Yoga and Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness

This is a classic book on the subject. I can't recommend it highly enough. this one was a Christmas gift for my son who is a psychologist and he is enjoying it immensely. It is full of useful and informative subjects and is a great contribution to the field. I highly recommend it.

I have read many books concerning eastern and western philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, and religion. 'Yoga and Psychotherapy' ranks among the best. This book describes the human psyche from the perspective of Indian thinkers and Western thinkers. An especially fascinating section of the book is a detailed description of the chakra system. Also, there is a discussion of how Western psychiatrists, and their psychiatric systems, typically correspond to one specific chakra level. This book deeply touched my heart, mind, and soul. I have also purchased other Swami Rama and Swami Ajaya books. The ones that I have read so far, including 'Living With the Himalayan Masters', are excellent. Definitely, obtain and read this book. It is consciousness raising.

I was recommended this book, and thought maybe there is something to this ancient eastern philosophy.Comparisons of the western to eastern psychotherapy are interesting to say the least. The book opens the question of how does one find a balance and drown the noises form outside? It unbinds the mind to those views we have somehow made our own.I found it a worth while read.

It's easy to get overwhelmed in the study of the structure of consciousness. We can start with the symbolic and highly poetic images from the Bhagavad Gita and Rumi. We can plunge into the esoteric, nearly impenetrable treatises on the arcane aspects of yoga and meditation with all the chakras and sheaths and such. We can lose ourselves in the wealth of western psychological advice about self-actualization, avoiding neurotic behavior, and disciplining our self-talk. We can vicariously sit in on those immensely profound conversations with Krishnamurti, trying to learn from his cool, intellectual analysis of the real and the unreal.But the question remains. How can these wildly divergent sources of help be woven together into a comprehensible whole?One way is to get two swamis and a western-trained medical doctor together to create a blended presentation of all these traditions. That is exactly what this book provides.The authors describe how they worked through their own confusion, often staying up all night in the process. The result is "a comprehensive theory of personal evolution which incorporates the best of both systems [east and west]."I thank them for overcoming their confusion because the book helps me overcome mine. This book is dense and challenging, but it rewards the hard work of anyone who studies it diligently. I recommend it highly.

I cannot put into words how useful this book has been. I haven't even finished it yet because I've been absorbing each chapter little by little so it sticks with me. I have been practicing Yoga for 10 years and this definately helps to deepen my understanding of the psychological aspects of the practice. It is also useful for everyday people who want to explore a different perspective on the psyche.

I've bought this book as an Iyengar yoga student and an art therapist, interested in aproximate the views I've already studied in psychology and the wonderful things I'm living in yoga. The book is great! It's very clear and deep at the same time. We can find a critical point of view of the limitations of psychological approaches if compared with the ancient knowledge of yoga.I really reccomend the book.

This is the best book on yoga psychology i have read. Very complete. A must for every psychologist and yogis. Really enjoy the reading and is deepness. Is not some shallow reading like others I have read. Pure science of the soul.

Really a great read and perfect to my Yoga Book Collection. Thank you !!