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The Art and Science of Yoga

Dear Friend,

I am writing you while on vacation enjoying the bright sun and warm air and the coziness of being around family and friends that I haven’t seen in a long time, hoping this find you well wherever you are.

This time of year is special, feels likes some things are coming to their closure and new things are awaiting around the corner. I want to wish you a wonderful December holiday time and a smooth and uplifting transition into the next calendar year with all the fresh things it may bring upon you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


What yoga actually is is a question that can be answered in different ways, I think it is a necessary path of inquiry for anyone who is genuinely interested in maximizing the efficacy of their practice in service of the actual purpose of yoga. When we are fully aligned with the essence of the teachings, we are less likely to go astray and practice in a way that may not serve these purposes very well.

One very useful description of yoga is an art and science of living well.

What it really means to “live well” takes quite a lot of looking into, something I have been doing on this platform often and will continue doing so occasionally. However, I would like to explore the terms “art” and “science” in the context of yoga which can be confusing, particularly if taken too literal.

“Art” can describe a more intuitive, gut oriented, creative, sometimes abstract way of doing or approaching things, whereas “science” is a more methodical one, often systematized, preferably tested, usually based on logic and inference. A yoga process that moves in the right direction has to include both qualities in some combination, depending on the individual and their unique circumstances.

If we have a tendency to lean more into the intuitive realm, we would probably benefit a lot from establishing some basic formula that works well because otherwise we may never go beyond a superficial level, or avoid things we don’t like that may be useful, or simply hold a conviction that intuition is some magical power that is connected to our inner truth and never see past it. On the other hand, we may be more inclined towards method and structure and miss out on the important benefits of being connected to an organic flow and playfulness qualities that can help release unnecessary rigidity or dogmatism.

The ultimate formula that one should always rely on when doing any yoga practice, whether in formal or daily life settings, has been prescribed in the Yoga Sutras (written by Patanjali around the 2nd or 3rd Century CE), it is termed Kriya-Yoga, coming from the root kr (same root that the term Karma comes from) which means to act or do. It refers to any yoga endeavour that involves an action, physical, verbal or mental. It is composed of three elements or building blocks — Tapas, Svadhyaya, and Ishvara Pranidhana.

There are two main ways to interpret these three elements. The first one is more inline with their actual definition:

  • Tapas literally means to heat something for purification purpose, referring to any effort made on the path of yoga, our actual practice, what takes us in a progressive way towards fulfilling the potential of yoga.

  • Svadhyaya literally means self-study, referring to any form of getting to know our own self, whether through contemplation, reflection, mindfulness, or even studying of relevant teachings and texts.

  • Ishvara Pranidhana means dedication or devotion to a divine or higher principle, referring to surrendering desire for any particular outcome to our actions or circumstances, whatever they may be, and embracing the natural unfolding of reality.

The second way to interpret the principle of Kriya-Yoga requires taking a broader view. I find this approach more coherent and applicable to any yoga practice, on or off the mat:

  • There are things that we can do that clearly have real positive impact and we should act upon them whole heartedly in a deliberate way with conviction. This is Tapas.

  • There are also things that we have very little control of, sometimes no control at all. When we face them we must surrender the urge to impact their outcome and instead simply accept and embrace their unchangeable condition. That is Ishvara Pranidhana.

  • The most important ingredient in any effective yoga process is being mindful of our internal and external circumstances, maintaining a strong connection to reality with as little bias or conditioned perception as possible, so we can truly recognize when we can actually make a difference and when we either cannot or have very little control over things. It is also important to notice what is really driving us to take action or refrain from it as part of this self-reflective process. When we develop this clarity we can discern with wisdom and choose the right course of action. That is Svadhyaya.

A somewhat simplistic example of unwise discernment that leads to wasted efforts is a common human pattern of being driven to change others or the world in order to fit our ideas about how they should be, while at the same time making very little effort in changing our own selves when needed. We may hold some belief that we are who we are and cannot be different, or we may carry some guilt or shame about who are or our inability to change, both usually lead to stagnation and avoiding taking positive measures when possible.

Religions tend to tap into this tendency to feel guilt or shame, they try to push us into action so we conform to some standard of behaviour, also promising some future afterlife reward. Of course we have to meet their code of ethics to be eligible for this reward. This obviously cannot work in the context of yoga since every person is unique on many levels and we are all on different stages of our journey. The only reward that we can surely get can only be one that is actually experienced in real-time, other ones are just future projections or make-beliefs.

Generally speaking it is much harder and often impossible to change others or the world at large than changing ourselves but it is not always the case. There could be times when making a change within ourselves is far fetched, and on the other hand there could be times when external situations demand our actions, particularly when it’s clear we can actually make a difference. Even if there is very little chance that our actions would have any substantial outcome it could still be useful at times to engage for the mere sake of gaining some sense of meaning which can be quite rewarding psychologically. However, according to the teachings of yoga, we should always prioritize self-reflection and taking appropriate measures to make positive changes within our own selves, particularly when they can actually lead to progress in yoga (or simply reducing any form of suffering and increasing levels of happiness and inner peace).

Unfortunately there is no manual that can cover every event or situation and tell us what we should do or how to react. This is a dynamic skill we need to develop that requires holding the right intentions and refining our capacity for genuine self-reflection. It is an art of living that keeps on inviting us to look closer, preferably without rigidity or projection of any sorts. If we keep the context of Kriya-Yoga every time we stand at a cross road, something we experience on a daily basis, we may discover that it is easier to discern, it becomes less foggy or sticky, and we can slowly notice there is more clarity which leads to a better quality of choices.

One thing that happens often to most people who sincerely practice Kriya-Yoga is the shift from pointing at others or external events as the cause of our problems to looking more inwards, not in order to blame ourselves but rather so we can find better solutions to any difficulty or hardship we encounter. Simultaneously, when we feel a calling to improve our life we start with checking-in, seeing what changes we can actually make in ourselves, our routines or habitual pattern, our tendencies and preferences, and going for it with joy and confidence. When these become our primary go-to moves we can usually know that we are established in Kriya-Yoga.


If you find yourself curious about these kinds of topics - join a workshop, a retreat, or any other event on offer.


Looking forward to sharing yoga with you in 2026.


Wishing everyone peace and happiness,

Oren

♡


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