Is Yoga Art?

Dear Diane,

Usually when I read about yoga, it talks about how breathing lowers your blood pressure or stretching helps your back. That all sounds scientific to me. But as I did my home practice recently, I felt my body held in the pose, and it actually felt like a work of art. So what is yoga, science or art?

Dear Art:

You might have asked the question that explains why yoga is such a powerful subject and overall tonic for living as a fully alive human being. The word “yoga” means “union.” That union is comprised of the body, mind and spirit. Yoga strives to create balance of all three in our lives. Can you really be fully alive if you only focus on the scientific aspects of life such as physical and mental health?

The art of yoga often is the big missing piece when we practice yoga on and off the mat. It’s also the trickiest to get in touch with, especially if you avoid touchy-feely stuff.

Art is expressing into the outer world what’s going on in the inner world. That makes some of us squirm and hold on to the science of the practice (movement) rather than staying around to feel at deeper levels. But, luckily, the poses themselves sculpt the body in such a way that you can actually become the work of art, as you discovered. The trick then is to “hold the pose” at an edge of comfort and express your feelings through the energy that naturally wants form and flow.

One way of seeing this clearly is to check out books of famous artists who specialize in human forms. Better yet is to visit the city’s fine art museums and look closely at the statues and artifacts on display. You’ll notice that many are positioned in yoga poses.

In fact, the Cincinnati Art Museum offers yoga classes in their new outdoor court yard on Saturday mornings. I hear yoga poses are taught that mirror impressive statues of ancient gods and goddesses adorning the halls and galleries. Holding these poses gives one a sense of beauty and strength that radiates from our spirits. That’s where most great art originates.

So next time you practice yoga, take time to become the art and feel your creativity. The best part is you’ll also get the physical and mental benefits (the scientific part) as a natural result.

Enjoy the balance!

This article appears in Jun 9-15, 2004.