The practice of art parallels the practice of yoga in certain ways – for practioners of both art and yoga, process is absolutely central. Integrating these two practices, I started to work life-size to be as physical in the image making as I am in the yoga. My experience of yoga does not align with how yoga is usually portrayed and promoted, e.g. often a beautiful super-flexible young woman on the beach effortlessly doing something difficult (that makes many people think, ‘I could never do that).
The images that emerged were of a physical body intensely integrated into the environment. In practice we do not see the environment as much as we feel it. It can feel neutral or it can feel dark or light, mobile or static, safe or dangerous which led me to the three warrior poses. These poses embody the balance, focus and fierceness of the warrior. One interpretation of the myth of the warrior Virabhadra is that the ultimate battle is with the limiting or negative tendencies of the mind.
The Yoga
I have been a student of Iyengar yoga since 1989 and a teacher since 2003.
It has been a bedrock, a practice for life. It is for the body when it is tired, for the mind when it is messy, for the spirit when it is low. It is a way to manage energy and an endless resource.
My principles for yoga can also apply to an art practice, or indeed, to life.
Turn up
Be curious
Play
Allow yourself to be changed
TEACHING YOGA at Springwood www.springwoodyogastudio.com.au
At Blue Mountains Iyengar Yoga Studio www.bmyogastudio.com.au