Network Yoga Therapy 2010-2024

Since my teenage years, I've been drawn to the depths of wisdom traditions, exploring both human and non-human cultures, and delving into the intricacies of life and death. The journey truly began when life threw me into the deep end as a teenager, forcing me to find my own way through the currents. At the age of 18, I embarked on my yoga practice in 1998, while simultaneously stepping into the world of psychiatry as a nursing student.

During my initial years in nursing (2002-2006), I completed my first yoga teacher training in 2006, primarily for personal growth. At that time, I viewed myself more as a student of yoga than a teacher, merely guiding others through asanas as part of the training. However, as the years passed, my personal practice and study expanded to encompass yoga, Taoism, Buddhism, psychiatry, and the nuances of mental health crises, life, and death. It seemed only natural to integrate yoga into my passion for psychiatry.

However, I encountered unexpected resistance when my attempts to introduce yoga to psychiatric patients were met with a resounding "no" from the ward psychiatrist around 2008-2009. My rebellious spirit and innate curiosity prompted me to question what it would take to turn that "no" into a "yes."

As I continued my nursing career and embarked on extensive travels around the globe, exploring Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Hawaii, my interest in wisdom traditions deepened, and my vision for integrating yoga into psychiatry quietly evolved. 

A crucial moment occurred in 2010 when I journeyed to Rwanda to work with Project Air, an organization dedicated to bringing yoga to genocide survivors. This experience felt like a profound initiation, amplifying the voice of my inner calling. Witnessing the trauma endured by the women I worked with in Rwanda ignited a fire within me, filling me with courage and resolve.

I returned home, determined to sow the seeds of yoga in psychiatry and healthcare systems, both in the Netherlands and beyond. However, upon my return, I realized there was no pre-existing community or tribe to support this vision. Undeterred, I took matters into my own hands and I decided to create one.

This experience felt like a profound initiation, amplifying the voice of my inner calling.

Network Yoga Therapy began in 2010 with just me, myself, and I. LinkedIn became my tool for connecting with others who shared similar interests in yoga, psychiatry, and psychology, and it proved successful. 

Gathering names, I organized our first sangha in 2010. Soon after, we held our second 'network meeting,' followed by many more, culminating in the inaugural Dutch International Conference on Yoga, Health, and Science in 2015 at the Keizersgrachtkerk in Amsterdam. Every other year, fueled by passion, our team of volunteers and I organized subsequent conferences, where professionals and enthusiasts in yoga, health, and science came together. The third and final conference took place in 2019, attracting participants from 26 different countries.

On stage, we hosted remarkable guests like Stephen Porges (the creator of the polyvagal theory), Anneke Lucas, Marlysa Sullivan, and many more. With an amazing team, we created training and networking opportunities.

I've been invited globally to teach and speak as a keynote on yoga therapy in mental health, primarily focusing on trauma and psychosis. I've developed research programs for hospitals and institutes and worked diligently on implementing these programs. Collaborations with the Ministry of Defense, major hospitals, and organizations ensued. Our pioneering efforts bore fruit, as yoga therapy gained momentum in the Netherlands and beyond. Network Yoga Therapy evolved into a tribe of tens of thousands of people. 

Meanwhile, I established myself as an independent accredited yoga therapist (C-IAYT), conducting more one-on-one sessions and group sessions in psychiatric settings. Additionally, I developed a yoga teacher training program for medical doctors to expand our impact within healthcare systems.

In those years I met many great and not so great teachers, I kept practicing and studying intensively, I also became a mother, and surfed big transformative personal waves. Day by day, I learned, stumbled, stood back up, grew and developed myself in psychiatry, in yoga and samkhya, and in business.

These past 25 years have been a heart-and-soul-driven rollercoaster ride that I am extremely grateful for. 

Reflecting on the past 14 years, I'm deeply aware that I couldn't have navigated this journey alone. I'm filled with gratitude and a desire to honor those who have supported and inspired me along the way.

Firstly, my mother, whose unwavering support provided me with options and instilled courage within me. My clients, who have been and continue to be my greatest inspirations, keeping my fire burning brightly. My colleagues and team, especially Maja, Aiganym, and Marije, who have stood by me through thick and thin. Willemijn, Irina, Anneke L., Simone, Julia, Lana, and countless others who have lent their support and guidance. Marian and the volunteers who brought our conferences to life, and the publisher who has shown incredible patience with me and my book. My teachers, including Gunter, the Mohan family, Deb Dana, Kirsten Neff, Eleanor Longden, and many more, whose wisdom has shaped my path. The speakers at our conferences with whom I've built personal connections, and the international leaders in yoga therapy with whom I've collaborated to create the global consortium of yoga therapy. 

I'm also immensely grateful to all the customers who have booked tickets to our conferences, trainings, and programs, as well as the sponsors who have supported our cause. Their contributions have provided me with the space and resources to turn my passion and hobby into a business with significant impact. Creating and running a business has been one of the most profound spiritual practices I've undertaken, second only to becoming a mother.

Closure for Circular Business

By completing Network Yoga Therapy, I practice the art of closure and the art of new beginnings. Network Yoga Therapy has been one phase in a greater plan for me to embark. The completion of Network Yoga Therapy feels like a necessary proces so that the underlying vision can come through. Inspired by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who embody the cyclical nature of existence, from beginning to middle to end, I devotedly return to the essence that accentuates circular business:

1. Brahma, the divine architect of Hindu mythology, embodies the essence of creation, creativity and the birth of new possibilities. From 2010 to 2015, these years unfolded as the Brahma phase within the circular business of Network Yoga Therapy, marking the dawn of my journey. It was a time filled with boundless potential, where every idea held the promise of innovation and transformation. Despite grappling with insecurities and uncertainties about where to begin, I embarked on a mission to unite the realms of yoga and mental healthcare, guided by the light of scientific inquiry. Playful and curious like a child, I eagerly absorbed knowledge and experiences, laying the groundwork for what was to come.
   
   
2. Vishnu, the preserver deity in Hindu tradition, embodies the essence of continuity and growth. Vishnu maintains cosmic order, harmony, and balance. From a business perspective, Vishnu represents the sustaining phase — the period where seeds of innovation planted during the initiation phase are nurtured and allowed to flourish. It's a time of stability, where efforts focus on maintaining and nurturing what has been created. During these years within Network Yoga Therapy, a sense of stability emerged. The brand became established, clients flowed in effortlessly, and numerous enriching trainings and retreats unfolded, contributing to the growth and preservation of the vision.
   
   
3. Shiva's time has arrived! In the journey of life and business, Shiva represents the transformative phase — the period of endings, letting go, and renewal. As the god of destruction and regeneration, Shiva signifies the necessity of shedding old patterns and structures to pave the way for new growth and possibilities. In the realm of circular business, this phase is characterized by release, transformation, and rebirth.
   In 2020, the seeds for Terrapy were planted, marking the beginning of a new chapter, while I continued to hold onto Network Yoga Therapy. Letting go isn't easy, it's a process filled with uncertainties and emotions. Deep down, I knew that I would sense when the time was right. And now, that time has come. Deep inside I knew that I would feel it, when it was the right time. That time is now.

Other ancient cultures and wisdom traditions emphasize the importance of closure, grief, and endings in the context of the circle of life as well. Practices such as rituals, ceremonies, and spiritual teachings offer frameworks for rite de passages, processing transitions, honoring the past, and welcoming new beginnings. These traditions often view life as cyclical, with endings and beginnings intertwined in a continuous flow of growth and transformation. And I do too.

I am immensely grateful for the unwavering support of our clients and supporters throughout the years. If you're interested in continuing this journey with us, please don't hesitate to reach out through any of the channels listed below:

Other ancient cultures and wisdom traditions echo the significance of closure, grief, and transitions within the circle of life. Through rituals, ceremonies, and spiritual teachings, these traditions offer profound insights into rites of passage, transition processing, and the importance of honoring the past while embracing new beginnings. Like them, I too perceive life as a cyclical journey, where endings seamlessly merge with new beginnings, creating a continuous flow of growth and transformation.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our clients and supporters for their unwavering encouragement over the years. If you're eager to continue this journey alongside us, please feel free to connect through any of the channels provided below:

With love and gratitude,

Anneke Sips, mother, wayfinder

www.annekesips.com

www.terrapy.net

IG: @annekesips

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