As yoga’s popularity accelerates it continues to multiply into ever increasing variations and specific theme such as yoga for climbers, yoga for bikers, yoga for runners, beer yoga, goat yoga, chocolate yoga, laughter yoga and doga etc.
The big question is, what keeps people coming back to this ancient practice for physical, mental and emotional well-being that yoga provides? And, if yoga is a science or an art why is there so much debate about whether it is a religion or not?
Whether people see it as a religion or not, its origins come from India and its’s rooted in the ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Katha Upanishad, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Yoga Sutras of Pantajali and the Bhagavad-Gita. In fact, these ancient texts were written for everyone to assist them on their journey in living healthier and happier, with truth and purpose, regardless of their religion, background or tradition.
So, if that is the case, Yoga is a science were the practitioner follows certain techniques and methodologies prescribed by the Yoga masters, teachers and ancient texts for specific purposes and results. On the other hand, it can also be an art where there is freedom of expression associated with the practitioners’ abilities and desires to share their truth and creativity.
To take it further, Yoga is a science in that specific postures (asanas) breathing practices (pranayama) and concentration & meditation techniques should be followed in a systematic way to get the benefits and the positive results desired. Just like baking a cake, there are certain ingredients that need to be put together in a certain order for the cake to turn out.
When you look at it from the perspective of an artist, there are times when you listen to you own intuition and let your creativity flow for your own yoga practice or your student’s yoga practice. You explore, create, innovate and perhaps design specific themes that brings you balance and makes you content. In fact, when you learn to become a Yoga teacher, the teacher trainer of the program should encourage you to create, explore and embrace your inner artists as a yoga teacher.
Look at the great and late B.K.S Iyenagar who was one of the greatest Hatha Yogis to bring Yoga from India to the west. He followed certain methodologies and techniques which he learnt from his master to perfect his own practice as well as share with students. He also devised and created his own unique ways to get into yoga postures and attain harmony and balance in both the body and mind. He was both a great Yoga artist and scientist.
So, when practicing or teaching yoga I feel it is important to follow specific guidelines for a yoga practice especially where it involves a safe environment and understanding the science of anatomy, biomechanics and other things such as proper concentration, breathing and meditation techniques. At the same time, I love the freedom to decide whether to practice with or without music, faster or slower and decide on my own type of sequence.
What do you think? Is Yoga an art or a science?