Yoga therapy is a holistic approach designed to help individuals cultivate inner balance, which is essential for healing and overall well-being. Drawing on ancient wisdom, such as the Bhagavad Gita, yoga therapy seeks to restore equilibrium in the body, mind, and spirit. Chapter 2, Verse 48 of the Bhagavad Gita encapsulates this approach:
“योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि संगं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय। सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥”
“Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called Yoga.”
In this verse, Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to perform his duties with a steady mind, unattached to the outcomes of success or failure. Here, samatva, or balance, represents a state of inner peace and neutrality. When applied to yoga therapy, samatva extends beyond physical postures to encompass mental and emotional balance, building a foundation of resilience and peace that allows individuals to respond to life’s highs and lows with steadiness.
Achieving Inner Balance for Healing
Yoga therapy emphasizes the importance of equanimity not just as a mental ideal but as a pathway to physical and emotional healing. Chronic pain and persistent physical conditions are often linked to prolonged emotional strain, where the nervous system becomes “stuck” in a fight-or-flight state. This prolonged stress response, associated with dysautonomia-related syndromes (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome), can cause physical and mental symptoms, disrupt immune function, and reduce emotional stability.
Through inner balance, yoga therapy helps the nervous system shift from stress responses to relaxation responses. By learning to accept and respond to challenges with steadiness, clients can reduce the frequency and intensity of stress responses. Practices like mindful breathing, body awareness, and meditation work to reset the nervous system, enhance resilience, and restore harmony.
Yoga as Balance in Practice
In yoga, balance is not merely a state of physical stability but a holistic, steady approach to life. The practice of achieving samatva—balancing effort with surrender, engagement with detachment—is deeply ingrained in yoga philosophy, as highlighted in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (YS 2.46), which describe a state of steadiness and ease (sthira sukham asanam). This inner balance makes it possible to face the ups and downs of life without being destabilized by them.
The concept of equanimity is much like sailing on the open sea. The waves rise and fall, rocking the boat as we navigate the ocean of life. If we allow ourselves to be disturbed by each wave or expect the ocean to be perfectly still, we set ourselves up for endless struggle. Waves are a natural part of the sea, just as challenges and fluctuations are natural to life. In yoga therapy, clients learn to steady themselves amidst life’s waves without being overwhelmed, cultivating calm and acceptance instead of resisting the natural flow.
Conclusion
Inner balance is not only the heart of yoga therapy but also a practical approach to life’s inevitable challenges. By fostering resilience and stability, yoga therapy helps individuals navigate physical and emotional challenges and cultivate a peaceful, healing environment within. Through equanimity, yoga enables the mind and body to work in harmony, leading to restored health and a profound sense of well-being.
References
- Easwaran, Eknath. The Bhagavad Gita. Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press.
- Kriyananda, Swami. The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita: Explained by Paramhansa Yogananda. Crystal Clarity Publishers, 2006.
- Satchidananda, Swami. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Translation and Commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda. Integral Yoga Publications.
- Sapolsky, Robert M. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping. Holt Paperbacks.
Namaste
