Therapeutic Yoga, Yoga Therapy and ShivaShakti Synthesis

Therapeutic Yoga, Yoga Therapy and ShivaShakti Synthesis

We describe the level 1 program of ShivaShakti Synthesis as therapeutic yoga and the level 2 as yoga therapy.  But what does that really mean? I have not had an easy time in articulating it and I suspect I am not alone.  At the national level, a group of experienced folks have been meeting together for a few years trying to develop a working definition of yoga therapy.  Definitions have ranged from “all yoga is therapy” to the concept that yoga therapy is a new and western invention that has no basis in ancient texts. Which is true?

I don’t think it is accurate to say all yoga is therapy. Originally, yoga was the practice for the seeker on spiritual path, while ayurveda offered the path to health and wellness. Yet many of the practices in ayurveda have their basis in yoga.  The common root for yoga and ayurveda is samkhya philosophy, which to me says there is an ancient basis for yoga as therapy. This is why ShivaShakti Synthesis integrates the teachings of yoga and ayurveda.

I am working on writing up a section for the manual on our philosophy on therapeutic yoga and yoga therapy, so figured this was a perfect place to share some thoughts and get your feedback.

Here are my working definitions for ShivaShakti Synthesis:

Therapeutic yoga: Teaching a therapeutic style of yoga means that there is the ability to modify the practices, whether they are asana, pranayama, relaxation and imagery, yoga nidra and meditation to be accessible to any student.

Yoga therapy: Yoga therapy implies specifically addressing the areas of disconnect that separate someone from the truth and essence of their Being.

This is a teaser to get us started. What do you think?

Summer Solstice-Honoring the Light

Summer Solstice – Honoring the Light

As the summer solstice nears there seems to be subtle, but strong anticipation about this day. What is the solstice? The word consists of two roots, sol, which means sun, and stice, to stand still. Yet the solstice seems to be anything but that. It tells us that the earth is in its most extreme phase of its dance between light and dark, and from there it will begin to change toward the balance of the equinox.

  In the days of the sundial clock, the dials seemed not to move during the solstices. It was as if time stood still or was in stasis during the long period of sunlight of the summer solstice and the shortest period of the winter solstice. This may be why there are so many spiritual rituals and celebrations around these two times. It is said that the winter solstice rituals were developed because of the fear the sun would not return, and the hope that if enough light was created. In other words people were afraid that the darkness would become the stasis. Perhaps then celebrating summer is a hope that the fruits of summer and of light will stick around for a long time, that it will become the stasis.

  The summer solstice may be a temporary stasis, a gateway where we are invited to pause, stand still and receive the light before moving onto the next step, as there is always a next step. Stasis means a suspension of growth and therefore is only a temporary state. But it is good to periodically stop and take a break before going into the next growth spurt. Although we cannot make summer stay we can use this period to soak up the outer light to recharge our inner fire.

So what makes your light shine? What will you be doing on the solstice? I’ll be chanting the Gayatri Mantra and doing a few rounds of Surya Namaskar, then attempting to surrender to the stillness of the solstice and sit in the light. Feel free to join me. Our circle is always there. We can invoke it at anytime. 

Partner Yoga and the Dance of Interdependence

Partner Yoga and the Dance of Interdependence

When I was growing up, I received praise for being independent, which, I suspect, was true for many of you. Over time, I came to believe that independence was good and dependence, not so good.  Our culture tends to reward independence and harbor a negative attitude toward dependence, and for the longest time, I assumed these were the only two options. Then I got into a long-term relationship and discovered things weren’t quite so black and white.

Lo and behold, I discovered there was a third option – interdependence. My interest tweaked, I looked up the definition in the dictionary. Part of the definition of independence is quite appealing, to be free of. The other part, however, involves not having needs, which really hit me; who doesn’t have needs? Dependence means to depend upon while interdependence implies a reciprocal relationship where needs are allowed and mutually met. It seems pretty clear that while interdependence might be more challenging, it is the better course because it is the one that really can lead to a fulfilling life.

This interdependence is one of the reasons I love partner yoga. The dance of interdependence gets to play out there because in partner yoga, I am able to go deeper into a pose than I ever could have achieved on my own. However, it is not because someone else is doing it for me. Rather, it is because of the trust, connection and reciprocal relationship that I find within myself, my true strength, and just as amazing, the same thing happens for my partner.