The Dancer and Yoga

Fitness for dancers is a topic that is often discussed at various fora- from discussions at dance class to seminars and online journals, the topic seems to be the need of the hour, for unfortunately, it has become commonplace to meet dancers in their 20s and 30s with swollen knees and stiff backs or some even nursing serious injuries.

It is however heartening that there remain some dancers - young and old - whose agility, strength and stamina are awe inspiring. At a recent concert by a veteran, someone in the audience whispered “It must be the Yoga- look at how she dances at 70.”   And so it is worthy of our time to understand if indeed that is true. Is Yoga an all-encompassing answer to fitness and the antidote to dancers’ injuries? What is it that makes dancers who are serious practitioners of yoga, remain fitter than the rest. Can non-practitioners use Yoga to recover from injury? Is dance Yoga in itself? Considering the spiritual plane that both disciplines arise from, how and where do the two disciplines meet, if they do?

There may be no objective answers to any of the above questions but it is worthwhile to ponder and deliberate. For someone who is already drawn towards Dance as an art, what of Yoga attracts or inspires one in the first place. Yamini Muthanna, trained in Ashtanga yoga under Sri BNS Iyengar, was drawn to Yoga as a teenager because she loved the way the asanas looked when her Guru did it. Echoing her sentiments is Indu Santhosh, a follower of the Isha School of Yoga. “There was a sense of calm that I experienced after yoga that drew me further into this discipline.” says Chennai-based Renjith Babu- dancer, Kalari exponent and yoga instructor. For Kuchipudi exponent Vyjayanthi Kashi, practicing asanas and pranayama were a part of her dance classes as a child, although it wasn’t until later that she realised she had been doing yoga. Irrespective of the beginnings, these dancers discovered early that Yoga transcended the physicality of the body to a much deeper mind-body-energy-spiritual connect and it was a life-long discipline. And the two disciplines of dance and yoga found common ground in the contentment and calm one experiences- a state of ‘Dhyaana’ that movement offers in dance and stillness offers in meditation.

Having learnt yoga in the traditional, classical way and shunning any of the pseudo avatars of power yoga or ‘hot’ yoga, these dancers believe that Yoga can do more to your fitness than a workout at the gym. “Most other forms of exercise are based on the body’s ability to burn and expel energy but Yoga is based on the tenet of physical wellness while ‘conserving’ energy.” Says Yamini. Running may build stamina or a performance ready physique can be achieved at the gym, but the merits of yoga for dancers are far-reaching. The strength, stamina, flexibility and breath control one gains from practicing yoga is common knowledge. The sense of body-balance and focus it provides an artiste is often undervalued. “The gym can give you 6-pack abs in 6 months but won’t help you visualise yourself and the art. Yoga may not give you 6-pack abs in 6 months, but it will give you much more.” Adds Renjith. 

Knowing that yoga complements a dancer’s understanding of his/her body and can significantly boost strength and agility, are students of dance willing and enthusiastic about learning yoga as a discipline? Enthusiasm abounds but time constraints prevent yoga from becoming more than a warm-up and cool-down routine in dance class in most urban dance class scenarios. “Body Mudras and Bandhas (energy centre-binds), as they were taught by the BNS Iyengar school of Yoga, can be highly beneficial to dancers.” avers Yamini. Even the magic of pranayama has been largely overlooked, rues Vyjayanthi. There is consensus however on the fact that professional dancers are slowly realising the potential of yoga, not just as an aid to performance but also as a tool to live a dancer’s life to the fullest and prevent injuries.

Dance-related injuries are rather rare in those who practice yoga. On the rare occasion, injuries result from a strain that the body cannot handle or an unfortunate accident. “I was advised 3 months off dance due to a hairline fracture in my toe. Yoga had me back to practicing much earlier than one would imagine.” states Vyjayanthi. Dancers most commonly complain of minor ligament stretches and muscle spasms to serious fractures. The alignment of the hips and muscles is of utmost importance, for changes in alignment or improper alignment could set off a series of knee- ankle-back related issues. Several injuries are also triggered by stress. Yoga offers the benefits of therapy and rejuvenation. “An adult with knee pain was advised to quit Bharatanatyam. But a few months of yogasanas later, she can do a jathiswaram with gusto”, offers Indu.

 “It is important to encourage children in dance class to learn yoga the traditional way. That way, they will stay away from using asanas to show off their prowess on stage.” Says Indu light-heartedly but the aesthetics of using yogasanas during a dance recital remains a point to deliberate on. There are karanas that are very similar to yogasanas. To draw from it in the right context and with the right intent is important, say Indu and Renjith. “Unless there is a need to do an asana, let us retain the sanctity of a performance and respect the distinct nature of yoga that relies only on the breath.” insists Yamini. “If we move to a contemporary realm of performance where there is scope to combine the aesthetics of dance and the brilliance of yogasanas, that would be interesting.” offers Vyjayanthi. And that is the point where it all converges or diverges – where you can spiritually connect with your art and simultaneously stay true to its grammar.

For the time-being, let us dancers turn to yoga for a physically fit, mentally strong and spiritually rejuvenating life of dance; for the destination is the same.

In search of spiritual solace, the wanderer looked.

Dance would elevate him in movement;

In stillness, Yoga would have him rooted.

Both would ultimately lead him, towards the horizon of enlightenment.

Published in Ananya Kalasinchana Issue: October 2015

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