3 Reasons for Dancers to Practice Yoga: Part II -- Artistic

What makes an artist? What are the qualities of a "good" artist? How does one enhance their artistry? There are no quick, pat-and-dry answers to those questions. Yet one might argue that getting in touch with one's authentic self -- including strengths, growth areas, inclinations, and more -- is a good jumping-off point. And also simply practice, doing the work over and over again. Yoga can be a wonderful space for both of those aspects, of deeper self-knowing and of building the discipline to come back to it again and again.

As we explored in the last blog on this series, the dance and yoga worlds have genuine connections; many dancers practice yoga, and some have even become yoga instructors. True, the goals at hand and the contexts in which they each evolved greatly differ. Yet yoga can be a space to explore, discover, and grow through the body -- just like dance!

Dancers fully committed to and focused on their artistry

Like many who come to yoga, dancers often do so for its physical benefits -- as a way to cross-train (it’s a great way to balance strength and flexibility, as well as overall fine-tune one’s dancing instrument). As they get deeper in the practice, dancers often find that there are parts about yoga that deeply resonate with them that have little to nothing to do with physical fitness.

That might very well include benefits for their artistry and creative trajectories. In this second of a three-part series on benefits of yoga and mindfulness practice for dancers, we’ll look deeper there. Stay tuned for the third and last part of the series!

It's in the work, and coming back to it

So much of artistry involves putting in time and energy towards the desired goal. In one's artistic skill, that goal is getting to the place of sufficient technical mastery that one can go beyond it to the expression, meaning, and creative choice that creates art. In honing a particular work, role, or performance, that’s in knowing the material so well that one has the space to explore and get to a deeper place of knowing with the work at hand.

There’s a concept in yoga called tapas, which involves consistent, devoted practice -- even when that practice comes to a place of extremes (within the bounds of safety and caring for one’s self, of course). Yoga instructors (at least the ones that resonate most with me, and which -- to me -- are the most highly skilled) impart the message that it’s not about “succeeding” or “failing” in practice on any particular day. Rather, it’s in showing up to it as best one can time after time. As one sees the fruits of that “showing up” by advancing in practice (and let’s remember that such advancement goes far beyond the physical), the practice itself confirms that truth.

In both dance and yoga, what matters is coming back to the work -- time after time.

Artists who practice yoga might just be able to transfer that idea to their creative practice. For dancers, if one can’t hit that triple pirouette on a particular day or gets all jumbled in the combination in class, it’s not the end of the world. They showed up, and they can also show up next class and see if it goes better. It just might.

As they keep showing up, they can notice their artistry blossom -- whether that be with respect to a particular project or to their artistry as individuals. Through that blossoming, they can reach closer to their potential. And planning to show up next time and try again, rather than beating oneself up for “failing?” That feels a whole lot better, and it’s a better use of both energy and mental space.

Finding focus and leaving behind the noise

Then again, it’s actually not enough to just show up; one can certainly be physically present and be mentally in a million other places (I’m not sure about you, but I can for sure relate to that -- modern life is hectic and complex). Being fully present as an artist is important for reaching more profound levels of understanding and mastery of the material. From there, artists can just let all that go and simply be within the work. That’s when the most memorable, impactful creative work and performances can happen.

Yoga and mindfulness can help one get closer to that place of full, consistent focus. It’s space and time for the brain to build the muscles of calm concentration. In the practice, one is reminded to simply come back to the breath and let drifting thoughts just keep drifting on by (rather than judging oneself for those thoughts, just as the thought is to keep showing up rather than beating oneself up for not coming up to par on any particular day).

As the ability to do that grows, artists can bring more of their whole mental, physical, and spiritual capacity to the work at hand. That capacity invested, incredible things can be found and then brought to that art.

Additionally, there are a whole lot of distractions out there. Yes, artists need to live out in the world and do things outside of creative practice -- not only for their own wellness, but to be truly multidimensional artists. Calm, cool focus can help one to practice tapas, because they can stay focused on what they know is most important to them amidst all of the noise out there.

Yoga can offer a space to practice the commitment and dedication that dance calls for.

Knowing oneself more deeply and capitalizing on that knowledge

Yoga and mindfulness is also a space to know oneself more deeply. The mat and the meditation cushion become laboratories to observe a whole lot: how one treats oneself, how one reacts to challenges or disappointments, how open or not one is to new learning and reassessing preconceptions, and more.

For example, does one keep pushing themselves into poses when their body tells them to back off, or back off way before that point? When an instructor demonstrates a challenging pose, does one go to the bathroom or slowly drink water when it’s time for the class to try it, or jump right in before the instructor is done? Do they fall asleep in Savasana, or head out of class before it starts? Or something in between? These tendencies can reveal a lot.

Arguably, part of what makes a compelling, skilled artist is a full and healthy knowing of oneself and the ability to bring that self-knowing to the work at hand. Yoga can be a kind of classroom to propel one there -- by no means the only one, and no silver bullet (it does take work), but certainly a poignant and potentially meaningful one.

In that classroom, and in the art it can benefit, one has to show up and stay focused while there for the benefits to accrue. Yet they certainly can accrue, and one’s artistry can then grow to new heights and vistas. I’d say that coming to the mat and giving it a shot is worth it, for that potential outcome alone. Wishing you happy practice and happy creating!

Are you ready to fly high as an artist?

Photos via Canva