The ancient practice of yoga has entered our lives so deeply that only babies do not know about yoga. Actors, world stars, hosts of popular programs practice yoga and enthusiastically talk about magical practices, healing and mastering poses . And who admits that they cannot live without their favorite psychotherapist, or was it he who recommended this practice? As they say, feel the difference. But one of the first to show interest in yoga was Arthur Schopenhauer, who named the poodle Atman and decided to study the Upanishads. Yoga and psychology are very similar and you can search for points of contact ad infinitum, while endlessly getting bogged down in details. But the first thing that catches your eye is that both yoga and psychology are areas of knowledge that require deep, detailed study. At the center of the study is the person himself. Understanding the essence of man, his capabilities, skills, his nature. As in psychotherapy, so in yoga, the ultimate goal here will not be enlightenment (this, of course, must be strived for), but spiritual harmony, in other words, “the path of unity of the body with the mind, and the mind with the soul.” Psychologists consider a person in his integrity. Gestalt therapists are in the unity of emotions, thinking and behavior in interaction with the outside world. Body-oriented therapists believe that deep-seated mental trauma is more effectively treated by influencing bodily processes. From the point of view of yoga, there is no such thing as mental suffering in its pure form: the mind is the body in its subtlest manifestation, the body is the manifestation of the mind. Competitors or comrades If you do yoga, is there no need for psychology? These areas of knowledge are in many ways similar. They can perfectly complement each other, since yoga provides an excellent foundation for healing and feeling oneself, helping a person form his own philosophy of the world, his worldview by touching and directing attention to himself. And this is precisely the property that psychology lacks. And psychology, in turn, works with consciousness, directing mental processes to heal not abstract images, but specific factors that worsen life. One of the first classical texts of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra says: “Yoga is keeping the matter of thought from disturbance.” This means that you learn to control your emotions, do not get hung up on negative thoughts and experiences, and psychology can help transform these thoughts in the direction you need. Therefore, yoga and psychology can coexist perfectly in your everyday life. As a practitioner with ten years of experience in yoga and psychology I will say that the methods that are used in yoga and psychology are very close in content. You can often find the same technique called differently, but the operating principles are the same, this applies to practices related to relaxation and working with the body. Moreover, knowing the methods of both, you can easily combine them. But thanks to different approaches, they create an incredibly holistic system of healing, the ground for personal and spiritual growth. And no matter what you choose, trust psychology, or meditate, become aware of yourself while reading a book on psychology while standing in a yoga pose, all this will be beneficial if it is devoid of fanaticism. Successful practices!