🧘🏽♂️ Yoga in professional practice: there is no separation between who we are and what we do.
- André Luiz Figueirêdo
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
"How do you apply Yoga in your clinical practice?" - that was the question a Psychiatry resident asked me a few days ago — and it truly made me pause and reflect.
The answer came gradually, in layers. I realized that Yoga is not something I apply to my patients as a technique. It's something that lives in me — a constant presence that shapes the way I listen, care, communicate — and also how I care for myself.
The yamas and niyamas, the ethical and personal foundations described in the Yoga Sutras, are not rigid doctrines. To me, they are subtle guides that help sustain a more humane and balanced approach to mental health care.
✨ A few that accompany me every day:
🔸 Ahimsa (non-violence): in the way I speak and listen — and also in how I treat myself when I fall short.
🔸 Satya (truthfulness): being honest with the patient and with myself — with compassion.
🔸 Santosha (contentment): accepting what’s beyond my control and trusting that my best is enough.
🔸 Tapas (discipline): staying present and committed, even on hard days.
🔸 Svadhyaya (self-study): observing my own patterns, emotions, and reactions.
🔸 Ishvarapranidhana (surrender): recognizing that I’m not in control of everything — and that this is part of being human.
🍃 Reflecting on that question, I realized that Yoga isn’t just about supporting the patient’s well-being — it also supports mine.It helps me maintain ethics, balance, and meaning in what I do.
Because there truly is no separation between who I am and what I do.That’s why Yoga is present — personally and professionally.
💬 And you? Have you ever wondered how your personal values and practices show up in your professional life?