The Aim of Yoga Psychotherapy

The three main aims of Yoga Psychotherapy are self-awareness, spontaneity, and intimacy.

People come to Yoga Psychotherapy to deal with various issues, from seeking relief from anxiety, pain, and illness to finding authentic spiritual meaning.  

The yoga path

The aim of yoga (the word means union or connection) is to unite individual consciousness with cosmic consciousness, to feel part of something greater. The path to union with the greater self is a journey from limited ego-based consciousness, a partial self, towards wholeness, a greater sense of self.

The growth in consciousness that occurs as part of this journey enables us to know who we are and why we are on the planet. The "the university of life" metaphor is apt for the yoga journey. We are here to learn and to grow towards wholeness. That is why we are here on the planet.

The answer to “Why do I need to go through all of this hardship to get to wholeness?” is another issue altogether. We eventually get to answer this question as our consciousness develops. However, we are here now and need to get on with things while we have the chance and the opportunity.

The journey to wholeness

As part of the journey to wholeness, we need to form a loving relationship with ourselves and heal old wounds. Many of these wounds have been inherited, while others have been self-inflicted through ignorance.

Of course, many of us have had various positive and negative experiences as part of our learning curve. However, it is the negative that often holds us back from growing into wholeness. We have accumulated traumas and emotional hits over time, and any old residue that has an ongoing impact must be addressed.

Once we start on the path to wholeness, we initially need to heal the old wounds, pay back the debts, and then accumulate more and more positive karma. And, of course, the meditation and other techniques you learn on the path equip you to handle old wounds and trauma in ways that you may have been previously unaware of.

For many people, a lack of knowledge and support to progress on the journey creates anxiety and an inability to progress. Gaining knowledge through study and individual counseling or psychotherapy empowers us and grants confidence.

The three main aims of Yoga Psychotherapy

Yoga-based psychotherapy is founded on yoga psychology, the yogic science of body-mind and consciousness. Yoga Psychotherapy is the application of yoga psychology to healing, strengthening, and awakening ourselves. Yoga psychotherapy has three aims:

1. The primary aim of psychotherapy is to cultivate self-awareness, which is the first step to self-realization and self-mastery.
2. Self-awareness enables spontaneity, which occurs when we free ourselves from conditioning and reunite with our authentic Self. This enables us to respond to each moment from an intuitive and wise part of us.
3. The third aim is intimacy, the ability to connect with people and all forms of life with an open, compassionate heart. This requires self-awareness and spontaneity.

Why do people come to Yoga Psychotherapy?

People come to yoga psychotherapy when they feel their life is out of balance. They want to return to a healthy, balanced, clear state of mind, reduce overwhelm and confusion, and gain meaning and purpose through connection to their deeper self. To summarize, people come:

1. Seeking advice for worry, anxiety, excessive thinking, and overactive minds.
2. To deal with more complex issues, such as early childhood issues, abuse, trauma, etc.
3. To improve their relationships
4. Wanting to explore the deeper reaches of the psyche and the unconscious
5. For an authentic spiritual search. These are usually dedicated students and practitioners who need guidance in integrating their old wounds into their spiritual search.

As a result of seeking advice for worry, anxiety, or deeper trauma, a few people will desire to progress to a deeper exploration of themselves and a search for spiritual connection.

Whatever your need, Yoga Psychotherapy provides a systematic and progressive approach to experiential learning. You will embody the knowledge as you progress and be able to know what is appropriate for you.

The topics within the Yoga Psychology and Yoga Psychotherapy Online Seminars include:

• Yoga psychotherapy as a holistic science
• The four main yoga philosophies that form the foundation of Yoga Psychology
• An outline of the structure of the mind and the forces that animate the mind
• The relationship between mind and consciousness
• The subtle body
• How to heal and enlighten the mind
• The Sanskrit terms for Western concepts, such as the "inner parent, adult, child"
• How to support your "inner child" by developing a wise and enlightened inner adult
• Improve your relationship with yourself and others
• How to transform suffering and adversity to actualize a conscious relationship with the vast cosmic forces that lie beyond socially conditioned awareness
• Gain information about your individual karma so that you can begin to see your unique life purpose and destiny from a higher perspective.
• An overview of the techniques and the path to liberate yourself from old destructive patterns and create new creative patterns in your mind and life.

Learn more about Yoga Psychology and Yoga Psychotherapy Online.

Alternatively, book a Yoga Psychotherapy consultation with Dr. Swami Shankardev Saraswati to experience the benefits of Yoga Therapy for yourself.