Self-Reflective Inquiry™ in Spanda Yoga Movement Therapy

Yoga and the Practice of Self-Study

Spanda® SRI™ devloped by Dr. Jamie Stover Schmidt provides the framework for guiding students through a process of self-transformation as guided by a trained Spanda Yoga Movement Therapist. The practices are designed for the individual based on their current struggles and needs to find clarity.

The practice of Self-Inquiry in yoga is related to the practice of Svadhyaya, one of the five niyamas as a pillar to the eight limbed bath of Pantanjali’s yoga.

As studdied through the lense of Spanda Yoga Movment Therapy (SYMT), careful attention is focused on creating change for the better, with support and guidance through shared movement experiences. 

Sometimes we may focus our session on a particular goal and in doing so we may reveal that which is in our way, or blockages. Here I like to incorporate self-study into open up dialog through the WOOP Method as outlined by Gabriele Oettingen. What is the Wish? What is our desired Outcome? What Obstacles might we encounter? Can we create a Plan to move past these Obstacles?

Our yoga tradition relates all matter as Prakriti, which manifests though the gunas. Sage Pantanjali elaborates that all impressions manifest as Tamas Rajas and Sattva in the Yoga Sutras 4.13 and 4.14. As an intersting side note, there is a relationship to matter as seen in the subatomic particles as positive in nature, protons, related to Rajas, electons as negatively charged particles related to Tamas and the neutron as relates to Sattva. Ayurveda, the “sister science” to yoga also recogizes these trigunas in the five element theory relating Ether with Sattva, Air with Rajas, Fire with Sattva-Rajas, Water with Sattva Tamasic qualitiesand Earth with Tamasic guna. Read more here in “Science Behind The God and Demon Within” by Sumit Chander.

Returning to our therapeutic practices, the processes we choose to weave together can be held though shared space from a more mentally based approace, active listening, writing, imagination, channels of awareness, stage setting and symbolism and role playing can all help us to deeping our practice of self-study.

On occasion we may direct our Svadhyaya towards a more somatically based practice incoporating more physical movements into a lesson. By allowing movement to be free flowing the mind can find safe passage to expression and be guided to express it’s wants, needs, desires and reveal that which may have been hidden. Your C-IAYT Spanda Yoga Movement Therapist might also guide you with Myofascial Activation­™ to further your self-study and find release from held tension in bodily tissue. Sometimes a roadblock to energetic movement needs to be revealed to be released, this can happen within minutes or it may take days or weeks.

Ancient traditions rooted in yoga and Ayurveda are the foundation for all SYMT approaches to Yoga Therapy. SRI™ model directs us to a space to promote self-inquiry through the place of The Inner Witness and though the act of being observed, but not judged.

Are you interested in learning more about somatic movement and yoga therapy? Please contact Hilary now for your free 30 minute consultation to learn more about working together to support your Self-Study!

Spring Cleaning from the Inside Out

New Season and a Time for Change

Looking to try this yourself at home? Follow the link for a downloadable PDF

Preparing for the Cleanse

This practice is not for those faint of heart, I am going into this with a very specific purpose (more later) and a complete understanding that this will require a certain sense of focus on the process, some determination and self-control.

About two weeks prior I had met with a local certified Ayurvedic Counselor who I had trained with before to help lead the way. We walked and talked through the process, was given a set of instructions and we discussed obstacles and the correct timing of the cleanse, usually around the spring and fall equinox.

Several supplies had to be ordered in, specifically the herbal supplement that go along with the detoxification process. A trip to the local health food store to stock up on mung beans (why do they not have them in the supermarkets?) and I would say about $60 was spent on supplies. WELL below what I would spend on food for a week!

Day 1

Set up some relaxing music to help transition into the real world. Had arrange to go into work late this week, in an alternate reality this cleanse would be a stay-cation, but just not an option at the moment. Listening to Jai Jagdeesh helped smooth the way onward.

Made WAY too much kitchari, usually 1 cup each mung beans and rice work well, plenty for several servings which in the past I would have frozen for the week. However, during this cleanse you must make a fresh batch each morning to last the day; oh, and NO microwave, it will increase Vata.

Day 2

Up super early this morning without hesitation, just like the old me, took care of business, confused the heck out of the cat and the dog who were left sleeping. Another gentle Pilates practice with the foam roller, followed by some simple stretches and twists to help with digestion and then Pranyama. This morning for some reason I began to practice Ujaui with alternate nostril breathing, did not fight the impulse, just went with the flow.

This morning Nirijan Kaur Khalsa’s “Aquarian Sadhana” called to me, allowed these mantras to fill the house during morning Dinacharyia and later when cooking. Added a few sliced of apple to the simple oatmeal recipe, much more flavorful!.

Love the practice of Abhyanga, has been a long time since I had practiced this. About a year ago I was introduced to this during a training with Hilary Garivaltis, who introduced us to some of her favorite oils, the tri-doshic oil from Sarada Ayurvedic Remedies is wonderfully warm and I find it very calming. Simply dispense into an oil bottle, immerse in warm water in your sink, swirl around a few times, leave in the water and then drain and add warm water. It will take about 10 minutes to coat your body so you want the oils to be comfortable.

Day 3

Shall we just say that things are moving along just fine this morning. In a good groove, today another Pilates practice for balancing the spine and relaxing tension from the body.

This evening the process of sesame oil on the feet intrigued me, don’t get me wrong, a good foot massage is a little piece of heaven. A little research led to this in depth article “An Ayurvedic Foot Massage You Can Treat Yourself to Right Now” which explains the link to marma points, the practice of reflexology and the foots connections to the Chakra system, working through deep subtle body layers and connections.

Seven-Point Posture Meditation

Day 4

Awoke very early about 3:00am with strong abdominal cramping. Let’s just say that there was A LOT of movement afterwards! Stayed up and practiced about an hour of Feldenkriais, two lessons , one for the eyes and another for the breath. Felt much more relaxed and was able to follow with Nadi Shodana, but interestingly, after working with the eyes AND the breath I began a practice where your dristhi follows the breath in and out of each nostril and extends the “triangle” down to each hip. Turned out to be just what I needed to relax into the day.

Sometime this afternoon, this article appears in my inbox “What is Kitchari & Why We Eat it” for Cleansing”. My first thoughts were “OH, I know…” but there is some good information here about the purpose of a mono diet of rice and beans and the author explains the simplicity of it, well worth the read.

Did not stay in sauna today at the Y as long as I would have liked, two gentlemen were talking a lot about conspiracies and it was difficult to tune out the BS. Don’t need more of that in my life this week, too much leaving the body as it is!

Day 5

Allowed myself to sleep in, the extra time to relax supported a longer physical asana practice, and since there was no rush to get to breakfast, a very relaxed morning indeed.

Day 6

New morning routine completed, the day has only one purpose, to drive up to State College to bring my oldest son his father’s guitar, eat kitchari for lunch and drive home in time to prepare dinner for the youngest son. He had been pre-warned that we were not going out for any meals because of the cleanse, thankful that he was so supportive!

Day 7

Read more about how gut bacteria play a role in health.

Similar routine as the previous 6, this evening is supposed to end with a bang…more later.

As much planning and organizing that was put into the cleanse, it just hits me that I have not planned for meals tomorrow. What to eat? Shopping trip and cooking in the afternoon after work and I set up a game plan. It hits me that our bodies have amazing ways of clinging to old ways, old energy patterns, what was good yesterday will be good again tomorrow. But this cleanse opens up new possibilities, to something new, different, yes a little uncertain, but that is up to me to determine the destination…

Or is it? The more I read this evening, the more I understand the concept of a 3 Season Diet, changing our foods with the seasons, also changing the micro flora within us. They are calling the shots!

“Stewed Apples
Peel and slice or chop 1–2 apples. Place in a small saucepan with enough water to cover the apples, 1 teaspoon ghee, and a pinch each of: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and natural mineral salt. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Cook covered until the apples are mushy (10-20 minutes). This dish is delicious and easy to digest. ”

— Banyan Botanicals

Had time to cook up some stewed apples which are so amazingly yummy, but stored away in the freezer (a bit no-no in the Ayurvedic world but there are times that we need to be realistic when it comes to work and commitments. There is not always time to cook. Let’s face it, it is not just the cooking, that is the FUN part. There is the planning, the shopping and cleaning up afterwards.

Springing Back to Health

The day after, post cleanse Day 1 started just fine, swapped out simple oatmeal recipe for simple quinoa breakfast cereal, seemed logical. Quite a bit later in the morning severe abdominal cramps started, tried some turmeric tea, but later had to call it a day and left work to go home to sleep it off for about 90 minutes. At least Walter the dog was happy, he got a nap with mom!

Able to eat some rice and chicken at lunch, and later a cup of peppermint tea did the trick. Forgot how cooling and soothing peppermint could be, try this tea from Numi.

As the days after the cleanse fly by it is still a challenge to re-think meals for Kapha season. The choices are not as abundant, but the system is still trying to re-balance itself, and I have to remain part of the process, involved mind, body and spirit!

if you have any questions about the cleanse that was followed here, or are seeking help from an Ayurvedic practitioner, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will do my very best to help you find your way.

~Namaste