What Is Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine
Yoga Therapy seems to be a new path in yoga, or is it ?
Yoga Therapy has become a new trend within Yoga, with many different approaches now being developed, many of which focus only on the physical body, using the western model of Anatomy and Physiology in order to understand health and disease. Although this western model can be very useful it only applies to the physical body.
In this article I intend to shed light onto the roots and practice of Yoga Therapy in order to promote better understanding and appreciation for this truly ancient art. This will be done by looking at the five bodies or Koshas that make up a living human being and how we can heal from the material body to the soul body through the practice of Yoga. Yoga Therapy simply understood refers to Healing through Yoga, promoting Yoga as a truly Therapeutic Practice.
All cultures around the world acknowledge that human beings have a body and a psyche, a body and mind or a three-fold division of body, mind and soul or even body, mind, spirit and soul.
The western esoteric schools also speak of a four-fold division into physical, astral, mental and causal also known as carnal, natural, spiritual and divine. This four-fold division is very similar to the Yogic idea of 5 bodies which we shall examine here. Whether we take these divisions as truth or a model to help understand reality is up to each person individually. Certainly a part of us stays on earth after death whereas another part continues it’s journey through the afterlife and beyond.
The four-fold division of the body can be simply understood by looking at the physical body as a vehicle or carriage (Earth element); drawn by horses which symbolise emotions, feelings, desires and passions (Water element). The third body is the driver, symbolising the mind (Air element) and the fourth body is the master, which stands for the will or consciousness (Fire element). This will be explored further during the course as the elements are important in understanding the Chakras as well as the Zodiac.
Yogic theory expands this concept to five bodies which gives us a great structure of body, energy and psyche. Health, self-improvement and development must include working on all these various aspects of the self.
Physical health along with vitality are of primary concern to anyone wanting to free the body from weakness, sickness and disease and the mind from worry, fear and anxiety. The Yogi sees the body as a vehicle to perform his life’s work and duties, a temple for the soul.
Our Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine Course is directly based on Yogic healing of the 5 Koshas but also includes other holistic methods and theories for treating these various bodies; including ideas and concepts from Chinese Medicine, Nutrition (East & West), hands-on Shiatsu palpation, Chakra balancing and Kinesiology techniques; Yogic and Esoteric Philosophy and Psychology as well as modern Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology.
We will now look at the Koshas in more detail in order to give a clearer understanding of the multi-dimensional Yogic approach to health and healing.
ANNAMAYA KOSHA / The Physical Body.
This is the physical body, the structure and functioning of all aspects of the human body including the internal organs, hormonal, nervous and immune systems, the body’s cycles and rhythms such as sleep, digestion, and menstruation.
At this level Yoga therapy concentrates first on correct breathing, stimulating the diaphragm and lungs. Enhanced breathing will automatically stimulate lungs, heart, circulation and digestion.
Many illnesses and diseases are a direct result of poor superficial breathing which fails to bring new Prana or energy into the organism, such as oxygen, as well as failing to eliminate toxins. Good breathing furthermore tonifies the digestive organs and is the basis for good intestinal activity (peristalsis). Good breathing also promotes mental clarity, a slower heart rate and emotional and physical grounding.
Physical exercise is the next important step to recovery. It may be useful to practice general Yoga, keep fit exercises and sports. However, in order to recover from sickness and aid acute problems, it is imperative to practice a specific set of Asanas designed to nurture and strengthen weak areas and systems of the body. In case of extreme fatigue and sickness only recuperative asanas may be practiced in order to stimulate and enhance specific organs without running the risk of tiring the patient even more.
Should the first chakra for example be particularly involved in a person’s imbalance, this may include Kidney and Bladder problems, reproductive difficulties, constipation, lack of vitality, weak low back, eating disorders, retentive, nervous or restless behaviour. In this case for example the plough is particularly effective in aiding the Kidney and Bladder Meridian channels, relax the nervous system, and promote healing of the para-sympathetic nervous system.
Yoga Asana practice can focus on the 1 st chakra, tonifying the organs, strengthening the nervous, hormonal and immune systems, releasing tension and bringing prana, fresh blood and awareness to this part of the body and mind. All standing postures will also strengthen the first chakra, as we draw energy up through the feet charging the first chakra. The Asanas are designed to stimulate, calm, disperse and tonifie energy within the body.
Recuperative Asanas, indeed all Asanas, need to be performed with much awareness, correct breathing, proper alignment and relaxation. Although the Asana is a physical exercise the patient may scan and feel more than just physical sensations, becoming aware of the breath, energy flow, emotions or trauma while in a pose. Asana practice may become deeply meditative connecting body and psyche.
As all the 5 bodies are connected so working on any one level will also have an effect on the other bodies. So the Asanas will have an effect on the whole body/mind influencing the person from the body up, energising the also the vital, emotional, mental and soul bodies.
Furthermore, it is important to understand that treating the first Chakra will positively influence all other Chakras and therefore bodily systems, mind, emotions and spirit. By healing a particular, important aspect of self we are reintegrating and reconnecting, thereby re-establishing a more harmonious, well-functioning system as a whole.
Meditation, Relaxation and Chanting are also physical in nature and work strongly on emotions, mind and spirit as well as the physical body. These practices regulate breathing, bring peace and tranquility to the body/mind and harmonise the subtle energies thereby relaxing and invigorating all the bodies.
Next there is Nutrition and diet which are as important as Asana practice when it comes to healing the body. We are what we eat. Nutrition has therefore always been of great importance to Yogis. Patients do not recover if they fail to adjust their diet. It is absolutely essential to understand how diet affects our digestive and immune systems and how important it is to have a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Improved diet will also help the body to detox, strengthen and regulate organ functions, sleep, nervous and hormonal activity.
PRANAMAYA KOSHA / The Vital Body
The second body is known as the vital, ethereal or energy body. It harnesses and diffuses our prana or vital energy. If this body is weak or deficient all other bodies will also lack energy including the physical. The modern condition of “burn out” is exactly this. The total exhaustion of the vital and physical bodies.
It is therefore essential not to leak energy and to build up reserves as all systems take energy from this level. A first step to build up the vital body is through enhanced breathing and keeping the body protected from the environment eg. cold, heat, humidity, dryness and wind. A healthy pranic shield will do much to improve immunity and vitality. Breath work (Pranayama), a healthy diet, good exercise and relaxation will keep the vital body strong and resistant.
The Chakras, Nadis and the Chinese Acupuncture Meridians exist at this level. Many holistic therapists work with these vital structures and energy fields as they connect to the vital organs as well as emotion and spirit. The tremendous efficacy of Yoga, Shiatsu or Acupuncture is based on stimulating these energy lines (Meridians), centres (Chakras) and points (Acu-points). These are tried and tested ancient medical practices which have all stood the test of time and lead to holistic healing and transformation.
Continued practice leads to feeling and working with these energy fields and centres starting a completely new dialogue within the practitioner or patient.
MANOMAYA KOSHA / The Mental Body
The 3rd Kosha is about our emotional and instinctual life. This level gives us the faculty of thought, memory and doubt. Here it is important to reflect on one’s actions and reactions, understanding and overcoming fear or anger based emotional reactions. Consciousness and the experience of peace must evolve which is why Yoga prescribes practicing Yama and Niyama, the moral code of Yoga.
The first two of these moral commandments, non-violence and truthfulness are at the root of self development and lead to greater awareness and taking responsibility for one’s actions.
Aligning with these goals develops mindfulness on all levels and overcomes selfishness. Karma Yoga or selfless service also particularly improves the 3rd Kosha as the individual destroys his limited ego-centred box, his loneliness and separation and rejoins the world.
Mantra practice may be included at this level as it keeps the mind focused, as it must especially if energy is needed to heal from disease. Negative and irrational mental processes, emotions and instincts can weaken all of the other bodies. Energy leakage in any body may be a serious problem to recovery.
VIJNANAMAYA KOSHA / The Wisdom Body
At this level the individual is asked to apply knowledge and wisdom to the whole of his life. This is learned through the process of understanding cause and effect. All actions have reactions and repercussions, it is through understanding this that the individual becomes more mindful, considering the effects of actions not only regarding himself but also family, friends, community and country.
Cause and effect are linked directly and indirectly. Multi causality is how different strands flow together to produce a given effect and that more than one idea has to be taken into consideration when evaluating the causes leading to any given effect.
Holistic or natural medicine sees the causal factors of disease in the underlying weaknesses in body and psyche, thus taking a multi causality approach.
This understanding of cause and effect is very important because it empowers the patient helping him realise why he is sick and what he must truly do in order to heal and become whole again, connected to his higher self. Empowering the patient means helping to understand and reach a decision based on all the available information together with the therapists.
Treatment must never just be imposed. It steals power from the patient thus rendering them passive in their own healing process.
The wisdom body calls for bringing intellect, reason, wisdom and higher knowledge into our consciousness, self empowering tools to take life and health into one’s own hands. This leads to more evolved levels of love, compassion, joy and fulfilment.
Yogic philosophy and psychology are the traditional ways of working with this body. However the previous 3 must be cleansed so that the 4 th and 5 th bodies can shine.
ANANDAMAYA KOSHA / The Bliss Body
This level of existence is also called the causal body or soul.
Many people are out of touch with this level of themselves, they have lost contact. Our modern society no longer speaks about the soul or it’s journey in the afterlife. The concept of the divine has become taboo; an uncomfortable topic removed from schools, families and healing.
However Yoga holds that the soul is the driver and that to have lost the connection to our inner most being will lead to sickness and disease as well as emotional and mental problems.
Meditation, initiation, prayer, mantra, chanting, spending time in silence or hiking in the mountains may do much to help the individual reconnect to their soul-purpose. When we are truly living our potential in line with our soul purpose, we can move forward with confidence and discernment.
Many of the previously stated ideas for healing the other Koshas will also have an effect on the soul level. Any work done on any level will filter through to the other levels and have a positive effect but it is important to understand the patient’s needs and capacities.
A holistic therapy must work on all five Koshas to facilitate more complete, holistic healing. Sickness and disease are a kind of purgatory so there is a great opportunity to detox, purge and change, delving into deeper understanding of the self and reconnecting all the bits to the whole spectrum.
In conclusion Yoga Therapy presents us with a fantastic healing program across all bodies of existence leading to improved health, self-empowerment and spiritual growth. It is a model for understanding the human condition as well as evaluating and improving health, overcoming sickness, disease, fear and anxiety.
Furthermore it is open. That means that we may work with more than one idea on any individual body. For example a person may use psychotherapy as a tool to work with his compelling instincts and emotions on the 3rd level. Or a person may chose surgery to remove a cyst or tumour, which would be working on the physical level.
Yoga therapy should not be exclusive. On the contrary it is a model which helps both therapists and the patients themselves understand what is really going on and what other areas of the personality or physical body need attention to facilitate transformation and health. Therefore bodywork, acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition, sports etc can all be included.
Prayer, forgiveness, chanting, releasing emotions and meditation are also in themselves such powerful tools and are yet overlooked in our modern era. Yoga Therapy brings all aspects of the body and mind together, exploring with the patient how to proceed.
We welcome everyone to our Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine Course which we hold once annually. For more information please visit our website or send us an email.
Copyright: Gerry Rixen 2020
SYM has met the strict requirements of Yoga Alliance International, showing that SYM courses are of exceptional quality and that upon graduation students receive the Yoga Alliance International membership and certification.
SYM is a Member School of: Yoga Alliance International, The International Association Of Yoga Therapists & The International Yoga Federation