Meditation and Yoga in Psychotherapy

Praise for Meditation and Yoga in Psychotherapy "From the wisdom of ancient cultures to modern neuroscience, the authors skillfully create a bridge of understanding between the practice of meditation, yoga, and psychotherapy. The Simpkins are at their best in describing how everyone can learn to integrate their own brain, body, and mind to facilitate a creative synchrony of healing and well-being." —Kathryn Rossi, PhD Coeditor, Collected Works of Milton H. Erickson: The Nature of Therapeutic Hypnosis "This reader-friendly text is directed toward therapists and healthcare workers who are considering incorporating yoga and meditation into their work. These technologies are time-honored and appear to have beneficial effects on contemporary clients and patients. Meditation and Yoga in Psychotherapy serves as an informative introduction to these¿practices, and explains how a therapist might integrate such practices into their work. The chapters on neuroscience research and healthy aging are unique in books of this nature, and the discussion of alleviating depression alone is worth the price of the book." —Stanley Krippner, PhDProfessor of Psychology, Saybrook UniversityCoauthor, Haunted by Combat: Understanding PTSD in War Veterans A thoughtful and pragmatic guide for integrating meditation and yoga techniques into traditional psychotherapy Meditation and Yoga in Psychotherapy is an inspiring "how-to" guide grounded in the neuroscientific and clinical evidence that supports the use of meditation and other yoga practices to improve clients' mental health. Drawing from the authors' decades of practice, teaching, and writing, this inspiring book is focused on applying meditation, yoga, and Zen to therapy, with discussion of: The latest neuroscience findings, showing how the brain and larger nervous system are altered by yoga methods Philosophical and psychological principles upon which yoga is based The how, when, and why for use of specific techniques with common psychological problems Fundamental stretching exercises and meditation techniques Filled with vivid case examples and writings from renowned yoga masters, Meditation and Yoga in Psychotherapy encourages a therapeutic process in which clients move their attention from outside concerns to inner mindfulness. With a range of techniques that embrace the diversity and uniqueness of clients, this book offers methods to creatively individualize techniques for a wide variety of presenting problems.

Preface xi How Yoga Can Help the Th erapeutic Process xii Yoga's Popularity xiv About Th is Book xiv Part I: Efficacy and Neuroscience Research 1 1 Efficacy 3 Efficacy Studies Overview 6 Efficacy Studies for Specific Problems 10 Factors of Healing 17 Conclusion 21 2 Yoga and the Brain 23 The Relationship Between Mind and Brain 23 Overview of How Yoga Affects the Brain 25 The Neuroanatomy of Yoga 26 From Mind to Brain: Neuroplasticity and Neurogenesis 32 Conclusion 41 Part II: What Is Yoga? 43 3 Traditions 45 Tracing Yoga's Roots in Ancient Texts 46 Different Forms of Yoga 49 Introduction to the West Th rough Great Teachers 58 Conclusion 71 4 Philosophy 73 From Samkhya to Yoga: Integration of Mind and Matter 74 The Eight Limbs of Yoga 75 Integration 85 Conclusion 86 5 Practices 87 Integrating Yamas and Niyamas as a Therapeutic Tool 88 Asana Postures 89 Pranayama Breathing 100 Meditation 105 Conclusion 111 Part III: Applications 113 6 Overcoming Stress With the Eight Limbs of Therapy 115 Background and Theory 115 Taking Yoga From Theory to Practice 120 Using the Yamas and Niyamas 121 Pratyahara: Withdrawing 123 Dharana: Narrowing the Focus 124 Dhyana: Opening the Focus 129 Fostering Relaxation 129 Conclusion 132 7 Transcending Anxiety 133 The Anxious Mind, Brain, Body, and Spirit 133 Categories of Anxiety 135 Yoga Treatments 136 Overcoming Anxiety Actively 139 Dynamic Work on the Anxious Mind-Body-Brain System 148 Working With Panic Disorder 149 Treatments for PTSD 151 Treatment for OCD: Trading Rituals 154 Conclusion 155 8 Freedom From Depression's Grip 157 Theories of Depression and Their Integration 157 Working With Depression Integratively 160 Altering the Neurochemical Balance 162 Fostering Cognitive Change 170 Improving Social Interactions 174 Conclusion 178 9 Addiction: Five Steps to Lasting Release 179 Definitions 180 Neurobiology of Addiction 181 A Five-Step Method for Treating Addiction 182 Conclusion 194 10 Adapting Yoga for Children 195 ADHD: Discovering Steady Attention 196 Overcoming Anxiety and Stress 203 Aggressive Behavior 207 Some Special Variations for Children 210 Learning and Memory: Using Wisdom to Gain Knowledge 211 Conclusion 216 11 Healthy Aging 217 The Aging Mind, Brain, and Body 217 Uncovering the Value of Aging 222 Enhancing Vitality, Flexibility, and Strength: Chair-Sitting Yoga 223 Working With Memory 231 Pain Control 236 Conclusion 239 12 Freedom: Living From the Soul for Clients and Therapists 241 What Is the Soul? 241 Soul of the Client: Fostering the Best 244 Drawing on the Soul of the Th erapist 248 Attainment of Freedom 250 Appendix I: Warming Up for Supplemental Practice 253 Appendix II: A Quick Tour Th rough the Brain 257 References 269 Index 285