I chose the subject „Managing Negative Mental Health by Regulary Yoga Training“ because it's
my field of expertise In my job as an Addiction Therapist, Psychological Counselor and
Yogateacher I work with mental disbalanced, addicted and psychological sick people. Everyday I
give lectures on mental health and hold group therapy and yoga lessons. I evaluate my work and
study the writings of Western therapists and Eastern Yoga Masters on Yoga Psychology.
Because of this I come to the conclusion that specific Yoga exercises are very helpful in
managing negative mental health. Research at several European, American and Indian
universities is going on. I am convinced that the ongoing scientific studies will show again positive
results of yogic treatment. In the future Yoga will become very important for public health care
systems. In my opinion it make sense to begin with teaching Yoga in schools. Children should be
trained in mental pureness, concentration, physical fitness and self-discipline by Yoga. By this
way we would prevent many problems such as troubles, difficulties of learning, and psychological
problems of children. In India Yoga is a part of University programs. Students can graduate in
Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Education etc. at several Universities such as SVYASA University,
located in Bangalore. It is my purpose to establish the Science Yoga as a part of academic
University programs. Therefore I create a concept of a Bachelor-, Master- and Doctoral program
in the field of Contemplative Psychology. Actually I offer these programs to the public at
Bayurveda Academy, Germany, an affiliate of several international universities and yoga schools.
In the following work I want to give an overview about the most important fields of my inspections
in the field of Yoga. The citated resp. used literature is listed under „References“.
[...]
Table of Contents
A Traditional Prayer
0 Introduction
1 Definitions: a) Mental Health, b) Yoga
2 Mental Health – Problems in Modern Society
3 Commons from Yoga and Western Science
4 Yogic Understanding of Negative Emotions
5 Yogic tools for the Management of Negative Mental Health
6 Research
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this essay is to explore the potential of traditional yogic practices as a therapeutic approach for managing negative mental health conditions. By bridging ancient Eastern wisdom with modern psychological perspectives, the work investigates how yoga techniques can serve as both a preventive and curative intervention to address the rising challenges of stress, anxiety, and addiction in contemporary society.
- Theoretical foundations of Mental Health and Yoga
- Comparative analysis of Yoga and Western Psychological science
- The role of attachment and repression in the formation of negative emotions
- Practical yogic tools for psychological well-being and mind management
- Scientific research and neurobiological evidence supporting yoga therapy
Excerpt from the book
4 Yogic Understanding of Negative Emotions
According to Yoga, all negative feelings and thoughts take root from the matter present in the subconscious. The basic cause of this is attachment. Humans develop attachments to persons, things, thoughts and / or emotions (e.g. ignorance, egoism, passion, disguest, clinging to life). This attachments raises desires and expectations. Desires ultimately causes frustrations, tensions and conflicts. Growing dissatisfied with what we thus obtain, our truncated desires push us to desire still more objects and other people in an endless cycle of frustration and discontent. This affects the ego, which feels insecure and spacy. As a defense mechanism, the ego represses such emotions into the subconscious so that the mind is repacified.
But, repressed emotions are not drained. They are after all repressed feelings and remain active in the subconscious resulting in the negative emotions described of earlier – anxieties, depression, aggression and fear. Therefore, the solution lies in preventing the build up of such repression in the subconscious and then also addressing the existing repressed garbage to gradually take it out of the system. Also preventing and curing of attachment is very important in the yogic managing the mind.
Summary of Chapters
0 Introduction: The author outlines his motivation for exploring yoga as a psychological tool, based on his expertise as an addiction therapist and his goal to integrate "Science Yoga" into academic programs.
1 Definitions: a) Mental Health, b) Yoga: This chapter provides fundamental definitions, establishing mental health as emotional well-being and yoga as a discipline of physical, mental, and spiritual exercises.
2 Mental Health – Problems in Modern Society: The text discusses the stressors of modern, competitive life and explains how yoga acts as a re-connection to higher being to combat rising global issues like addiction.
3 Commons from Yoga and Western Science: A comparative look at the shared philosophical roots of Yoga and Psychology, highlighting their different approaches to consciousness and mental discipline.
4 Yogic Understanding of Negative Emotions: This section explains how attachment and the repression of desires in the subconscious lead to negative emotional states, and how "contentment" can serve as a corrective practice.
5 Yogic tools for the Management of Negative Mental Health: A practical list of techniques ranging from the study of the mind and body postures to meditation and chanting, aimed at cleansing the mind.
6 Research: This chapter presents evidence for the benefits of yoga, citing various scientific studies and the physiological impacts, such as increased GABA levels in the brain.
Keywords
Yoga, Mental Health, Contemplative Psychology, Addiction, Consciousness, Stress Management, Meditation, Patanjali, Repression, GABA, Psychosomatic, Self-discipline, Attachment, Mindfulness, Neurobiology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The essay explores the intersection between traditional yogic practices and modern mental health treatment, arguing that yoga provides effective tools for managing negative psychological states.
Which thematic areas does the author prioritize?
The work covers definitions of mental health, the philosophical foundations of yoga, the mechanisms of negative emotions, and the scientific validation of yogic therapies.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The goal is to demonstrate that yoga exercises are helpful in managing mental health and to advocate for the academic establishment of "Science Yoga" as a legitimate field of study.
Which methods are utilized?
The author employs a qualitative review of Eastern Yoga philosophy, integrates Western psychological theory, and cites contemporary scientific research and pilot studies.
What is covered in the main section?
The main body examines the roots of negative emotions in the subconscious, compares yogic terminology with psychological constructs, and details specific tools like Asana, Pranayama, and meditation.
Which keywords define this publication?
Key terms include Yoga, Mental Health, Consciousness, Psychosomatic health, Addiction, and Contemplative Psychology.
How does the author explain the origin of negative emotions?
He identifies "attachment" as the root cause, which triggers desires, leading to frustration, and subsequent repression of these emotions into the subconscious mind.
What role does GABA play in the provided research?
The author cites a pilot study indicating that yoga practice can lead to a 27% increase in brain GABA levels, which is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter associated with reduced anxiety and depression.
How is "contentment" (Santosha) defined in the context of the book?
Contentment is presented not as apathy or the suppression of desire, but as an "ascetical-renunciate" model of being satisfied with what one has while pursuing higher spiritual goals.
- Citation du texte
- PhD Holger Lüttich (Auteur), 2008, Managing negative mental health by regulary yoga training, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/115893
