TAP Talk - Models of therapy from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra

Ranju Roy

On Friday 19th September we were delighted to welcome Ranju Roy, a local yoga teacher, to talk about Patanjali’s Yoga and how this is relevant to therapy today.  Ranju set Yoga in its historical context, he took us back 2500 years to the original form which was a meditative tradition, closely linked to Buddism.  The ancients say the body is the mind made concrete. Neither Yoga nor Buddhism being religions or requiring any sort of belief, the invitation is only to practice. At the heart of Yoga are the four noble truths: what is the problem, what is maintaining the problem, what is the realistic resolution, what are the means to get to the solution.

Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras, in 195 short statements, these being easier to memorise for the aural tradition. Chapters 1, 3 and 4 are for those in advanced practice of yoga so Ranju concentrated on Chapter 2 for those with distracted minds.  He spoke of the problem ( duhkha) as being the bad (negative or painful) space in the mind and the feelings of oppression, suffocation in the heart. The Indian traditions of duhkha cover suffering as: that done by other beings, by the supernatural world and what we do to oneself. He went on to talk about our constructed sense of self and how this can either be a bridge or a barrier in relationships.  There are 8 practices (yama) used to show us how to live in relationship with others. This closely links to the therapeutic relationship. Ahimsa – to create a space where another can be without fear, Satya – to step into that space and be authentic, Asteya – to not take advantage, Brahmacarya - to retain our priorities and move in the direction of truth, and Aparigraha – not accumulate or to let go. Yama is the freedom in relationships. Yoga is about being  free within the body and not to being an award winning gymnast.

Ranju was warmly thanked and much appreciated by those in the audience.

The next TAP talk is by Dr Damian McCann on ‘Gender and Sexuality Revisited’ held at the United Reformed Church, Taunton starting at 7:45pm on 17th October 2014. All are very welcome.

---