TF04: ADVANCED PRACTICE Collaborative and Inclusive Care: The Role of Yoga Therapy and Socioemotional Learning in Medical Tourism

Presenter bio: Marsha D. Banks-Harold, MSEd, C-IAYT

This session amplifies the potential role of yoga therapists in fostering collaborative, inclusive, and trauma-sensitive care relationships in the growing fields of medical tourism and integrative functional medicine. As people increasingly seek care beyond their home countries, yoga therapy offers a bridge between medical treatment and the human experience of healing—one that addresses the physical, emotional, and psychosocial complexities of traveling for healthcare.

Drawing from a recent experience accompanying a client to a specialist hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, this session explores how yoga therapy can be intentionally woven into medical tourism settings. Learn how the five core competencies of socioemotional learning (SEL)—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making—map onto and enhance the foundational principles of yoga therapy. Integrating these competencies allows yoga therapists to better support clients navigating chronic or complex conditions, particularly those whose lived experiences are shaped by stigma, marginalization, or health inequities.

Through guided mindfulness, small-group dialogue, and dyadic learning, we will explore how to apply yoga therapy and SEL principles in diverse therapeutic settings. Together, we will examine how to strengthen the bridge between yoga therapy and biomedical care through collaboration, inclusivity, and trauma-informed practice—ultimately expanding the reach and relevance of yoga therapy in global health contexts.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the core principles of socioemotional learning and how they intersect with the foundations of yoga therapy practice.
2. Analyze the value of inclusive, accessible, and trauma-sensitive approaches in yoga therapy and describe how to foster collaborative relationships with medical professionals in integrative care settings.
3. Evaluate opportunities for integrating yoga therapy into innovative and diverse contexts, including medical tourism and functional medicine environments, to expand access and impact.