Sunday 8 April 2018

What is Yoga-based Counseling?

My private practice, Samya Yoga Healing, provides yoga-based counseling services.  The number one question I get is, "What is yoga-based counseling?"  I hope to explain it with this blog.  Feel free to email me with any questions at tlgingrich@samyayogahealing.com.

1.  Yoga does just not mean yoga poses.  Yoga, according to the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali (a "how-to" yoga guide from almost 2000 years ago) is eight-fold:
  • Yamas (Ethical Practices)
  • Niyamas (Ethical Practices)
  • Asana (Poses)
  • Pranayama (Breath work)
  • Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses)
  • Dhyana (Practice of Single-minded concentration)
  • Dharana (Meditation)
  • Samadhi (United with Truth)
We in the west have narrowed the focus of yoga to just Asanas (poses) and yoga has so much more to offer.  All of these steps in the eight-fold path contribute to helping the practitioner identify limiting patterns in the body and mind (emotions, thoughts, and beliefs) to move towards a more true understanding of who we really are, which leads to immense peace, joy, and satisfaction.

2. Counseling, to me, is partnering with an outside, trained person to move past emotions, thoughts and behaviors that are creating pain and suffering in a person's life.  The focus is the "client" and the therapeutic relationship is about supporting the "client" in whatever changes they are looking for in their life.  There are very few other relationships in life when we get to be the center of focus, not worrying or thinking about the other person.  Because the focus is on you, the "client," amazing learning and self-understanding can be fostered, supporting positive change.

3. Yoga-based counseling is using a yoga philosophy lens, which can be summed up that all of us already posses all we need to live fully in peace and contentment.  So, the work is about identifying and changing from a limited mindset (thoughts and beliefs that are more of a story of a perceived reality rather than reality itself) that is creating all of our misery and suffering and moving towards a mindset that is based in reality, compassion, and empowerment.  Many tools of the yoga tradition are incorporated: meditation, breath work, mantra, hand-gestures, ethical practices, and self-study.  "These tools can help reduce stress and improve mindfulness, helping us maintain peace and presence while dealing with the challenges of daily life.  Finding and practicing the tools that fit you can help to navigate even the most challenging moments from a place of compassion, presence, and openness….(Michael Lloyd-Billington, www.thelivingyogablog.com/yoga-counseling)."

If you already practice yoga asanas in a class or at home, you most likely already have experienced what yoga has to offer.  You may be a more spiritually-minded person, already experiencing what happens when you come from a more loving and compassionate place.  You may be questioning your beliefs and lifestyle choices, feeling a calling towards doing it differently.  Samya Yoga Healing and yoga-based counseling may be a good fit for you!  Contact me (Twyla) at anytime for a free consultation, www.samyayogahealing.com.

 

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