Whole Life Psychiatry

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Yoga-based Therapy & Psych-K®

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a set of tools and techniques that can include physical postures, breath work, sound, relaxation, and meditation, aimed at helping the individual gain more self knowledge and personal freedom. Yoga is not a religion or a set of beliefs. Yoga simply creates a holistic state where the mind and body work in the most effective way.


What is Yoga-based Therapy?

Traditionally known as "yoga chikitsa," yoga-based therapy is using the tools of yoga for healing. Yoga-based therapy can involve working on physical injuries or imbalances, healing chronic illnesses, balancing emotional disturbances, and/or addressing mental illnesses. Yoga-based therapy works on the energetic level, which impacts both the physical body and the mind.


Yoga-based therapy can effectively address:


•Chronic illnesses
•Sleep disorders
•Chronic stress
•Anxiety
•Depression
•Trauma recovery/PTSD
•ADD/ADHD
•Eating disorders
•Chronic pain 
•Chronic fatigue
•Gastrointestinal disorders

What is PSYCH-K®?

PSYCH-K® is an energy psychology approach to facilitating change at the subconscious level where 85-95% of our consciousness operates. It is a simple process that creates direct communication with the subconscious mind, providing a unique way to identify and change limiting and self-sabotaging beliefs. It is a straight-forward way to rewrite the programming of your mind in order to change your life.


PSYCH-K® is a powerful process that blends various techniques derived from contemporary neuroscience research as well as ancient mind/body wisdom.


How do yoga-based therapy and PSYCH-K® work together?

Yoga-based therapy creates energetic shifts that put the mind and body in the optimal state for health and healing. Using the PSYCH-K® method, you can then change beliefs and perceptions that impact your life at every level. When you change your beliefs, you change your reality!


Yoga-based Therapy Research Links:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2009/April/Yoga-for-anxiety-and-depression

Harvard Medical School publication in 2009 reviewing samples of recent research indicating promising results for treating mental health issues with yoga.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15055096?dopt=Citation2004

Findings on young adults with depression responding to yoga.


http://www.traumacenter.org/research/Yoga_Study.php

A randomized controlled study found a short-term yoga program was associated with reduced trauma symptoms in women with PTSD.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521145516.htm

Boston University Medical School 2007 preliminary findings note possible link between yoga and helpful brain chemistry.


http://www.psychiatrist.com/PCC/article/Pages/2011/v13n04/10r01068.aspx

Effectiveness of yoga-based therapy as a complementary treatment for major psychiatric disorders.

About Shanon Buffington, MS, ERYT, RYS


Shanon graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a Bachelor and Master of Science in Engineering Management. She spent 6 years working in the software consulting industry. She left corporate America in 2002 and now uses her problem solving skills to help people on a much deeper level.


Shanon's training includes certifications from the Yoga

Institute and ParaYoga®.  Her training is in classical Tantra, Hatha, and Raja Yoga. 


She is a member of the Yoga Alliance, with over 1000 hours of yoga training and is the director of a registered yoga school that trains teachers at the 200 and 500 hour levels.  


She is also a certified Yoga and Ayurveda Wellness Consultant through the American Institute of Vedic Studies and Dr. David Frawley and a trained facilitator of PSYCH-K®.  She has studied with her teacher, Yogarupa Rod Stryker, considered to be one of the preeminent yoga and meditation teachers in the United States, since 2005.