The link with yoga (as I see it) is that through yoga we develop a deeper awareness of the body. The mind is linked to the body, thus this awareness can lead to psychological insights.
Somatic Psychology
Caldwell outlines six features of somatic psychology:
- Any event that occurs — physical, emotional, spiritual, impacts the whole being: e.g. anger can be felt in the jaw, sadness in the chest.
- As humans we are energy systems. Events stimulate energy in us, which is then interpreted by our bodies (e.g criticism makes the chest cave). This energy is then discharged into the environment as a form of behaviour (the person becomes verbally defensive, withdrawn).
- Our energy is so basic a life function it can’t be bad. However, energy we hate or fear becomes distorted as we are unable to feel or express it properly.
- We are organised around an energy loop of feeling and expressing. Feeling is linked to sensing energy in the body. We express ourselves through our bodies and need to do it in an appropriate way to function in a healthy manner.
- Our bodies love to move and must move. Our energy pulsates; it is a measure of a person’s health whether they experience this.
- When movement is held back, energy/life flow is impeded — we become sick. When movement is rushed, energy/life flow is distorted — we become sick.
Gridding
The process of taking information greatly depends on our upbringing, culture, personal history. Caldwell gives a ‘grid’ strucure to increase our awareness of how we are taking in information to maximise our and others’ happiness. The idea is to stay open with healthy boundaries. Our views shouldn’t be too rigid, but neither should they merge with whoever comes our way. Often Western psychology advises against being judgemental. This is similar to yogic philosophy’s advice not to be attached to things (raga) nor averse to them (dvesha). One of the first meditation teachers I had said that the mind oscillates between raga and dvesha, causing instability.
The Moving Cycle
Much of the book is taken up with Caldwell’s model for moving out of addiction, or negative habits, which she has named the Moving Cycle. The book gives exercises for developing each of the phases.
Awareness
Often with addiction, we become desensitised. The first step of awareness is acknowledging the sensations in our body to tell when we are harming ourselves. One way of developing a greater awareness is by developing our ability to act as a witness. Most spiritual traditions have mechanisms for this: contemplation, meditation, prayer.
Owning
This when we take responsibility for our actions and construct appropriate boundaries. It involves responding to event with an open and ready body instead of reacting to events: withdrawing/contracting our body.
Acceptance
In the acceptance phase, we breath into whatever feelings emerge and don’t judge them. It’s the stage where we start to love ourselves, and as a result, are able to love other people. Often addiction is is the result of not being loved conditionally — love was withdrawn when things were difficult and we were not given basic positive regard.
Action
Recovery and transformation only happen if we regularly practise them. If we have been addicted, we are not used to feeling good, and instead are used to struggling with self-hatred and shame. Action, i.e. in interacting with our environment, is necessary as through this our bodies can physically change their patterns of behaviour.
Giving appropriate feedback can greatly help people to act in a way that is beneficial for themselves and other people. Ideally, it should only be given when asked for as the receiver should be open to it. Feedback is significantly different to criticism:
Feedback |
Criticism |
| Descriptive | Interpretive |
| Value-neutral | Judgemental |
| No agenda | Agenda |
| Provides multiple options | Reduces options |
| Growth-affirming | Affirms control |
Putting it together
The book is heavy-going. I had to read slowly and make notes to understand the points the author was making (to be honest I don’t think the book is particularly clearly written). The text is information-rich, but I believe most of it is worth knowing.
But how to relate it to yoga teaching? I have devised a four lesson plan using my interpretation of the Moving Cycle with readings at the beginning of the class to focus students during the lesson, and then at the end to consolidate. It is available here: The Moving Cycle.