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Anicent wisdom, modern science
Did you know Yoga and Buddhism have inspired medicine, neuroscience, and psychology for generations?
Mindfulness, nervous system regulation, somatic awareness, compassion practices—these ideas didn’t originate in modern labs. For thousands of years, yogic and Buddhist traditions have explored the mind-body connection in ways science is only beginning to validate. Today, therapies EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems echo principles found in ancient texts and oral teachings. Stalwarts of the modern mindfulness and trauma therapy founders like Jon Kabat Zinn, Kristin Neff, Peter Levine, and Bessel van der Kalk to name a few, have referenced the Upanishads, the Yoga Sutras, and the Satipatthana Sutta along with other cultures in their work.
Ethics Matter: Context Creates Depth
When mindfulness is offered without its ethical and cultural foundation, it can become just another productivity tool. But when we re-root these practices in their full context, they become tools for liberation, not just symptom management. Concepts like ahimsa (non-harming), sangha (community), and karuna (compassion) add richness and accountability to our healing—especially in collective or trauma-informed spaces.
There’s something awe-inspiring about realizing that humans have known how to regulate emotions, foster presence, and heal trauma for thousands of years. These practices have stood the test of time because they work. By remembering and reclaiming them, we’re not just healing ourselves—we're reconnecting with an intergenerational lineage of resilience, wisdom, and care.
When used in Western wellness spaces, yoga and Buddhism are often stripped of their roots. Decolonizing these practices means honoring their South Asian and Tibetan origins—not just by naming them but by understanding their philosophies, values, and intentions. This isn’t about gatekeeping—it’s about respect, integrity, and restoring the full power of these traditions to everyone who engages with them.
In the many trainings I have taken, and in my social work education, there was no element of integrating one's culture and roots into our therapy practice. The idea is to keep all of this out. The truth is that we cannot and do not leave these contexts out. As a person from a colonized culture, I am aware of how colonizers stole from and erased my culture. Yoga and Buddhism would not be flourishing industries in the West if they were not deemed important. They have been reduced to 200-hr and 2-year programs. These are lineages and cannot be distilled in this way. They are life-long practices and mastery comes with commitment and devotion to collective liberation.
In the modern mental health space, there is a lack of knowledge of who the therapist is and what has influenced their values and work beyond their training and certifications. A person's perspective is informed by their sociopolitical context. In a bid to be transparent and invite the most suitable candidates into my therapy practice, I am sharing my leanings openly.
Yoga and Buddhism are not without their shadow. Caste and patriarchy are infused in every fabric of these practices. But the practices themselves are transformational and can lead to expansion when integrated with Wise Intention. Buddhism was a movement that began in India as a reaction to the dogma and discrimination that existed in society. In India, people from the most oppressed communities often turn to Buddhism to give up their caste and embody the principles of liberation and equity. If you are interested in learning, I recommend turning to the work of Dr. B.R Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, Periyar, and Modern Dalit writers like Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Anand Teltumbde, Suraj Yengde, Yasica Dutt, and Meena Kandasamy, to name a few.