Working with concepts of practice (Abhyasa) & non-attachment (Vairagya) for steady, easeful presence of body & mind. Working with both Hatha yoga, pranayama & Sutras, inviting a multifaceted approach to core concepts of body/breath and ancient yogic wisdom to aid in clients physical practice, spiritual development and release of residual attachment

My client notes himself highly spiritual person & practiced teacher of A Course in Miracles (ACIM). Met client 1x per week, Hatha yoga/pranayama in person with journaling to be done at home for reflection. The Sutra referenced for reflection is (1.12) on practice & nonattachment. "Modifications are restrained by practice & nonattachment."

65+ year old male,reports spiritual awakening over a decade ago. Retired Veteran, whose primary role in the U.S. Armed Forces was active Medic in combat. After seeing several tours of duty, he began to experience high anxiety, diagnosed with PTSD 15+ years ago. History of lumbar spinal fusion left him with limited mobility, overall increased LE tightness. History of Cardiac issues. Client is a retired Professor, who now teaches workshops on ACIM.

This was an interesting TCA. One of the concepts learned in Raja TT was that of practice (Abhyasa) & non-attachment (Viaragya). So in working with a dedicated spiritual practitioner within the context of yoga, how can we learn the practice and be able no not attach our selves to the process and/or outcome? Beginning at first with Hatha yoga (beginner level), intro to pranayama and meditation we met 1x/week in physical practice and client was cued to journal each day on thoughts on how he continues to evolve physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally using the tools of yoga practice - and how can this client use these tools & release attachment to a tangible outcomes. I envisioned working with my client, through practice but more so with conversation, discussion, Raja yoga concepts for self reflection, journaling and planting seeds, as directed from the Sutras, for self inquiry.

Raja Yoga: Referencing Sutras for study purposes and self reflection; lending itself to conversation and comparison to clients expertise and study in A Course in Miracles. The concepts discussed in the Sutras focus on the mind, meditation and our connection to inner spirit.
Hatha Yoga: Use of physical postures to release physical tension, pranayamaic techniques to balance prana and nervous system.

We initially began with basic level 1 Hatha yoga classes, and as client journaled each week, he did like the postures but was discussed that he was connected very much so to his physical body, which was good - he felt flexible,gentle movement in particular was great for his heart condition but subjective reporting on heavy awareness on the body. About halfway through we shifted to supportive restorative yoga postures which client felt in his self injury and journaling he released heavy connection to his physical presence and began to explore deeper awareness within.
Client was encouraged to reflect on qualities of the practice and expand on non-attachment as guided by the Sutras, in particular 1.12: "Mental modifications are restrained by practice & non attachment".
As Rev Jaganath notes in his commentary these 2 principles compliment each other; help the mind become clear, calm & strong

My thoughts with my client was to introduce a practice and see how, over time there can be a release of outcomes. Abhyasa during TT I understood, Vairagya was a hard concept for me to pin point, but talking about it and living it with my client seemed to unfold naturally. I do believe his area of expertise in ACIM complimented these concepts because he would note similarly as in the Sutras that past the body & mind lives "a direct connection to a greater love". Vairagya is a evolution in beginning to see again that we are all connected to that universal loving force. Vairagya is the way to return to that awareness.
My suggestion for him was to continue journaling daily and continue these conversations to bring to the table to conversation of Raja yoga, its core concepts and importance.

As mentioned above, I did shift the implementation of basic hatha yoga asana to more of a supportive restorative yoga which complimented the concept nicely of abyhasa & vairagya, so as the client can release bodily attachment.

Continued conversations with my client continued to flourish and evolve, just as was demonstrated in Raja Yoga TT. These documents are living guidelines not just black & white words, but living practices, which I think was offered to my client, and to me.

Raja Yoga, in particular the use & guidelines from the Sutras of Patanjali are beautiful shapeshifting lessons. I feel that working with my client on the concepts of abhyasa and vairagya offered a open conversation on spiritual growth and development and how we play a role in this beautiful life. I feel in order to understand these topics, living them, discussing them, reflecting on them is imperative for its development and personal understanding. I would approach this the same way, organically and be guided by the Sutras.