Bridging yoga therapy and personal practice: the power of sadhana

Yoga chikitsa (yoga as a holistic therapy) is becoming extremely popular, and numerous studies worldwide are providing scientific evidence of its therapeutic potential. 1-5 In our zest to make yoga popular, we may be missing the experiential link in the chain. The interconnectivity between research findings, their therapeutic applications, and the yoga therapist's practice must be strengthened to maintain the integrity of the practice of yoga. The strength of any chain is defined by its weakest link. Similarly, the healing potential of yoga chikitsa depends on the personal sadhana (practice) and conscious living of the therapist. We are the conduits, and we are responsible for transmitting the spirit of yoga to our patients or clients.