The V and S of ViaSana are woven into a symbol with origins in several ancient civilizations, including Tibetan, Chinese, and Celtic cultures. It has been referred to as the infinity knot, endless knot, or eternity knot. Just as I appreciate the integration of Eastern and Western approaches to medicine in my work, I was happy to find a symbol with roots in both hemispheres.
One meaning of the srivatsa is the intertwining of wisdom (or method) and compassion. To me, effective healing depends on both of these elements being present; in my practice I strive to unite clinical expertise and professionalism with warm hospitality and soothing ambience. Too sterile and impersonal an environment, and the client doesn’t fully relax; too much “fluff,” and no significant therapeutic change occurs.
With the many bends that the intricate lattice design depicts, it also represents life’s journey of twists and turns, as well as the interconnectedness of all phenomena, or the karmic sense of cause and effect. Regardless of your worldview, it is undeniable from a bodywork perspective that injuries don’t exist in isolation. As holistic therapists we learn to address broad lesional chains, or patterns of tension in the body, as well as deeper dysfunctions in the viscera, nervous system, emotional being, etc., which may be driving chronic or recurrent issues.
Finally, the infinity knot has been said to represent the endless cycle of birth and suffering, death, and rebirth. I like to remind myself and others to not take ourselves too seriously, so, on a humorous note, I tie in the fact that we all, as we age, come to discover our own “endless knots.” These are the old wounds and traumas that we learn to manage and resolve as best we can, but perhaps can never completely erase. They are life’s challenges that define who we are (and keep me employed as a manual therapist!) And in a much more tangible way, let’s not forget that knots, especially the figure 8, are an ever-present element in my life; I am also a climber, afterall.