In her review paper from 2022, “How does yoga practice and therapy yield psychological benefits? A review and model of transdiagnostic processes.” Alison Bennett argues that ‘yoga practices target transdiagnostic psychological issues and she explains how the 8-limbs are a prime way to explain this.
So what does transdiagnostic mean in psychology?
It means that rather than looking at a particular mental health condition, we look at features that are common amongst many mental health conditions. Some argue that being transdiagnostic in psychology and psychiatry allows clinicians to be more person-centred, rather than focusing on a label with designated criteria like depression, which may not adequately capture the unique experience of the person suffering, but places in them in a category.
In the case of yoga, it might mean that rather than considering that yoga therapy can help with depression, we might say, yoga improves low mood, a cardinal symptom of so many mental health conditions. For us as yoga therapists, any transdiagnostic approach allows us to see the whole person and respond individually. The low mood may be related to depression, or it may result from loneliness due to lack of social connections, pain in the body (which yoga may reduce), lack of purpose.
In the same way psychological therapists can understand the benefits of yoga across a spectrum of patients who may have different diagnosis but have some of the same issues. If you speak to almost any psychiatrist or psychologist, they will admit that almost all patients have features found in other diagnosis.
For example, their patients aren’t just suffering with an eating disorder, they have anxiety, they don’t just worry about being alone and are depressed, but have intense abandonment fears found in borderline personality disorder (now termed emotional dysregulation disorder), but do not meet other criteria associated with this diagnosis.
So why is this so important?
It allows the world of psychological therapists to see the broad utility of yoga. To help psychological therapists understand how yoga therapy links up and can be supportive in transdiagnostic ways with so many patients.
Bennett proposes a model considering how the 8 limbs of yoga can elicit psychological change, outlined below. This is something Heather Mason has also been teaching for many years.
1. Yama (Restraints) The Yamas could link to stressing the importance of trust, confidentiality, and respect in their therapeutic relationship.
2. Niyama (Observances) might include suggesting reflection through daily journaling exercises to help develop self-discipline and self-awareness.
3. Asana (Physical Postures) gentle yoga postures, using body-oriented interventions to promote body awareness, relaxation, and stress reduction.
4. Pranayama (Breath Control) various breathwork techniques, such as deep belly breathing and alternate nostril breathing, to help regulate the breath and manage anxiety symptoms.
5. Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal) mindfulness-based practices teaching skills to withdraw from external stimuli and turn inward.
6. Dharana (Concentration) attention training exercises, like candle gazing or mantra repetition, improve ones ability to concentrate and enhance cognitive functioning.
7. Dhyana (Meditation) Mindfulness meditation: seated meditation explores different techniques such as body scan, loving-kindness meditation, and breath awareness.
8: Samadhi (Union) therapeutic goals focused on healing, growth, and self-realization explore meaningful experiences, purpose, and ways to cultivate connection and transcendence.
Read the full paper here.
To learn more about the conjunction between yoga and mental health, join Heather Mason and expert psychologists this coming June on ‘Yoga Therapy Skills for Depression and Anxiety‘.
