For me, yoga has been a practice for over 25 years—a constant rhythm in a changing world. Yet, it wasn’t until I began my personal journey of healing that I truly understood its profound power. Yoga ceased to be just a physical discipline and became my sanctuary. It was the one thing that helped me reconnect with myself, to feel my breath again, and to experience my body, my spirit, and my mind as a unified whole.
In moments of immense stress and disconnect, the simple act of stepping onto the mat became a homecoming. It was here that I learned to use foundational breathing techniques, like the 4x4x4 box breathing, to quiet the chaos and find my center. The rhythm of inhaling for four counts, holding for four, and exhaling for four brought a sense of control and calm that no other practice could offer. It was a tangible way to feel present in my own body again.
This deeply personal experience taught me a powerful lesson about the profound synergy between Western psychotherapy and Eastern philosophy. While my training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provided a logical, structured way to understand and change my thought patterns, yoga and meditation offered a deeper, more spiritual pathway. I came to see that for true healing to occur, the mind, body, and spirit must be treated as a single, connected system.
This concept is beautifully mirrored in the work of psychologist Carl Jung. He was captivated by Eastern philosophies and saw them not as a foreign system, but as a key to unlocking the human psyche. Jung believed in the existence of a collective unconscious—a universal library of human experience and wisdom—and archetypes, which are powerful, primordial images and symbols residing within it. For him, practices like yoga and meditation were a way to go beyond the conscious ego and access this profound internal world.
He saw the Eastern journey inward as a path toward “individuation,” the process of becoming a psychologically whole and integrated person. It is a journey of understanding and accepting the various parts of ourselves, both light and shadow, and ultimately connecting with the “Self”—the totality of who we are. It is the very process of surrendering to your deeper wisdom, moving beyond the ego’s control, and allowing your spirit to feel truly free.
When we are willing to embrace the physical discipline of yoga and the mental fortitude of meditation, we can tap into a wellspring of inner peace. It’s about more than just flexibility or strength; it’s about finding that deep, centered place within yourself and allowing it to guide you. It’s here that we truly heal—not just from the mind down, but from the spirit up.