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Is the Integration of Yoga with Psychotherapy Compatible? What are the Risks?

Avinash Patwardhan

In view of recently increasing burden of mental health problems in the US, on the top of the corresponding workforce shortage, it is understandable that mind-body modality like yoga is drawing attention of practitioners and scholars as a potential supplement and complement to psychotherapy. Yoga originated in ancient India primarily as an art or craft to modulate mental activities. Therefore, it has the potential to offer promise in helping diverse mental health problems. However, using yoga for this purpose entails many challenges, risks, and consequences that must be borne in mind before any decisive reforms are implemented in the field of psychotherapy and or yoga. In general, the field of yoga is flooded with hype and frivolity, where enthusiasm and advocacy far outweighs understanding and evidence. This article critically examines various pros and cons of integrating yoga with psychotherapy. It argues that while yoga practices might have value in mental health, yoga is not easy to integrate with psychotherapy for many reasons. For example yoga is a spiritual experiential practice, which is outside of psychotherapy domain, or the fundamental philosophical underpinning of yoga is starkly antithetic to that of western psychotherapy. It is posited that a hasty not well thought out integration, given that the challenges of integration are more daunting than the justifications, may lead to disappointment and harm than help. It is suggested that a cautious approach is required to address this issue.