Comparing the 5 Vrittis of Yoga to REBT/C (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy/Coaching)
Last November, my friend and fellow therapist Harry Toogood and I created our own 7 day DIY yoga retreat in Morocco. We immersed ourselves in yoga philosophy and practice, with three hours of practice each day alongside Satsang (or 'being in the company of truth") , where we delved into and discussed the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali . Our discussions focused on the five Vrittis ; the mental fluctuations that shape perception and suffering. These ideas have stayed with us and we continue to explore the concepts during our regular walks and sea swims. At the start of the retreat, to deepen our practice, we adopted the chant Asato Maa Sat Gamaya , finding a particularly evocative recording by Ravi Shankar and George Harrison. Chanting has been shown to enhance clarity of thought by reducing mental clutter and fostering mindfulness ( Brandmeyer & Delorme, 2013 ). Chanting stimulates the vagus nerve, promoting relaxation and emotional regulation by activating the ...