Yoga and Psychotherapy: An Integrative

Approach

Arielle Warner, PhD

Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, CA;

Lesley College Extension in Israel

How to Integrate Yoga and

Psychotherapy As a theoretical foundation

Yoga Psychology Principles as the clinical framework

Grounded in Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology: Psychospiritual Integration and Transformation

Mindbody complex and Spirit/Self

Going through emotions and sensations to reach Self

As adjunct to Psychotherapy

Hatha Yoga in session or following session

Art of Living Program

How to Integrate Yoga and

Psychotherapy As adjunct to Psychotherapy

Hatha Yoga in session or following session

Art of Living Program and practices adjunct to

psychotherapy

Yoga philosophy and practices as self help

Yoga Psychology

Yoga, “yuj” = join, bind,

unite, and control

Yoga Psychology

Suffering

Stems from the false exclusive over-identification with the external plane of our existence.

Caused because of the lack of awareness and experience of the vastness of our real nature and because of the estrangement from our true selves, considered the Self.

Stems from clinging to the belief that our bodies, minds, and feelings are our true self.

Yoga Psychology

Suffering

Out of this over-identification with material

aspects of existence, a clinging to life and fear of

death arises.

Limited perception of existence is considered to

be a delusion that constricts and prevents us

from experiencing reality or the Self.

Yoga Psychology

In yoga, which means “to unite”, the process of

healing involves rediscovering the wholeness of

one’s true nature, and reuniting with the matter-

free Self (Field, 2001).

Yoga Psychology

Reunification of the material and

spiritual aspects of our self, the

personal self and the universal Self -

cosmic consciousness, or true Self(Chaudhuri, 1975; Criswell & Patel, 2003).

Yoga Psychology

“…yoga is a system of self cultivation

enjoined for the attainment of

liberation, and progress of healing

(recovering the wholeness) of one’s

true nature” (Fields, 2001, p.6)

Yoga Psychology

Yoga supports the emotional, physical

and mental integration of the person

toward the discovery of the true Self(Fields, 2001).

Yoga Paths

Hatha Yoga

Raja Yoga

Bahkti

Karma

Jnana

Tantra/Kundalini Yoga

Integral Yoga

Spirit is experienced through mental, physical,

and vital nature (as “instruments”)

Bringing divine consciousness down into body-

mind and ordinary life by opening all part of

being toward transformation.

Synthesis of all Yoga paths: Awareness of inner

being and living from there outward, mastering

outward life by an inner light and force.

Psycho-Spiritual Integration and

Transformation

(Developed by Kathleen Wall and Carl Peters)

Based in Integral Yoga (Sri Aurobindo and Mira

Alfassa) & Psychosynthesis (Assagioli)

A comprehensive integral model of human

growth and transformation

all people have experiences in which there is a

deep sense of recognition of important truths,

and yearnings for insights into profound

questions of existence and for connection to a

universal reality or source- Spirituality

PSIT Integration of psychological material

Development of observing consciousness

Experience of Divine within (psychic Being)

Application of psychological and spiritual awareness for inner work and day-to-day living.

Aspiration

Hinderers and Helpers

Psychic Being (Divine Spark)

Art of Living Program

15- 20 hours yoga based stress reduction course

designed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Course includes breathing technique Sudarshan

Kriya Yoga (SKY), meditations, chanting, and

other processes based in yoga-psychology and

philosophy applicable to every day life

www.artofliving.org.il

Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) for

Depression and Anxiety

SKY over 3 months was associated with a

reduction in symptoms of depression in patients

diagnosed with depression.

The result points to a dose-response relation and

no clinically significant side effect.

Reduction in anxiety for people at the workplace ( Damodaran et al, 2006)

As good as Imipramine for Depression

Biomedical parameters and Stress

Brain activity: EEG positive changes in

awareness stage.

Increased state of relaxed alertness

Better anti-oxidant status (superoxide dismutate) (Singh et al, 2006)

Improved physiological measures throughout

the pactice (Heart rate variability, EKG, EEG,

respimometry, pulse, BP)

Biomedical parameters and Stress

Increased level of prolactine (bonding hormone)

Reduced levels of Lactate (less stress and

anxiety)

Reduced levels of cortisol (less stress)

Improved Natural Killer cell in AOL teachers.

Design: procedure Demographic and Disease Variables collected at

recruitment

Four Assessments at four times:

1. Time 0: two weeks before the beginning of the 8-day course

2. Time 1: first day of the course

3. Time 2: last day of the course

4. Time 3: post 5-week maintenance period

In depth interviews with sub-sample of 12 participants after 5-week maintenance

Results: Subscales of quality of life:physical, social, emotional, functional, additional concerns.

(p<0.000)

Effect sizes:

0.43-1.03

Results: Positive states of mind and

perceived stress

(p<0.000)

Effect

sizes:

T2: 1.13,

T3: 0.84

(POMS)

T2: 1.7

T3: 1.5

(PSS)

Results: Spiritual Well Being

(p<0.0001)

Effect

size :

0.96,0.95

Transformation and Benefits Relating to

Breast Cancer (sub-sample of 12

women) Less fear of recurrence and fear of death (83%)

Art of Living course as benefit of breast cancer

(58%)

Healing of body-image (33%)

Letting go of “BC survivor” identity (33%)

Transformation and Benefits: Pre-

Cancer Issues (sub-sample of 12

women)

Sense of peace and letting go (100%)

Self-esteem and empowerment (83%)

Acceptance of people and situations (75%)

Transformation and Benefits

(continued)

Spiritual transformation and deepeningSpiritual Self Realization (58%)

“when I do the Kriya, I feel like I am really connecting inside that part of myself, that spiritual side of myself”

Divine dwelling within (33%)

“I know that God is in me and not something outside of me.”

Experience of divine love (66%)

“I said that I’m really in love with the divine”.SKY as prayer (3.8%)

“on top of everything I think is the feeling of connecting to

other people mostly and to the whole universe, to the

whole whatever surrounds me and whatever I’m a part of

in the whole universe is like a, is one, is like, is, the way

we belong. The way I belong to the universe and to

everything in it, this feeling changed, changed during the

class, like to feel part of the whole universe…the

connection that was there between the people was suddenly

the, the feeling that it’s like, we are almost endless,

endless in terms of space, endless in terms of time and its

like part of, part of the whole”

Qualitative Results Summary

Strengthening of spirituality

Enhances Self-exploration

Experience of peace, love, joy, gratitude

Increased self esteem and

Less fear

Release and letting go

How to Integrate Yoga and

Psychotherapy

As a therapeutic theoretical foundation and/or

adjunct to Psychotherapy.

From Gross to Subtle energy

Observing consciousness

I am not my body, thoughts, emotions

Experience of Self (authentic self)

Going through body, thoughts, and feelings and not

bypassing them.

Contact:

Arielle Warner, PhD

054-4846669

ariwarner55@gmail.com

Transpersonal Psychotherapist (Individual and Groups), Lecturer, conducting training for professionals, and Researcher

Spiritual Support for people with illness and end of life issues (focusing on post traumatic growth)