motion, breath-work, meditation, relaxation techniques, lifestyle and dietary recommendations. The goal of structural yoga is to return the individual to a state of peace and harmony by removing the obstacles that impair well-being and vitality.

For more information and a free phone consultation, call Mary Bartel, structural yoga therapist and professional level yoga instructor, at Inner Quest Yoga and Wellness Center in Saranac Lake at 518-891-9944.