Yoga, deeply rooted in Indian religion and philosophy, represents one of the oldest traditions of self-development and a path of spiritual growth. However, in today’s Western cultural sphere, its perception has undergone a significant transformation. Gestalt psychotherapy, originating from the humanistic-existential tradition, draws from diverse sources that extend from psychoanalysis to Eastern religious traditions, like Buddhism. Shared principles such as a holistic approach, bodywork, and a focus on the “here and now” suggest that yoga may serve as a natural complement to the Gestalt modality, and the integration of yoga practice with Gestalt psychotherapy is a consideration for therapists within this field.
This study aimed to explore the attitudes of Gestalt psychotherapists toward yoga. The research was conducted using thematic analysis of semi-structured in-depth interviews with a group of 11 Gestalt therapists. During the interviews, participants were asked about their definitions of yoga, personal experiences, and the potential for its therapeutic application. The topic of spirituality was intentionally not introduced by the researcher to observe how many respondents would mention it spontaneously.
The results of the analysis revealed that although most therapists considered yoga to be more than just a sport, only a few identified spirituality as an essential component. Typically, therapists presented yoga as a holistic practice connecting body and mind, which suggests a process of “desacralization” and the transformation of its original religious-philosophical character into a form of secular, holistic activity adapted to Western therapeutic frameworks.