Yoga and Dance

Many months ago a student told me about how she had gone to a dance yoga class.  In this class you do different poses to music.  I had never heard of this, so thought I would check it out...on UTUBE.  There is video footage of students doing yoga poses to songs from MC Hammer!  You know "Hammer time!"

Although strange to me I began to think about the relationship of yoga and dance.
Patanjali, who is credited with codifying the yoga sutras is also said to be the incarnation of Adisesa, Lord Visnu's bearer who was taken by the grace, beauty, majesty and grandeur of Lord Siva's dance and professed that he wanted to learn to dance.
In Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Mr. Iyengar writes, "All classical dancers in India pay their homage to Patanjali as a great dancer."

Then, this morning I came across an article from 1982 by Mr. Iyengar in Astadala Yogamala, Volume 3, called "Yoga and Dance" where he says,

"Yoga, being the root of all art, it is complementary and supplementary to dance.  Practice of yoga develops a keen mind, alert eye, proportionate division of limbs, good features, and good voice.  It bring agility, swiftness and elegance in movement, repose, and refection."

In my understanding of what Mr. Iyengar is saying is that while yoga and dance are not the same, yoga can benefit a dancer and be an outer expression of our inner experiences.

He also writes, "Yoga is action.  Outwardly it is static, but dynamic within, whereas dance is motion and dynamic throughout."

"Yoga is a path of involution and renunciation - nivrtti marga - whereas dance is the path of evolution and acceptance of all creation - pravrtti marga.  However, the paths of karma, bhakti, and jnana are blended beautifully in both the arts."

The asana (posture) Natarajasana (King of the Dance Pose), is the pose Mr. Iyengar is performing on the cover of Light on Yoga.
In Light on Yoga, Mr. Iyengar writes, "This vigorous and beautiful pose is dedicated to Siva, Lord of the Dance, who is also the fountain and source of Yoga."

To end, also from the article in Astadala Yogamala, Mr. Iyengar says,

"Thus, both yoga and dance glow from the immortal forms of the soul expressing themselves through the mortal frame - the body - the temple of the soul and the abode of God-consciousness."

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/