I just returned from performing a dance called Prakriti which means nature or all that is manifest. While working on this dance for the past 6 months I was studying Sutra 2:23 and Sutra 2:18. The Sutras are philosophical aphorisms that were created by the Indian sage Patanjali around 250 BC. These stitches of knowledge help us to live a more fulfilled life. This aphorism explains that nature is used to reach the purusa or soul. Nature could include the elements, senses, muscles, intellect, emotions , and even parts of the consciousness. It could be another person or ourselves. We have a reaction to this person or ourselves and this reaction is also nature. Through the union of nature and the soul we learn what is our true self. I like how Sri Swami Satichidananda explains the union between nature and the spirit." It is something like if you want to print with white letters, you must have a black background for contrast. You can't write white letters on a white background. Through the Prakriti we realize we are the Purusa."
My dance explored various nature scenes which included water animals, the idea of being out in nature in a canoe, experiencing as much of the element of water and air in the muscles and so feeling the elements in the body. The dance also conveys the nature of struggle and longing, and vulnerability and joy. It explored, as well, the nature of Dance vs. the nature of Yoga which BKS Iyengar writes:
"Dance and yoga only differ in , dress, costume and gesture. Dance is the expression of emotions and yoga is the sublimation of emotions. Both encompass discipline and practice in order to refine the craft. Dance is the idea of universality in presentation. The dance needs to create a sense of clarity and understanding to those watching the presentation. This can also be true in a yoga presentation. Yoga is a subjective expression of the experienced feeling . Dance is expression through the artful display of the emotions and gestures. Yoga is outwardly static but dynamic within, whereas dance is active and dynamic throughout. Yoga is beauty in skilled action in the mind as well as the body. Dance is beauty in action. Dance moves from inside out. It is the purity of emotional states presented to the audience."
The dance is an object of nature as are yoga postures. This interaction with the body brings understanding through the investigations of alignment and gestures. My dance was an attempt at understanding and expressing the vulnerability that exists in all animals. Let your yoga postures be experienced as an experiment about knowing and expressing yourself better.
