Stephen Cope: Yoga and Psychological Health
Tami Simon speaks with Stephen Cope, a psychotherapist who studies the relationship between Western psychology and Eastern contemplative traditions. Stephen is the founder and director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, the largest yoga research institute in the West. With Sounds True, he has created the audio program Yoga for Emotional Flow: Free Your Emotions through Yoga Breathing, Body Awareness, and Energetic Release. In this interview, Stephen speaks with Tami about deeper dimensions of yoga, including how yoga helps us undo core patterns of aggression and craving in the body. Stephen also discusses “riding the wave,” a process for leaning in and fully experiencing emotion. (61 minutes)
Download » Read Transcript »

Wow! What a gift for the holidays. I have read all of Stephen Cope’s book, and some of them several times, and love his approach to yoga and life. Thanks so much for offering this interview. Emotional patterns shape our lives and I’ve explored so many avenues for breaking free – including the Yoga for Emotional Flow CDs by Stephen Cope. They are wonderful, and I have often listened to the end-of-day meditation when I get in bed to go to sleep. The soothing way in which he says “everything in this moment is absolutely okay” is a true balm for the ego-mind.
Comment by Kyla — December 18, 2012 @ 7:10 pm
Profoundly beneficial in helping me understand what to do with seemingly overwhelming emotions__
The podcast helped me understand that intense feelings can be beneficial and even empowering rather than harmful and destructive. As we learn to stay with these emotions and to discover their message, we actually gain insight that can move us forward to appropriate actions.
Comment by Judith Mizrahi — December 23, 2012 @ 6:12 am
This has been my experience too….having practised yoga for over a decade but then, mainly as a ‘physical’ immersion and the benefits from that process. Last year, I had a back problem that was needing some attention from chiropractors and I was done with wasting money of such ‘pathwork’ which is when I met a yoga teacher, who trained under the legend BKS. He was so focused on me getting my attention right, before the physical asana…and the attention on the breath all through out….and life has never been the same. It is yoga but not what I had imagined….its a totally different realm to be with and know that healing, order, equilibrium is all just a matter of the right breath and the right attention….and both are the same anyway. Thank you.
Comment by Rohan — December 26, 2012 @ 5:42 am