India
In January I went to India to present a paper about yoga and psychotherapy at the
World Congress on Psychology and Spirituality. Psychology and yoga joined together.
I am both yoga teacher and psychotherapist. These two practices are separate. I teach yoga in the privacy of people's homes and offices, as well as in more public settings. I like to discover and explain what yoga can mean to the individual, while I teach the physical practice.
I meet with people for psychotherapy sessions in my office on 84th Street. I emphasize the mental, emotional and physical connections of the individual to the body and relationships with others. I often begin a session with deep breathing, and teach other breathing techniques that help allay feelings of depression and anxiety. Meditation can also be a valuable tool. The wisdom of yoga's many disciplines is available to all, and suffuses my psychotherapy practice.
Some questions about psychotherapy.
1. Do I have to sit on the floor in the Lotus position?
Most people sit in a chair.
2. Should I bring my yoga mat?
A mat is usually not necessary.
3. Do I need to be flexible and able to twist around in unusual positions?
Actually, we'll probably focus more on straightening things out.
4. I can't stand on my head.
We want to keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, but we'll turn some old assumptions upside down and get a new look at them.
5. How do we do that?
We'll talk. We'll find old patterns that don't work as well as ones that do. We'll concentrate on the breath, because steadying the breath steadies the mind, and a calm mind makes wise choices.
6. Do we meditate?
We might. I'll teach you, if you don't know how and you want to learn.
7. Where does this take place?
In my office at 150 East 84th. Street.
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Condensed CV
Book Review Editor, Psychoanalytic Review
Medical Reserve Corps: NYC: 2007 to present.
SOME RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Somerstein, L. (2008) "Psychoanalytic Benefits of Hatha Yoga." Integral Yoga Magazine. Fall 2008. www.iymagazine.org
Somerstein, L. (2008). "The Metallic Womb." Journal of Religion and Health. http://www.springerlink.com/content/m1m4115jql8l014v/
Somerstein, L. (2008). True to our Feelings. By Robert Solomon. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. 286 pages. $28.88. ISBN 0-19-530672-4. Book review, Feminist Division of American Philosophical Assocation.
Somerstein, L. (January 3, 2008). “Original Aloneness: finding the deep self.” World Congress on Psychology and Spirituality, New Delhi, India. http://www.worldcongressps2008.org/event
Somerstein, L. (2007). "I Came with a Sword on Judgment Day": A Psychoanalytic Look at Terrorist Enactments. The Psychoanalytic Review, 94, 5.
http://www.atypon-link.com/GPI/doi/abs/10.1521/prev.2007.94.5.751?journalCode=prev
Somerstein, L. (2005). Bad Enough Women and Success, NAAP News, 28, 3, 7.
Somerstein, L. (2002) “Concrete Tornadoes” Journal of Religion and Health, volume 41, Summer 2002. http://www.springerlink.com/content/3ah41ukq5ltdv3my/
Complete publication list available on request.
I'm also the book review editor of the Psychoanalytic Review, and a freelance editor.
http://www.npap.org
Lynn Somerstein, PhD
150 East 84th Street, #2P
New York, NY 10028
212-861-6818