Psychology and Yoga: Complimentary Practices
Psychology can be defined as the scientific study of the human mind. In therapy, we look at how our thoughts and emotions impact behavior while also taking into consideration the effect of outside forces such as trauma, society, and culture. The goal of psychological work is to live a life aligned with our authentic desires, increase self-understanding, process trauma, and increase the number of compassionate tools in our psychological toolkit. By working with the mind and emotions, we can move closer to a life well-lived.
Yoga can be defined as an ancient Hindu spiritual practice that brings awareness to how we navigate life through a focus on bodily movement, breathwork, meditation, and philosophical guidelines for life. Yoga is a personal practice that encourages us to connect with our inner worlds and be mindful of how we show up in the larger world around us. By working with the body, mind, and breath, we develop a compassionate understanding of ourselves and others. We also construct a life path that is colored with acceptance, compassion, and openness.
When we combine psychological and yogic practices, we create a solid foundation for personal development and growth. We can approach ourselves more holistically and deepenour sense of healing. For example, the field of psychology has created highly effective approaches to treating trauma. Through CBT and sensory processing, therapists have responded effectively to the cognitive processing of trauma. However, new findings in trauma research have indicated that trauma is also held in the body and more body-based approaches can be beneficial. Enter yoga. The benefits of working with the body in healing do not stop at trauma processing, studies have shown that a yoga component in therapy can also effectively address symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.
What does it look like when we combine the two practices? That is a part of the collaborative relationship between the client and therapist. Yoga introduced into a therapy session can look like incorporating breathwork to encourage grounding, utilizing gentle movement to stimulate brain processing, and amplifying turning inward to explore physical sensations associated with emotional content. Life can be beautiful and enriching, but also complicated and painful. Psychology and yoga can work together to help us navigate and take control of our lives. By blending the two practices, yoga and psychology can provide a holistic platform for us to heal.
Refection written by: Michelle Thornton M.A.