The Indian Approach of Yoga and Meditation in Counselling
The term YOGA' is based on a Sanskrit Word as YUJ which means 'Alignment. The basic
principle is that through meditation and yogic practices every aspect of a human being as'
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energies can be brought to state of perfect alignment
and balance',which frees us of all ills, diseases, bondages, desires and temptation. Indian concept
of Healthy personality' as "The Satvik person' is the best example of such a state of achieving
'perfect alignment in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual that aspects of himselfhersel.
The first ever Discourse' on yoga and meditation' was spoken by lord Krishna to allay the
fears' and 'Moha' (illusion of love and affection) of Arjuna (the depressed warrior) to be the
protector of the suffering masses of common people by fighting for justice and against injustice.
The discourse of Geeta' spread over 18 chapters explains all types of 'yoga' as Ideal life styie.
namely 'Jnana, Yoga, 'Karma yoga'; 'Rajyoga"; Bhakti yoga, Sanyas yoga nd Adhyat ma yoga
and many more of forces of yoga? Shri Madbhagvad Geeta, is the most pious book in Inia, It
widely accepted as the immortal source of wisdom, universally applicable to time, place and
persons, Analysis and application of Geeta updesh. has been of interest for philosophers like
Swami Vivekananda' (the yogi) and Shri Radhakrishnan (Ex-President of India) to ShrimatiJaya
Approaches to Counselling 219
Row(2004) to Radhaswani Satsang Sabha' (2006) to present day
scientists ike Misra and Mahanty young acadcmicians and social
(2001) and social scientists like Jawa
Patanjali in his (2001; and Jawa (2004).
Sage Yogsutra elaborated on
of"Ashtaang yoga; explaining different Steps of 'Ruaj yoga for Global health with the process
(Fig. 8.6 and Fig. 8.7), yoga and meditation for Healthy personality
Types of Yogic practices
Jnana Yoga
Path of Self Analysis Bhakti Yoga
Path of Self Surrender
Key is Intellect
Key is Love
To
To
Knowledge Knowledge
'Of reality, nature of happiness and
Misery" 'Emotional culture and stability"
Raja Yoga
Path of Self Control
Karma Yoga
Yama Path of self Sacrifice
Niyama Dharana R
Asana dhyana
N N Key is Awareness
Prana yama Samadhi in Action
Pratyahara Towards
To freedom 'to do not to do. Or do otherwise" Greater Efficiency in Work
Figure 8.6 Types of Yogic practices
Stages of Raja Yoga for Global Health
(Deep Mediation)-Samadhi
(Meditation) - Dhyana
(Fixation of Mind) - Dharana
(Restraining of Senses) - Praityahara
(Breathing Exercises) - Pranayama
(Physical Postures) - Asana
(Observances) - Niyama
(Restraints) - Yama
Global Health
Figure 8.7 Stages of Raja Yoga for
220 Counsellingand Guidance
This shows the eight steps of Yoga which have been prescribed by the sage Patanjali. Unless
follows and practices all of them together in an integrated manner one will not be able to deriye th
full benefit from Yoga. The first two are related to social and personal behaviour. Third:and
are yogic exercises. The last four are stages of Meditation. fourth
(Source: Udupa et al.(1985)
Yoga Sutra
Patanjali's Eight Stages of Yogic Discipline
1. Yama (Restraints)
2. Niyamas
3. Asanas (Physical postures)
4. Pranayama (Breathing control and regulation)
5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal of sense organs) DACL
6. Dharana (Contemplation mental focus on re-structured space
7. Dhyana(Meditation) mental focus on an object A
8. Samadhi(Attainment of Super consciousness).
Beneficial Efects of Yoga and meditation on various physiological, psychologica,
personality, Adjustment and Behavioural aspects: Research perspectives:
Many research studies have in past four decades revisited the effects of yoga and meditation
nda
and proved beneficial effects even in present day ife styles of people. These ancient Indian
methods had been praciced as "Healthy lifestyles", to develop healthy personalities of young pers
children and future adulthood. Yoga and pranayam, yogic asanas and meditation were part of
daily routine. Gradually with more westernization of educational system, materialistic values
development, false status consciousness and fast speed of life due to so-called modernization
in India, these practices were almost given up by the majority of people. However, with the Dukh.
efforts of some of Indian sages and yogis, the spread yogic practices became International He
as the overstressed out West found 'peace and solace' through yoga and meditation practices
Somuch, so that Institutes were set up to train people in these ancient Indian practices. The
Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy Hillsdale,Pennsylvania, USA has centres An
in other US states like New York and New Jersey, as well as in Delhi, India. Many prestigious ife
universities in USA andUK have ful-ledged depattmentsof yoga philosophy and meditation.
This has impacted the reawakening of interest in beneficial effects of yoga. Udupa and
associates conducted longitudinal team-work in medical college of Banaras Hindu Universty Ay
and Published research findings in 1985. Their research showed benefits on various types of
medically ill patients under treatment for disorders like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, thyrod
disorders/ [Link], allmajor hospitals in India include yoga therapy as part
cardiovascular, asthma anu
treatment and rehabilitation of patients of various disorders like
post-operative cancer patients.
^pproaches toCounselling 221
major
InIndia, research studies on beneficial
at
Yoga
.berapy centre, Santa Cruz, affccts of Yoga therapy are being conducted
Also and
Bangalore Patanjali yoga centre in Bombay: Vivekananda Kendriya Research foundation
conduced ross aspan or Haridwat. Findings of aseries of research studies
1ew years have been
Medicine"hy
Nagendra giveninthe form of New
aCademiciansand
(1950) on positive effects of yoga and horizons in Modern
rOgaOnSOme Psychologists
psychological and
have been
conducting research
meditation.
studies on
More recently
beneficial
many
effects of
nlood
pressure using
pre-post physi
design o
on lo gic
yoga
al aspects of anxiety, depression, self-esteem and
(Kap00rand Shrivastava 2009);
selfconceptand anxiety level of highPositive
intervention group (n =58) and control group (n
69) effects of yyoga and pranayam on quality of ieep,
anxiety school final students using pre-post-follow up
designon voga group Vs control group (Sahajpal and
onhighstress minority group students from North East Verma,area
1993). Another
studying Delhi conducted
in study University
foundreductionin stress level,improvement in self Concept as well as in quality of sleep due to
impactof 7induced yogic relaxation training" as
(Sahajpaland Ralte, 2000). There are many more
compared across pre-post cand follow-up stages
ongoing research efforts in this field.
All these studies prove beyond doubt that the Indian approach to "yoga and Meditation"
taught byLord Krishna in Sri mad
-C as bhagvadGeeta and sage Patanjali in "Yoga Sutra' and
teachingof many more sageS, 1S SO for the best as it deals with "Global and Holistic health" life
stvle";anyone can achieve a "Globally Healthy personality and Activelife style
ik ndian Model of Healthy Personality
Aperson whose every aspect of personality is fully integrated as physical, mental and spiritual.
swelas integration of "Thoughts", Speech) and 'actions', lead to perfect 'alignments. Such a
person is notdisturbed or develops conflicts and fixations. He/she is conflict-free, isorder free
because of freedomn from "Desires. He/she remains stable Sthit-Pragva in the face of Sukh
emir
Dukh, "Loss or Benefits", and in "Birth and Death."
in Unison
He/She seeks Salvation from Bondage" of all types and has supreme goal to be
WIth the cOsmos as Atma and Paramatma"
of health/disease, means The science
Ancient Indian system of "Ayurveda" as medical system
and is said to be ageless and timeless, in origin from the Vedic period". According to
0 lte", disease or disorder; it is a very positive
simply apassive state as 'absence of
yurveda, health is not
self-improvement and self-integration in all aspects of the self and personality.
Nate of
Humours' (Fluids in body) is very close to that of Hyppocratese, who
Ayurvedic theory of (Phlegm), Black bile (Pitta or endocrine fluids).
bile
DOdy fiuids as Red(Blood), Yellowrise to imbalance in humours and thus disease/ disorders
tIamkebalplace.
ance
of foods and habits give
to small thin bodies,
CNS-controls other humors-its dominance relates
Vata is Telated tothe 'cold.'
by
Tesles quick workers, easily affected
222 Counselling and Guidance
Pitta: Resemble the humous or hormones of SNS (sympathetic nervous system)
of it leads to intolerance of heat, excess of hunger and thirst, highly intelligent and
temperament, may also result in boldnesS in some cases.
Kapha: Resembles Histamines'. Excess of kapha leads to a pleasant ternperament, wel
bodv, slow in action and speech, less of hunger and thirst orientation.
aciveý
According to the ancient systems of 'yoga and Meditation' as well as the
source of life are the tendencies and temperaments that lead to health or
also called the 'GUNAS of the mind' or the
'Ayur
disease.
mental qualities as temperaments.
veda,
Thesetharee
The gunas
three types:
Satvic
C
Rajsik
Tamsik
Mental temperaments are build up due to types of food-intake and eating habits, e.g. Ji
Anna Vaisa Manaa
Satvik person has cool, peaceful mind, is peace-loving with good emotional control T
satvik food comprises fruits and leaves, less-cooked, pure and fresh foods, sprouted pulses and
grains, lots of fluids intake, no spicy, fried or stale foods.
Rajsik: Person is temperamental, has over-comfort orientation, displays laziness, and
lethargy, pleasure activities, due to overcooked, spicy, fried foods with addition of lot of fate
butter, ghee, creams.
Tamsik: Person nature has negative emotions, i.e. jealousy, anger, aggression, quick temp
flare lack/oss of emotional control, Their food intake mostly, is of the type of stored'preserve
foods, staleAeftover foods (fermented); today's Fast Foods', and also eating habits of ias
eating and also chewing of foodmay lead to indigestion, acidic system, constipation: eah ot
which may provoke quick loss of temper (e.g.,road rage cases are on increase these days).
Indian Approach- A
Summary
Indian approach focuses on combining psychological, personality and behavioural principlks
from Western approaches with 'holistic health' approach through 'pranayam, Meditation, amu
yogatherapy:
Principles: Mental energy operates at conscious, subconscious,, and 'super consciolsi
levels which helps deal with 'here and now' problems not digging into the past asGrowth
deterministic, taking positive and trust view of human potential. Human nature is
oriented, it only needs direction.
physica
All problems can be conquered by practicing"alignment of allsources of energy as
mental, psychological, emotionalspiritual", through Dhayana and self analysis or Introspe
"Grow and help Grow", as ideology of life.
223
Approaches to Coun selling
Techniques:
Yoga, karma yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raj for Ashtanga yoga with
Jyana
its
yoga (Patanjalis
limbsas yama, Nivama asanas pranayam, pratyahara yoga Sutra
, Dharna,. Dhyana, Samadhi)
Problems: All,problems related to human nature,including physica1, emotional, behavioural,
social. marital and faulty habits.
Setting: Individual, and/or group or both.
Summary
Some of the representative approaches to counselling have been outlined in brief. Several
lacunae are evident in the approaches. These approaches differ with regard to the importance
they attach to rationality in human behaviour, At one extreme the behavioural approach to
COunselling tends to view human behaviour as simplvy reactive and as entirely determined
by the environment. The psychoanalytical view takes a dim view of human rationality and
explains human behaviour as mostly unconsciously caused by Irrational forces. They believe
that the environment exerts little, ifany, effect on the unconscious. This negativistic view of
man presents a pessimistic and unedifying view of human nature. The client-centred approach
places agreat premium on man's goodness and makes it the focal theme. The existential view
point views man as purposeful, seekingthe meaning oflife and striving todetermine his own
destiny. The trait-and-factor approach believes in the individual'scapacity to act rationally and
purposefully, provided he is given the necessary assistance to use his innate resources. The
eclectic approach, we have seen tries to combineinto aconsistent system the positive aspects
of allthe systems. All the approaches aim at reducing man's suffering and increasing his
efficiency, productivity and happiness. Ford and Urban (1963)explain that there are differences
in the view of human natúre held by different approaches to counselling. Some theories, they
hold, consider man as a pilot steering his course and others consider him as a mere robot,
automatically controlled bysuitable manipulations of the environment by the counsellor. The
behaviouristic approaches take a mechanistic view and explain human behaviour to result
from suitable operations of environmental stimulations. Notwithstanding this partial, limited
and dismal view of man taken by many theories, much faith is reposed in the view that human
nature is modifiable.
Nothing ls ever unredeemable. Given the patience and facilitites man's apparently chaotic
and destructive life could be directed towards more meaningful worthwhile goals and towards
gaining self-actualízation through re-education.
There is agreement concerning the Importance of recognizing man's Individuality, freedom
and responsibility. It is also the consensusthat It is desirable to enhance these Individual
rights'. Behavioural approaches, though apparently concerned with symptom-relief, aim at
enabling the Individualto function better, or In other words, to achieve Increasing expression.
In terms of techniques, the major approaches also show some important differences. Client
centred, trait-and-factor, existential and psychoanalytical approaches look upon providing
Insight as amajor technique of therapy. In these the Individual is given freedom and encouraged
to talk openly. It is through the talking-oue process that the individual gains Insight into
