Synergy of Yoga and Clay
I have been in a seasonal shift of soulful reflection over the past few weeks. I am juggling what is important for me to bring forth as a yoga teacher and soulful guide with what is important to sustain me as student, spirit seeker and artist while acknowledging what happens to my awareness and actions when I get overstimulated, overwhelmed or off center.
Centering is a constant balancing of form, space, and process. This same term can be used in pottery and yoga. Yoga and pottery help me in centering my life and soul’s purpose. Both incorporate a blend of science, art, and philosophy. There are methodologies and techniques to learn and their is the practice. Both involve similar concepts of alignment of form and fine-tuning in real-time as we move toward a final holding “shape”. This happens on the potter’s wheel, the yoga mat and on the highway of life.
There are emotional, mental, physical, and meditative aspects that get churned, challenged, stretched and cultivated in both practices of yoga and clay. Both involve a deep understanding of its plasticity working to be centered, connected and deeply aware of the inner and outer form, space and process. While there is the possibility of perfecting the techniques for form, ultimately, it is not about perfection or expressing perfect poses and pots, but about integration, beauty, self-knowledge, and divine self-expression of disconnecting the free soul from the attachment to the shape.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes this as “within is void, without is void; like an empty vessel in space, completely full internally, completely full externally, just like a pot in the ocean.”
Making pots brings me into a place of deep connection and joy. Does your yoga practice ?Do you buy hand made things and or make handmade gifts that hold a token of expression from your heart? Maybe you bake someone cookies or write a special note? (that’s creating and making your heartful intentions known)
I sometimes find it hard to be a maker, business entrepreneur and the marketer at the same time. Each uses different sides of the brain and time. My tendencies are to push aside that which makes me uncomfortable or boring. My yoga practice has helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses in each role and has helped me stay focused so that I can breathe through to inevitably find the place and time to allow creativity to flow. I am constantly working on single task focus.
I might not have enough time to shape some forms on the wheel or have the body in this moment to be shape shifted into scorpion pose, (haha) but I am so grateful to make the connections between making pottery, practicing and teaching yoga and sharing both in community.
I cannot have one without the other. A fusion of two worlds- yoga and clay- with calming, soothing and healing properties.
Take a look below at the amazing events in our community of the lower Hudson Valley region ! And, yes some support of the synergy of yoga and clay play. I can’t wait to support some of these in upcoming weeks - and hope you do to !
Dec 2-Dec 13 Holiday Home Pop Up by Appointment
Garrison Art Center Pottery Sale
Dec 7-15. Hudson Valley Potters
Community
Dec 5 Holiday Gathering with Healing Hands and Home Made Goods
Dec 6-8 Main Street Festivities
Dec 6-8 Community Weekend with Amy Pearce-Hayden
Food
Filling Empty Bowls Luncheon
Nov 17 Community Lunch to Support Anti-Hunger
Always needing food donations for Philipstown
Shop Local
a community of wellness and makers
*my pottery is retailed here
a hub of Cold Spring
*my pottery is retailed here
a creative hub of contemporary gifts
*soon to retail some Heartful Yoga Accessories
*products created from our collaborative print making workshops
I wish you a season of slow down, by making moments to create something for your self and a loved one. And buy something that was made from some ones hands . This intersection of hand to heart is the centering of Heartful Yoga.
With deepest gratitude to all those that support my art and yoga process …
I hope to see or hear from you soon !
OM SHANTI
Dani
