Yoga, Pradhana Dharma, and the Helping Professions: Recognizing the Risk of Codependency and the Necessity of Self-Care

As members of the helping professions, we are drawn to giving. We craft our careers around service to others. But what exactly do the classical texts of Yoga say about duty, giving, and service? Is this in conflict with the messages we receive from our modern world and the values it projects? This article contrasts the philosophies of Vedanta and Samkhya in an examination of the concept of dharma, or duty, and how it pertains to Yoga teachers, Yoga therapists, and other members of the helping professions. From a careful reading of core Yogic texts and reflection on the risks of codependency, this article offers suggestions for finding balance and maintaining a practice in accordance with the values of Yoga and its teaching of dharma, through appropriate self-care.