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!