Systems: Purna Yoga Therapy

Called "integral yoga" Founded by Aadil Palkhivala (based on teachings of Sri Aurobindo)

Principle:

• all parts of the human being need to be addressed for healing to happen.
• Until the client is ready to connect with the spirit and solve all of his/her own problems, the therapist has many tools to offer from a wide varieties of modalities
• asana from BKS Iyengar lineage
• mediation from Aurobindo (and his wife Savitri)
• philosophy from Hindu major texts
• concepts which are central
• avidya- ignorance
• asmita-ego
• raga-attachment
• dvesha-aversion
• abhinvesha-fear of impermenance
• nutrition from Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and naturopathy

Role of the Client and Therapist

• client must have the urge to be well
• client must have the willingness to change
• client must be given appropriate and specific guidance for the condition*
• the client must consistently apply or practice the therapeutic guidance
• the client must have patience

*the only responsibility of the therapist

Approach to disease:

• all disease is a manifestation of imbalance in the energy meridians of the body or in the muscular skeletal system. 
• imbalance reflects a disparity between what I think I should be doing and what I am doing
• imbalances occur at all levels of the 5 koshas, and at all chakras
• disease manifests when we do not attend to the signals and signs that have been informing us of these imbalances-indications that we are out of sync with nature, not living our dharma, and not connected with our supreme source.
• fundamental problem is separation from the source-most systems do NOT permenently heal because they do not address this issue.

Assessment of Clients:

• is the patient ready and willing to commit to heal?
• questions are then about the fears and emotional states related to problem (i.e.= a lack of the feeling of control leads to destabilization of the SI joint and the lower back-the muscles between the vertebrae respond to these subconscious thoughts of fear and uncontrollability, looking deeper, the three chakras involved in SI issues are 1-3. These represent stability, creativity and power. the therapist will also ask questions bearing on these issues.)
• therapist probes clients subconscious issues
• next is physical alignment assessment evaluating physical imbalances
• next is diet assessment
• next is lifestyle assessment
• finally, therapist does spiritual assessment

Treatment:

application of the various methods in the "tool kit" to treat the patient individually, and teach them to evolve their skills for living. Spiritual advancement is the key and ultimate goal which will lead the client to healing, but this therapy may have to penetrate many layers to get to this healing.